The high percentage (50% of the affected area) of unburnt islets and low/moderate fire severity leaves a message of optimism for the conservation of biodiversity and rare predator and scavenger species in the area.
The first scientific data to record it environmental damage in the forest of Dadia from the recent fire, show that the devastating effects were limited to approximately half (22,097 acres) of the total area (45,412 acres) affected.
Processing of very high spatial resolution satellite images by the European Union-funded Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency’s Post Fire Biodiversity Recovery Hub, taken after the National Park fire was extinguished on 29 July, shows that:
● Areas where the fire spread primarily on the ground surface, burning forest fuel in contact with the ground (e.g., lying dry leaves and needles, small branches, grasses and low shrubs), leaving unaffected or nearly unaffected count of trees, amounts to 16,072 acres.
● The completely unburned islands of vegetation within the affected area amount to an area of 6,153 hectares.
● The areas where the fire burned almost all the available vegetation from the canopy to the crown of the trees or caused complete destruction of the vegetation, amount to 22,097 hectares.
The high percentage (50% of the affected area) of unburnt islets and low/moderate fire severity leaves a message of optimism for the conservation of biodiversity and rare predator and scavenger species in the area.
The next steps for the ecological restoration of the Dadia – Lefkimmi – Soufli National Forest Park include:
1. Mapping and assessing changes in natural capital and ecosystem services.
2. Fire severity recording at individual (tree) level, with very high definition images.
3. Recruitment of temporary staff (ornithologists and foresters) to support the local Management Unit and other local services.
4. Caring for wild animals in continuous cooperation with the competent agencies and NGOs. A First Aid Station for wild animals is already operating in the Unit building, in collaboration with the “ANIMA” Association. Veterinarians and six volunteers participate in the action, who have already provided first aid to injured turtles and toads. At the same time, two white vultures, one of the rare species of vulture that live in the area, will be immediately transported back to their nests.
5. Restoration of the predator observatory as well as the scavenger feeder destroyed by the fire.
6. Demarcation, based on flood risk, of the areas that should be logged immediately to carry out, if necessary, anti-corrosion and anti-flood works.
7. Evaluation, based on the ecological assessment, of whether there is a need to revise the management plan of the National Park for the areas that have not burned.
8. It will be planned for the spring of 2023 to repeat the census of the populations of the birds of prey that was done in 2020, so as to record how the distribution and the number of territories in the National Park have been affected.
9. Preparation of a long-term plan for the systematic monitoring of the protected object in the affected area with a minimum horizon of 15 years, for the long-term recording of the effects and the progress of the restoration.
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Kostas Skrekas, made the following statement: “For our Government, the battle for the protection of the environment is ongoing and is proven in practice. With coordinated interventions by the State, under the orders of the competent government bodies, the fire was controlled in time and the restoration process is already starting in the forest of Dadia. I must congratulate all those who with superhuman efforts managed to limit the damage in the field but also all those working for the rapid and complete restoration of the ecosystem in the Dadia Forest area. The respect and protection of the environment was and remains a fundamental commitment of our Government”.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Giorgos Amyras, made the following statement: “The restoration of biodiversity and natural capital in the Dadia Forest is a top priority for the Ministry of the Interior and that is why we are working closely with local authorities and environmental organizations. The areas of the National Park that have been affected by the fires are demarcated, mapped and thoroughly studied in order to immediately implement the necessary management measures for recovery.
RES-EMP
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