=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1498/HAICTA_2015_paper85
|storemode=property
|title=The Views of Residents for the Actions Taken Before, During and After a Forest Fire: The Case Study of Larnaca Prefecture in Cyprus Island
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1498/HAICTA_2015_paper85.pdf
|volume=Vol-1498
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/haicta/KaranikolaTPM15
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==The Views of Residents for the Actions Taken Before, During and After a Forest Fire: The Case Study of Larnaca Prefecture in Cyprus Island==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1498/HAICTA_2015_paper85.pdf
The Views of Residents for the Actions Taken Before,
During and After a Forest Fire: The Case Study of
Larnaca Prefecture in Cyprus Island
Paraskevi Karanikola1, Stilianos Tampakis2, Anastasia Paschalidou3 and Anastasia
Matoli4
1
Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, School
of Agriculture and Forestry, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece,
e-mail: pkaranik@fmenr.duth.gr
2
Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, School
of Agriculture and Forestry, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece
Abstract. Forest fires are considered as a major and permanent threat for the
forests of Cyprus. Every year, forest fires cause enormous and irreparable
damage to forest ecosystems and in some cases threaten residential regions.
The present work aims at studying the perceptions and attitudes of the
residents of the prefecture of Larnaca with regards to the actions of the Cyprus
Fire Department and the other Services of the Prefecture, before, during and
after the fires. The research was conducted with a face–to-face questionnaire.
Keywords: Forest fires, forest risk communication, residents’ perceptions,
actions for prevention, suppression, recovery
1 Introduction
Forest fires constitute a persisting problem, with a rather upward trend during the last
twenty years, for most Mediterranean countries, even though regulatory bodies have
been investing more funds in strategies to prevent and mainly suppress them
(Tampakis et al., 2005).
Furthermore, the tendency of people to live within or near forests or woodlands
not only increases the risk of fire but also alters priorities in the appropriation of fire
extinguishing means (Jaber et al., 2001; Tabara et al., 2003) thus constituting a
serious problem for the fire fighting forces (Lindeckert and Alexandrian 1990;
Tampakis et al., 2005; Ioannou et al. 2011).
In earlier years, the confrontation of forest fires was more effective, as the life and
prosperity of the population was directly related to the forest (Tampakis and
Karanikola, 2002). Nowadays, most of the citizens become passive spectators of the
desperate situation around them and help the fire extinguishing forces only when the
fire threatens their villages or some settlement which is related to them and their
lands (Vounassis, 1999; Tampakis et al., 2005).
755
Especially for the forests of Cyprus, fires are considered as a very big threat.
Every year, forest fires cause irreparable damage to forest ecosystems and in some
cases threaten residential regions. There are many factors that contribute to increased
fire risk in Cyprus, such as the high temperatures and the prolonged drought periods,
as well as the extremely flammable vegetation. The accumulation of biomass due to
the abandonment of rural areas and the increasing tourism recreation in forested areas
are also important factors which contribute to increased fire risk, especially during
summer months (Boustras et al., 2008).
The aim of this paper is to investigate the views of the residents in the prefecture
of Larnaca with regards to the actions taken by the Forest Department, the Local
Services and the residents before, during and after a forest fire. Questions that seek
urgent answers are:
(a) What preventive measures should be taken for mitigating the fire risk?
(b) What are the potential omissions/limitations and where does the Forest
Department need to put more emphasis?
2 Research Methodology
The research was carried out with the application of a face-to-face structured
questionnaire delivered in the province of Larnaca, an area located on the southern
coast of Cyprus, with a population of 143,192 inhabitants, of which 59% live in the
city of Larnaca, the third-largest city of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol
(CYSTAT, 2011). The state forests in Cyprus cover an area of 163,529 ha, i.e.
17.74% of the total area of the island (Boustras et al., 2008).
