=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2761/HAICTA_2020_paper94
|storemode=property
|title=Sustainability Constraints in Greece. Focusing on Forest Management and Biodiversity
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2761/HAICTA_2020_paper94.pdf
|volume=Vol-2761
|authors=Panagiotis Koulelis,Alexandra Solomou,Vasilia Fassouli
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/haicta/KoulelisSF20
}}
==Sustainability Constraints in Greece. Focusing on Forest Management and Biodiversity==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2761/HAICTA_2020_paper94.pdf
Sustainability Constraints in Greece. Focusing on Forest
Management and Biodiversity
Panagiotis Koulelis1, Alexandra Solomou2, Vasilia Fassouli3
1
Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agriculture Organization Demeter,
Greece; e-mail: pkoulelis@fria.gr
2
Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agriculture Organization Demeter,
Greece; e-mail: solomou@fria.gr
3
Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agriculture Organization Demeter,
Greece; e-mail: vasfas@aua.gr
Abstract. The forest policy in Greece and the current regulatory framework is
not efficient to support the implementation of sustainability at a satisfactory
level. The main scope of this study is to present, analyze and evaluate legislation
and practices that are likely to play the role of constraints towards sustainability.
The hypothesis is that common practices in the forest field combined with
inefficient and obsolete legislation are responsible for delays in the
implementation of a national forest policy which will promote sustainability. A
systematic methodology was applied so to ensure a rigorous and repeatable
method of sustainability constraints identification and evaluation. The
identification of constraints can promote the improvement of legislation, the
revision of common practices concerning the forest sector and finally can help
the forest managers to understand better how to work effectively within legal,
regulatory, and operational environments deriving from forest policy.
Keywords: Forest management; biodiversity; constraints; sustainability; SDGs;
Greece.
1 Introduction
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set by the United Nations (UN) in
2015, when 193 countries adopted an agenda, comprising of 17 Goals and 169 Targets,
which are “integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable
development: the economic, social and environmental” (UN, 2015). The Goals and
Targets encourage global, national and local level actions to be taken over 2030,
affecting all critical areas of humanity. They entail challenges regarding coordination,
responsibility, planning, arrangement, expertise and commitment (Allen et al., 2018).
Forests and biodiversity are vital for achieving the SDGs, as they are significantly
interlinked with food, energy production, health, water, economy, climate etc. In the
SDGs, forests are mentioned in specific targets of Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
and Goal 15 (Life on Land). More precisely, SDG 6 mentions the protection of forests
in Target 6.6, which focuses at “protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems,
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including mountains, forests etc.” (UN, 2015). SDG 15 focuses on “the protection,
restoration and promotion of sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainable
forest management as well as halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity and land
degradation”. To accomplish Goal 15, UN members have to achieve 12 targets, from
which 3 refer directly to forests (15.1, 15.2 and 15.B) (table 1) and 7 to biodiversity
(15.1, 15.4, 15.5, 15.7, 15.8, 15.9, 15.A) (table 2).
According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019 (UN, 2019),
biodiversity loss is critical, with approximately one million species facing extinction.
Concerning the implementation of the Agenda, the report depicts an unavailability of
implementation means and financing (UN, 2019). Concerning forests and biodiversity
in Goal 15, globally, there are some promising trends, portraying the increase of
terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity protection (plus financial assistance) and the
decrease of forest loss. On the other hand, biodiversity loss continues, and efforts for
protection and restoration of ecosystems and species, are frustrated due to invasive
species and poaching and trafficking of wildlife. A beating alarm, clearly portrayed in
the Report (UN, 2019), is the deterioration of the Red List Index (risk of extinction),
from 0.82 in 1993 to 0.73 globally in 2019 (a value of 1 indicates no threat, and a value
of 0 indicates that all species are extinct).
1.1 Current situation in forest management
Based on table 1, more concern is given by the SDGs in conservation, restoration
and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services,
particularly forest ecosystems, aiming to promote the implementation of sustainable
management, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and increase afforestation and
reforestation. Finally, target 15D underlines the need for stable financial support to
sustainable forest management. According to Spanos et al. (2015), the main forest
management approaches in Greece are wood and non-wood production, like resin,
honey, wild plants, livestock etc. Additionally, attention is given to the social uses like
wildlife, recreation and hunting. Considered that more than 63.5% of the forests are
state-owned, 12% are owned by local communities and the rest 22.5% are privately-
owned (by monasteries or individuals etc.), the major stakeholder of the Greek forests
is the state (FRA, 2015). Thus, Greek authorities are responsible for the long-term
implementation of SDGs and for the implementation and the updating of the legislation
and practices that are common in the forest sector. Even with the management of
private owned forests, the final management plan must be authorized by the local forest
service, considering that same laws are applied in public and in private forests. This
type of administration seems to be very state-centered, followed by weaknesses like
bureaucracy or slow decision-making. On the other hand, this administration offers a
relative security in terms of strict law enforcement and the protection of the forests.
