The meters for the elimination and prevention of the spread of metachromatic sycamore ulcer, one disease which for two decades has been spreading in the sycamore forests of Western Greece from the pathogenic fungus Ceratocystis platani, are included in the MOU signed by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Giorgos Georgantas, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thodoros Skylakakis, and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Giorgos Amyras .

The measures adopted are provided for in European Commission regulations, in a relevant study by “ELGO Dimitra” and in the recommendations of the Forestry Services.

According to KYA:

● The macroscopic phytosanitary controls throughout the country continue, which are implemented by the Benakeio Phytopathological Institute in accordance with the program of annual inspections, drawn up in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

● The Directorate of Forest Protection of the General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environment of the Ministry of the Environment is designated responsible for the drafting of a national action plan.

● After the confirmation of a case, the demarcated zones around it are recorded on digital maps, which will be posted on a special website.

● Local Action Plans are drawn up, where the countermeasures and the role of each involved competent agency or institution are defined.

● In demarcated zones intensive inspections are applied. If, after the survey, the presence of the harmful organism is not found – during 10 consecutive years instead of 2 years in the previous GMP – then the zones cease to apply, as do the measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

● In the appropriate measures concerning the cutting, destruction by burning or landfilling of the affected trees, the possibility of transporting and further managing the affected wood with heat treatment in suitable units (e.g. biomass production) is now also mentioned, always under supervision of the relevant Forest Service.

● Specific administrative fines of up to 50,000 euros are set for offenders, e.g. non-disinfection of cutting tools, handling of sycamore plants or timber from an infested area, obstructing inspections. Administrative Fines are a resource for the account of the Special Forest Agency managed by the Green Fund, to be used for the immediate restoration of forest ecosystems.

The Minister of Rural Development and Foodn, Giorgos Georgantas, said: “From the first moment we were informed about the metachromatic ulcer disease in the plane trees of Greece, we took the necessary measures to protect them. With this specific MIA, after taking into account the recommendations of the Forestry Services and the study of “ELGO Dimitra” and with the help of technology, we will do everything in our power to deal with this problem and not harm our forester wealth.”.

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Giorgos Amyras, said: “The metachromatic ulcer is an insidious disease that threatens the country’s riparian ecosystems and habitats. With the cooperation we have developed in the Ministry of the Environment with the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Giorgos Georgantas, we are establishing a strict framework for the controls, recording and treatment of plane tree disease.”