Random sampling was applied for the sake of simplicity in the procedure. The
population ratio that is also the impartial evaluation of the real ratio of the population
p and the assessment of the standard error of the population ratio of the sp without
correction of the finite population as the sampling fraction is small, has been
calculated using the formulae of simple random sampling. To calculate the size of the
sample, pre-sampling was performed with a sample size of 50 individuals, based on
the formulae of simple random sampling (where t=1.96 and e=0.048). Even though
simple random sampling without off-reset was used, the correction of the finite
population was skipped as the sample size n was small in relation to the population
size N (Pagano et al., 2000). More specifically, the sample size was determined to
400 individuals. The data collection was carried out during the second semester of
2014. The ensemble of questions which were reported to the possible sources of
information constitutes a multi-theme variable on which reliability analysis is
applied. In particular, in order to test the internal reliability of the questionnaire
(Frangos, 2004), the alpha co-efficient (or reliability co-efficient a-Cronbach) was
used. According to Howitt et al. (2003) values of the alpha co-efficient ≥0.70 are
considered satisfactory, while values >0.80 are considered very satisfactory. In
practice, it is frequent that smaller reliability coefficients, that is values no bigger
than 0.60, are also accepted.
In order to ensure reliability, the multivariate method of Factor Analysis was
applied. Factor Analysis is a statistical method which aims to discover the existence
756
of factors which are common within a group of variables (Sharma, 1996). In
particular, we used the method of Principal Components which is based on the
Spectral Analysis of the variance table (correlation). Regarding the significance of
the principal components, the criterion used was the one suggested by Guttman and
Kaiser (Frangos, 2004), according to which, the limit for the collection of the
appropriate number of the principal components is determined by the values of
typical roots which are equal or higher to one. Furthermore, we also used the matrix
rotation of the main factors applying the Kaiser’s method of maximum variance
rotation.
3 Results and Discussion
According to the Cypriot local authorities, all fires occurring (or expanding)
within the State forest or within two kilometers from the boundaries of the State
forest are classified as forest fires. The primary responsibility for them lies with the
Department of Forests of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Environment (Boustras et al., 2007).
With regards to prevention, suppression and recovery of forest fires the inhabitants
of the prefecture of Larnaka were asked to assess these actions of the Cyprus
Department of Forests. In particular, the respondents evaluated the actions for the
suppression of forest fires as very good (40.3%) and good (46.2%). Accordingly, the
actions for prevention had good acceptance from the inhabitants (30.1% very good
and 50.1% good), while the actions of recovery in the burnt areas faced lower
acceptance (33.8% mediocre and 32.7% good) (Table 1).
Table 1. Actions of the Cyprus Department of Forests regarding forest fires
Variables Very Good Good Mediocre Bad Very Bad No answer
% 30.1 50.1 17.7 1.6 0.3 0.3
Prevention of forest fires
sp 0.0234 0.0255 0.0195 0.0063 0.0026 0.0026
% 40.3 46.2 11.4 1.3 0.5 0.3
Suppression of forest fires
sp 0.0250 0.0254 0.0162 0.0058 0.0037 0.0026
% 21.8 32.7 33.8 9.4 1.3 1.0
Actions for the recovery of burnt areas
sp 0.0211 0.0239 0.0241 0.0149 0.0058 0.0052
For the prevention of forest fires, fire outposts were manned during the fire season
and patrolling was organized in various forest regions, not only within forests but
especially along the forest delimitation line where most of the forest fires start
(Boustras et al., 2008). In particular, the respondents acknowledged that the Cyprus
Department of Forests often (33.2%) and sometimes (28.3%) manned the fire posts
and patrolled along the forest delimitation line (often 34.3% and sometimes 28.3 %).
Their view was more positive with regards to patrolling within the forests (often
40.0% and sometimes 29.4%)(Table 2).
