Posted on July, 27 2022

For the 7th consecutive day, the fire in Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park is not yet under control. The estimate so far is of at least 2,500 ha of burnt land. The fire is burning the core area of the Park, causing huge concern across the country and beyond. An ecological treasure of global importance, one of the most important protected areas in Greece but also in Europe, is on fire for days, even though there are no extreme conditions!

While the fire is in progress, it would be irresponsible for anyone to make any final assessments or jump into conclusions. At the local level, the efforts of the Fire Service, the Forestry Service, the army, volunteers, municipalities and communities, local or not organizations, logging cooperatives and residents, have been heartwarming. There is a great effort from all sides. It is even worth underlining that this year there had been timely maintenance on a significant part of forest roads and fire protection zones. Unfortunately, however, in forest fires everything is judged by the outcome and the data we have so far in Dadia give a rather gloomy picture. 

It is imperative to be brought to light whatever led to this situation. One can’t help but wonder:

• What is the special support from the State and the forest fire prevention mechanism for the protected areas in our country? Is there a relevant special plan and local specializations available for the unique natural treasures?
• Is the government mechanism ready to manage and address the particularities of forest fires, especially when these occur within protected ecosystems? What needs to change operationally in terms of ground and aerial firefighting, but also regarding the overall coordination and utilization of local knowledge?
• What does effective prevention mean and how is it connected to forest management, especially in areas of unique ecological value, also given their particular characteristics?
• What resources has the State allocated (or cut down...) over the last decades for the effective management of Protected Areas and a robust Forest Service?
• How can there be effective protection when the agencies that are responsible for its design and the in situ implementation of conservation activities, suffer from understaffing, absence of perspective and lack of a clear institutional framework (such as the presidential decrees that remain pending for years)?

On the occasion of the wildfire in the Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park, all involved stakeholders must realize that there is no time left. It is necessary for an overall and collective review of the existing firefighting system, the planning of prevention and ultimately the operational response to such incidents, especially in purely forest areas. 

We must learn from our past mistakes so that they become a motive to change all failures in official planning.

As the firefighting efforts continue, the main stake remains the protection of the Black Vulture colony. The possible loss of the large pine trees supporting the Black Vulture nests and the destruction of the forest surrounding them, would be unthinkable. A national and European treasure will disappear irrevocably, with no possibility of restoration. 

We hope that the next day will not find the Dadia forest irretrievably wounded. We hope that the next day will find the State ready and more determined than ever before to protect our country’s ecological treasures, without which there can be no life. 

The great ecological value of the Dadia forest

The Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park is one of the oldest and largest protected areas in Greece, as well as an area of national and European ecological value. The vegetation of the forest is mainly composed by black pine (Pinus nigra) and Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia) mixed with oaks (Quercus spp.) and other deciduous species, as well as maquis shrublands. It is widely known as one of the most significant feeding and breeding grounds for rare raptors in Europe. Home to 3 (the Black Vulture, the Griffon Vulture and the Egyptian Vulture) of Europe’s 4 vulture species, it also constitutes one of the last remaining refugia for 36 different endangered species of birds of prey, such as the White-tailed, the Lesser-spotted and the Eastern Imperial eagles, as well as the Lesser Kestrel falcon. The Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park is of immeasurable ecological importance for yet another reason: it hosts the only breeding population of black vulture (30-35 pairs) in the Balkan Peninsula

Apart from the raptor birds, on the border between Europe and Asia, this unique Mediterranean forest fosters a rich biodiversity: 205 species of birds, an exceptionally high variety of amphibian and reptile species (13 and 29 species respectively), as well as a wide variety of small and large mammals: from wolves and roe deer, to squirrels and 24 species of bats. Invertebrates are also well studied with 283 species identified, 104 of which are butterflies.

Up to today, around 400 plant species have been recorded in the National Park. 29 plant species are under protection while remarkable is the presence of 25 species of orchid. We should also mention the presence of the rare Eriolobus trilobatus (a wild apple tree), two Greek endemic species (Minuartia greuteriana and Onosma kittanae), as well as three rare species (Cephalanthera epipactoides, Salix xanthicola and Zygophyllum album).