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Table 1. Targets aiming to Goal 15 regarding forests.
15.1 By 2020, ensure the
conservation, restoration and
sustainable use of terrestrial and
inland freshwater ecosystems and
their services, in particular forests,
wetlands, mountains and drylands,
in line with obligations under
international agreements.
Goal 15. Protect, restore 15.2 By 2020, promote the
and promote sustainable use FOREST implementation of sustainable
of terrestrial ecosystems, RELATED management of all types of forests,
sustainably manage forests, TARGETS halt deforestation, restore degraded
combat desertification, and forests and substantially increase
halt and reverse land afforestation and reforestation
degradation and halt globally.
biodiversity loss
15.B Mobilize significant
resources from all sources and at all
levels to finance sustainable forest
management and provide adequate
incentives to developing countries
to advance such management,
including for conservation and
reforestation.
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Table 2. Targets aiming to Goal 15 regarding biodiversity.
15.1 By 2020, ensure the
conservation, restoration and
sustainable use of terrestrial
and inland freshwater
ecosystems and their services,
in particular forests, wetlands,
mountains and drylands, in line
with obligations under
international agreements.
15.4 By 2030, ensure the
conservation of mountain
ecosystems, including their
biodiversity, in order to
enhance their capacity to
provide benefits that are
essential for sustainable
development.
15.5 Take urgent and
significant action to reduce the
degradation of natural habitats,
halt the loss of biodiversity
and, by 2020, protect and
prevent the extinction of
threatened species.
Goal 15. Protect, 15.7 Take urgent action to
restore and promote end poaching and trafficking of
sustainable use of BIODIVERSITY protected species of flora and
terrestrial ecosystems, RELATED fauna and address both demand
sustainably manage TARGETS and supply of illegal wildlife
forests, combat products.
desertification, and halt
and reverse land
degradation and halt
biodiversity loss.
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15.8 By 2020, introduce
measures to prevent the
introduction and significantly
reduce the impact of invasive
alien species on land and water
ecosystems and control or
eradicate the priority species.
15.9 By 2020, integrate
ecosystem and biodiversity
values into national and local
planning, development
processes, poverty reduction
strategies and accounts
15.A Mobilize and
significantly increase financial
resources from all sources to
conserve and sustainably use
biodiversity and ecosystems
15.C Enhance global
support for efforts to combat
poaching and trafficking of
protected species, including by
increasing the capacity of local
communities to pursue
sustainable livelihood
opportunities
1.2 Current situation in biodiversity
The protection of the natural and cultural environment is a state obligation and a
citizen’s right, protected by the Greek Constitution (Article 24) and by various
legislative initiatives, which cover a plethora of environmental aspects, such as forest
management (Forest Code of Greece), species protection, conservation of indigenous
farm animal breeds, structured environment, protected areas etc. Greece is considered
as a biodiversity "hot-spot", with more than 6200 endemic species (Legakis, 2010;
Georgiou and Delipetrou, 2011) and as one of the most important endemic centers in
Europe and the Mediterranean, with 1278 endemic species (22.2% of the total number
of species) and 452 endemic subspecies, representing 1461 taxa (22.1% of the total
taxa number). Regarding its fauna, 23130 species of land and freshwater animals have
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been recorded so far, of which 3956 are endemic, as well as another 3500 marine
species (Fauna Europaea Web Service, 2004; Legakis and Maragkou, 2009).
Regarding biodiversity and its conservation, law 3937 stands in the country from 2011
(Greek OJ number 60/Α of 31.03.2011), and its status is constantly monitored by the
Ministry of Environment and Energy. In 2014 a National Strategy for biodiversity was
approved to be implemented until 2029 (Greek OJ number 2383 of 8.11.2014), (HLPF,
2018). In 2017, Law 4495/2017 was approved for the Control and Protection of the
Structured Environment (Greek OJ number 167/Α of 3.11.2017), and JMD
50743/2017 for the Revision of the national catalog of areas falling under the European
Ecological Network Natura 2000 (Joint Ministerial Decision number 4432/Β of
15.12.2017).
2 Materials and methods
Aiming to a systematic research to discover the necessary knowledge through
describing, explaining the sustainability context at national level (regarding current
practices in forest management and biodiversity protection), a document analysis was
adopted. Document analysis is a systematic procedure for reviewing or evaluating
documents—both printed and electronic (computer-based and Internet-transmitted)
material, which requires that data are examined and interpreted to elicit meaning, gain
understanding, and develop empirical knowledge (Corbin & Strauss, 2008; Rapley,
2007). As Bowen (2009) reports, documents that may be used for systematic
evaluation as part of a study, take a variety of forms. The approach of this study mostly
follows public records of legislation, press releases, papers, books and journals which
are related to forest management and biodiversity protection. Following that, the study
employs literature reviewing, personal practical knowledge and statements of the
authors as well, to achieve convergence and corroboration.