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Table 2. Residents’assessment of actions taken before, during and after the forest fires
Very often
No answer
Mediocre
Rarely
Never
Often
Variables
There are patrols along the forest % 14.3 34.3 28.3 15.8 4.9 2.3
delimitation line sp 0.0179 0.0242 0.0230 0.0186 0.0111 0.0077
% 14.8 40.0 29.4 9.6 4.7 1.6
There are patrols within the forests
sp 0.0181 0.0250 0.0232 0.0150 0.0108 0.0063
% 18.4 33.2 29.1 10.9 4.9 3.4
There are manned fire-outposts
sp 0.0198 0.0240 0.0232 0.0159 0.0111 0.0092
A. Before the forest fires
The Department of Forests conducts % 17.7 35.1 28.8 11.2 4.2 3.1
vegetation removal-clearance in forests sp 0.0195 0.0244 0.0231 0.0161 0.0102 0.0089
Residents remove all dry greens from their % 13.2 32.7 31.7 16.1 4.4 1.8
farmland sp 0.0173 0.0239 0.0237 0.0188 0.0105 0.0069
There are recreational areas within the % 43.9 37.1 15.3 1.3 0.5 1.8
forests that attract visitors sp 0.0253 0.0247 0.0184 0.0058 0.0037 0.0068
Residents light fires to burn agricultural % 34.3 40.5 18.4 4.2 1.6 1.0
leftovers even if this is forbidden sp 0.0242 0.0251 0.0198 0.0102 0.0063 0.0052
Residents are educated –informed on how % 7.8 29.6 33.8 22.1 5.2 1.6
to deal with a forest fire sp 0.0137 0.0233 0.0241 0.0212 0.0133 0.0063
Residents built their residence within or % 22.1 35.8 26.8 12.7 1.6 1.0
next to the forest sp 0.0212 0.0245 0.0226 0.0170 0.0063 0.0052
The fire is dealt with along the forest % 18.7 37.7 27.5 8.1 3.6 4.4
delimitation line sp 0.0199 0.0247 0.0228 0.0139 0.0096 0.0105
% 20.0 34.0 26.2 11.9 4.4 3.4
The fire is dealt with within the forest
sp 0.0204 0.0242 0.0224 0.0166 0.0105 0.0092
% 27.5 40.8 22.3 3.6 2.1 3.6
The fire is dealt with at the village edges
sp 0.0228 0.0251 0.0213 0.0096 0.0073 0.0096
B. During the forest fires
Residents participate in the extinguishing % 51.4 32.2 9.6 3.9 1.3 1.6
of the fires sp 0.0255 0.0238 0.0150 0.0099 0.0058 0.0063
There was participation of Services other % 51.7 32.5 10.9 3.1 0.8 1.0
than the Fire Service in the fires sp 0.0255 0.0239 0.0159 0.0089 0.0045 0.0052
There is requisition and mobilization of % 43.4 33.2 15.3 5.2 2.1 0.8
private fire extinguishing machinery sp 0.0253 0.0238 0.0184 0.0113 0.0073 0.0045
% 26.8 31.7 24.9 9.4 4.4 2.9
Trees are logged to create anti- fire zones
sp 0.0226 0.0237 0.0221 0.0149 0.0105 0.0085
With the appearance of air fire % 9.9 20.8 24.9 22.6 19.0 2.9
extinguishing forces, ground forces stop
operating sp 0.0152 0.0207 0.0221 0.0213 0.0200 0.0085
There is immediate evacuation of villages % 33.2 29.1 22.9 12.2 2.3 0.3
in case of danger sp 0.0240 0.0232 0.0214 0.0167 0.0077 0.0026
Reforestation took place when recovery % 20.0 34.0 32.7 8.8 1.6 2.9
failed sp 0.0204 0.0242 0.0239 0.0145 0.0063 0.0085
Residents participate in reforestation % 20.5 29.4 35.1 10.9 2.9 1.3
efforts sp 0.0206 0.0232 0.0244 0.0159 0.0085 0.0058
There is financial support for the people % 10.1 27.3 37.9 19.0 2.6 3.1
affected sp 0.0154 0.0227 0.0248 0.0200 0.0081 0.0089
C. After the forest fires
Proposals for buying new fire % 12.7 28.6 34.0 17.4 4.4 2.9
extinguishing equipment took place sp 0.0170 0.0231 0.0242 0.0193 0.0105 0.0085
Grazing from farm animals took place in % 11.9 22.6 33.0 20.3 7.3 4.9
the greening burnt areas sp 0.0159 0.0213 0.0240 0.0205 0.0133 0.0111
The residents of burnt areas abandoned % 4.9 14.8 34.0 33.5 10.9 1.8
them sp 0.0111 0.0181 0.0242 0.0241 0.0159 0.0068
After a big fire jobs were created, % 6.8 11.4 27.0 37.7 13.8 3.4
especially in reforestation sp 0.0128 0.0232 0.0227 0.0247 0.0176 0.0092
% 12.2 19.5 34.8 22.1 7.5 3.9
There is appropriation of forest lands
sp 0.0167 0.0202 0.0243 0.0212 0.0135 0.0099
Proposal for buying or exchanging private % 7.3 19.2 34.8 22.6 10.9 5.2
lands located in the forests took place sp 0.0133 0.0201 0.0243 0.0213 0.0159 0.0113
758
The avoidance of accumulation of combustible material is a very important
measure in the prevention of forest fires, as disrupting the continuity of combustible
material prevents the spreading of fire (Kailidis and Karanikola, 2004). The
respondents answered that the Cyprus Department of Forests often (35.1%) and
sometimes (28.8%) conducted vegetation removal- clearance in public forests.
