In crisis-hit Greece, government decisions taken in haste and despair to save the country from default, risk having a serious impact on the environment. A new bill seeks to relax restrictions on construction of public and private forestland even for those areas which are considered protected.
A joint statement by the country’s biggest environmental organizations said that the legislation would be destructive for the environment and harmful to the economy and development of the country. The statement was signed by 10 organizations, including WWF, Greenpeace, MOm and the Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage.
Under the would-be legislation, which was made available to the public for ten days, hotels would be able to expand into wooded areas while new tourism developments such as golf courses and spas could also be constructed on forestland. WWF says that the bill seeks to scrap protection of environmentally important areas covered by sparse and low vegetation.
Read more at Worldwatch Institute