3 Results and Discussion
A thorough, systematic review of documentation provided background information
is presented in graph 1, aiming to list, interpret and understand important constraints.
Target 15.B points towards financing sustainable forest management and mobilizing
significant resources. In contrast, Spanos et al., (2015) reported the issue of the weak
financing in forestry in general and the lack of investment in the exploitation of the
potential of forest resources. The issue of poor financing seems to be listed also at the
national forestry strategic plan (2018) (Article 7). In addition, Kazana et al. (2015)
includes the lack of funds in forest management plan studies and Koulelis (2011)
referred that the motives offered for private investments in the timber sector are
deficient. Targets 15.1 and 15.2. promote the implementation of sustainable forest
management of all types of forests. Spanos et al. (2015) reported that in Greece the
logging system is problematic, with deficiencies in the organization of wood
harvesting in forests, and significant negative effects, both on forestry working
597
operations and the forest. They claimed that practices like substantial supervision by
foresters play their negative role. Furthermore, inefficient and outdated management
practices make it difficult to continue logging operations and forest production
especially in environmentally sensitive areas (N. 2000 Network, National Parks,
Aesthetic Forests). The high cost and the outdated methods of harvesting and
production, the highland terrain of the Greek mountains and the low level of
automation in harvesting increase production and transportation costs (Koulelis, 2016).
Kazana et al. (2015) also adds the exploitation system of public forest and the outdated
forest management plans standards in the weaknesses factors of a SWOT analysis for
sustainable forest management and monitoring in Northern Greece. Moreover,
deficiencies in the information system and statistical forestry, an administration system
of forestry services not performing well and incomplete support for forestry research
are reported by Spanos et al. (2016). The lack of know-how (new technologies and
tools) and inefficient forestry legislation is reported by Kazana et al. (2015), while
complicated forest legislation is reported by Solomou et al. (2016). Incomplete support
for forestry research is also reported by Spanos et al. (2016). The authors' view on this
issue converges. Forest research enhances the protection and exploitation of the
national forest resources at the same time.
Inadequate standardization of forest products, problematic exploitation of timber
and other forest products, lack of modern systems in quality certification of wood and
forest management, are some expressions of the common observed constraint of the
lack of a national forest products certification system (Georgiadis & Cooper, 2007;
Koulelis, 2011; Kazana et al., 2015; Spanos et al., 2016). The above-mentioned
constraints may be validated, as recently, in 2018, a National Strategy for Forests was
established in Greece (The National Forestry Strategic Development Plan 2018-2038),
to address them through respective actions.
Regarding biodiversity constraints, Solomou (2013) reported insufficient scientific
data on the individual components of biodiversity and the trends that characterize
them, thus appropriate measures, such as optimizing the demarcation of protected areas
are necessary. Dimopoulos et al. (2006) denoted that the lack of monitoring data can
reduce the capacity for informed decision-making towards conservation targets.
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Fig. 1. National constraints towards forests sustainability.
According to Solomou and Sfougaris (2011), it is crucial to detect spatial–temporal
biodiversity changes through monitoring for better allocation of conservation efforts
and assessment of the progress towards relevant targets.
Additionally, National Strategy & Action Plan for Biodiversity (2014) focused on
the partial (or non) implementation of the existing institutional framework, which
enables various illegal activities to occur, such as: poaching, overfishing, etc. Also, the
lack of adequate environmental education/awareness of those engaged in productive
activities do not allow them to make environmentally friendly choices. Moreover,
several important biodiversity constraints such as a) the non - integration of
sustainability principles in productive activities, b) the lack of stable funding,
understaffing of protected area management structures, c) the lack of specialized and
adequately staffed related services at central and regional level. (Solomou & Sfougaris
2011; National Strategy & Action Plan for Biodiversity, 2014; EKBY 2020; Nature
and biodiversity of Greece 2020; Solomou 2013).
4 Conclusions
Constraints such as lack of resources by the government, bureaucracy, lack of
investments and a forest certification system, weak private forest sector and inefficient
logging system were detected. Likewise, the lack of effective monitoring of
biodiversity, knowledge gaps, poorly performing system administration and the
ineffective law enforcement simultaneously with the intermittent
productive relationships between public administration, academia and other
authorities were detected as the most common constraints towards sustainability. One
main vision of the National Strategy is to "Ensure sustainability and increase the
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contribution of forest ecosystems to the country's economy through multifunctionality,
adaptability and strengthening their socio-economic role" (Article 2), a vision totally
compatible with the SDG 15 and its targets. From now on, it must be proven in time
that all these proposed actions will be implemented. Any new forestry-related
legislation submitted for voting should consider both the SDGs and the national
strategy vision.
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