Similar were the opinions on the removal of all the dry vegetation from their
farmland, i.e. often for 32.7% of the cases and sometimes for 31.7%.
The residents also stated that recreation areas organized in the public forests very
often (43.9%) and often (37.1%) attract more visitors. Although, Tampakis et al.,
(2005) consider that more visitations can cause more fires in the forests, this increase
is mainly due to the rural abandonment and consequently due to the accumulation of
fuel. The population that lives in the countryside is aged and very often, in order to
clean the land, they light fires without being able to control them. In Spain, and
Greece the current trend to burn the fields has been reported to increase (Velez, 1992;
Karanikola et al., 2011). Similarly, the residents stated that the farmers very often
(34.3%) and often (40.5%) light fires to burn agricultural leftovers, even if this is
forbidden.
Younger people can more easily adopt modern methods through awareness
building and training (Karanikola et al., 2011). As Baden (1981) makes clear,
informing the public about causes and control of forest fires is important to their
prevention. With regards to the existence of awareness building and training on how
to fight forest fires, 29.6% said “often”, 33.8% “some times” and 22.1% “rarely”.
In Cyprus the suppression of a forest fire is usually done by ground personnel.
Under certain conditions, aircrafts can contribute to combating fires but the final
effort is made on the ground. Thus, the residents of Larnaca were asked how satisfied
they were about the actions of the Forest Department within the forest and at the
village edges. During the demographic development in many European and USA
areas, people built their first or second residence near or within forests (Tokle, 1987).
According to the residents of Larnaca this happened near or within the forests of their
prefecture very often for 22.1% of the cases, often for 35.8% and sometimes for
26.8%. Respectively, the residents considered that the forest fires were successfully
extinguished along the forest delimitation line (often 37.7% and sometimes 27.5%),
and within the forests (often 34%, sometimes 26.2%), whereas for fires occurred at
the edges of their villages the relevant percentages were 27.5% (very often) and
40.8% (often). According to Vounassis (1999), the citizens in Greece help the fire
extinguishing forces only when the fire threatens their villages or some settlement
which is related to them and their lands. Nevertheless, the residents of Larnaca
reported that very often (51.4%) and often (32.2%) they participate to the
suppression of forest fires. Also, Services other than the Fire Service, such as the
Civil Defense Force, very often (51.4%) contributed to the suppression of forest
fires. As the Forest Department and other public authorities don’t possess adequate
excavating machinery, these were borrowed by the private sector. On this matter, the
respondents declared that very often (43.4%) and often (33.2%) immediate
requisition of private machinery was done by the government. One important reason
759
for this is to create anti-fire zones. With regards to this, 31.7% of the residents
declared that often trees were logged to create anti-fire zones.
Traditionally, the confrontation of fires is performed manually, with portable tools
and through the creation of infrastructure for the speedy detection of fire which
ensures the quick putting out of fire. The arrival of mechanical means increases the
probabilities for a successful confrontation of the fire. Pumps are widely used even
when it is difficult to transport them to the areas needed. However, practice shows
that fire protection teams tend to move back when the sound of the pump is heard,
believing that the water will do the job without manual work being needed. The same
often happens when bulldozers appear in the scene. The same pattern can be detected
with regards to air fire-extinguishing forces (Murphy, 1990). This behavior was also
evident in our survey, where the respondents stated that ground forces stopped
fighting the fire when the aircrafts arrived. Specifically, 24.9% of the people declared
that this happened sometimes, 20.8% often and 22.6% rarely.
According to the current legislation, after any fire the Forest Department is
obliged to take measures for the protection of the natural generation and the burnt
area and for the reforestation of the areas where no significant natural rebirth is
expected. On this matter, 32.7% of the residents stated that reforestation by the
Forest Department, when needed, happens sometimes (and 34% often). Similar were
their views for the public participation in the reforestation efforts; 35.1% said that
this happened sometimes, 29.4%, often and 10.9% rarely. For a successful
reforestation the burnt area is necessary to be protected from grazing. According to
the residents, some years after the fire the greening land was often (22.6%),
sometimes (33%) and rarely (20.3%) grazed by stock animals.
A forest fire can cause damage to residences, fruit trees and animal stocking.
27.3% of the people answered that financial support were often provided to those
who suffered losses, while 37.9% answered “sometimes”. Agricultural areas face
serious problems and the result is young people abandoning them (Myronidis and
Arabatzis 2009). Nevertheless after disastrous fires the tendency to abandon the area
is not bigger (Karanikola et al., 2011). On this issue, the respondents stated that in the
prefecture of Larnaca only sometimes (34%) and rarely (33.5%) the burnt areas were
abandoned. On the other hand, it was said that sometimes (27%) and rarely (37.7%)
the fires created new opportunities for jobs.
It is common knowledge that in many areas globally the purpose of forest fires is
the clear-cutting and then the appropriation of public forest land (Douros, 1991).
Hence, the fire is a “weapon” for the removal of forest vegetation (Dimitrakopoulos,
1991). However, the forest cadaster that exists in Cyprus discourages arsonists to
light fires for this reason. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Larnaca answered that
sometimes (34.8%) and rarely (22.1%) land appropriation took place after fires.
In the above variables reliability analysis was applied, after the appropriate checks
were performed. The reliability co-efficient alpha was 0.861 and this result provided
strong evidence that the grades of the scale are logically consistent.
Also factor analysis was applied and 8 factors were extracted. In Table 3 the
loadings are given after rotation of the factors. Some of them constitute the
correlation coefficients of the 8 variables with every one of the 8 variables extracted
from the analysis.
760
Table 3. Table with factor burdens after rotation.
Factor loadings
Variables
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
There are patrols along the forest
0.777 0.047 0.119 0.107 0.157 0.104 0.128 -0.019
delimitation line
There are patrols within the forests 0.861 0.133 0.146 0.002 0.112 0.037 -0.039 0.021
There are manned fire-outposts 0.770 0.149 -0.010 0.121 0.084 0.164 0.057 0.088
A. Before the forest fires
The Department of Forests conducts
0.409 0.102 0.066 0.137 0.121 0.649 0.160 0.035
vegetation removal-clearance in forests
Residents remove all dry greens from their
0.087 0.047 0.129 -0.009 -0.034 0.818 0.032 0.028
farmland
There are recreational areas within the
0.040 0.236 -0.021 0.179 0.161 0.506 0.048 0.390
forests that attract visitors
Residents light fires to burn agricultural
0.088 0.056 0.083 0.091 0.063 0.114 0.026 0.839
leftovers even if this is forbidden
Residents are educated –informed on how
0.355 0.129 0.105 0.425 -0.167 0.158 0.201 -0.009
to deal with a forest fire
Residents built their residence within or
-0.096 0.246 0.006 0.599 -0.014 -0.142 0.352 0.187
next to the forest
The fire is dealt with along the forest
0.333 0.250 -0.008 0.425 0.033 0.080 0.314 0.050
delimitation line
The fire is dealt with within the forest 0.324 0.064 0.032 0.081 0.076 0.029 0.736 0.118
The fire is dealt with at the village edges 0.374 0.477 0.184 0.117 -0.026 0.138 0.345 0.110
B. During the forest fires
Residents participate in the extinguishing of
0.001 0.783 -0.069 0.023 0.237 -0.081 0.031 0.069
the fires
There was participation of Services other
0.076 0.827 -0.078 0.006 0.112 0.126 0.003 0.034
than the Fire Service in the fires
There is requisition and mobilization of
0.158 0.761 0.099 0.156 0.033 0.016 0.011 0.001
private fire extinguishing machinery
Trees are logged to create anti- fire zones 0.170 0.581 0.081 0.193 0.133 0.327 -0.003 0.020
With the appearance of air fire
extinguishing forces, ground forces stop -0.152 -0.094 0.291 -0.001 0.255 0.282 0.609 -0.231
operating
There is immediate evacuation of villages
-0.059 0.346 0.245 -0.102 0.601 -0.068 0.047 0.118
in case of danger
Reforestation took place when recovery
0.326 0.060 -0.025 0.065 0.696 0.091 0.223 -0.013
failed
Residents participate in reforestation efforts 0.089 0.223 0.115 0.175 0.713 0.056 0.034 0.070
There is financial support for the people
0.256 -0.014 -0.008 0.397 0.450 0.249 -0.305 -0.152
affected
C. After the forest fires
Proposals for buying new fire extinguishing
0.041 0.093 0.077 0.698 0.286 0.187 -0.135 0.100
equipment took place
Grazing from farm animals in the greening
0.205 -0.026 0.431 0.568 0.056 0.011 -0.025 -0.044
burnt areas took place
The residents of burnt areas abandoned
0.162 -0.047 0.685 0.208 0.070 0.131 0.047 -0.185
them
After a big fire jobs were created,
0.174 0.016 0.667 0.084 0.124 0.143 0.003 -0.253
especially in reforestation
There is appropriation of forest lands 0.002 0.087 0.785 -0.023 0.035 -0.097 0.134 0.258
Proposal for buying or exchanging private
-0.024 0.026 0.779 0.022 0.032 0.071 0.038 0.254
lands located in the forests
The burdens given in bold show which variables were linked to each factor.
761
The bigger the loadings of the variable in each factor, the more this factor is
responsible for the total variance to the grades within the variable under
consideration.
The variables that ‘belong’ to every factor are those for which the loading
(columns 1, 2, 3) is bigger (than 0.5) in this factor (Table 3).
The 1st factor (hereafter characterized as “preventive measures”) comprises the 2
“patrolling” variables and “manned fire-outposts”. The 6th factor (hereafter
characterized as “vegetation and visitors’ management” comprises the variables
“vegetation removal-clearance in forests”, “dry greens removal from the farmlands”
and “recreational areas”. The 8th factor (hereafter “burning of agricultural leftovers”
includes only this variable. The 4th factor (hereafter “socialization of forest fires”
consists of the variables “Information and education of citizens”, “residences within
the forests”, “fires confronted along the forest delimitation line”, “fire-fighting
equipment” and “grazing of the burnt area”. An interesting finding here is the fact
that the residents try to stop fires at the forest delimitation line; their concern is to
save their homes, rather than protecting the forests.
In the 7th factor (hereafter called “traditional ways of firefighting”) the variables
“fires confronted within the forest” and “with the appearance of air-fire extinguishing
ground forces stop operating” are summarized. On the contrary, the 2nd factor
(hereafter “integrated ways of confronting forest fires”) includes the variables “fires
dealt with along the village edges”, “participation of other services”, “requisition and
mobilization of private machinery” and “anti-fire-zones”. The 5th factor called “local
communities and forest fires” consists of the variables “evacuation of villages”,
“residents’ participation in reforestation”, “financial support of the people affected”,
“reforestation at-play”. The 3rd factor called “consequences of fires” comprises the
variables “area abandoning”, “job creation after the fire”, “Encroachment of forest
land” and “purchase or exchanging of private land within the state forests”.
4 Conclusions
Fire constitutes the most serious danger for the forests of Cyprus, due to the lack
of proper prevention measures. In particular the residents of Larnaca, with respect to
the “preventing measures” group of actions, believe that the existence of manned fire
outposts were not organized effectively but the patrols in the forests seem to hold a
more positive view. Regarding the “vegetation management” group of actions, the
residents also hold a negative view on the work made by the Forest Department to
remove all the dry vegetation from the forests. They also consider that the majority of
the residents don’t remove the vegetation from their farmlands, a fact that raises extra
concerns as the removal of combustible material is well-known as the most important
way of protecting the forest from fire. Nevertheless, there seems to be reasonable
awareness building among residents on how to confront forest fires.
Similarly, it becomes obvious that many farmers behave in undesirable ways when
it comes to the burning of agricultural leftovers. Although it is not easy to change the
behavior of aged people on the use of fire to the removal of leftovers, a possible way
762
to address this issue could be to promote a co-operation between the authorities and
the farmers on how to control the burning of leftovers.
With regards to the actions taken after a forest fire the respondents view rather
negatively the reaction of the Forest Department and of the general public in
reforestation efforts. Also they are not absolutely satisfied about the financial support
provided to the people affected. It is positive however that after a fire no major
abandoning of the areas is reported.
On the whole, forests need to be protected not only from fire but also from other
factors which contribute to their construction. The best way to guard the forests is
their management with the creation of goods and services from them.
Acknowledgments This research has been co-financed by the European Union
(European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational
Program "Education and Lifelong Learning" of the National Strategic Reference
Framework (NSRF) - Research Funding Program: Thales. Investing in knowledge
society through the European Social Fund.
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