Mitsotakis: Six “fraudulent mountains” in a regime of very increased environmental protection

The government is putting six pristine mountains under a regime of very increased environmental protection, as Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Friday during the presentation of the initiative of the Ministry of Environment and Energy “Fraud Mountains”, which was instituted by Ministerial Decision.

These are the White Mountains, Taygetos, Saos in Samothrace, Tymfi and Smolikas in Pindos and Mount Hatzi in Thessaly.

“And there will be virtually forbidden any intervention that would alter the character of these mountains. In this way, we will help the flora and fauna to develop, but I believe that we will also orient human activities in new ways of getting to know the mountain “, stressed the Prime Minister.

“Land will no longer be divided in these areas, new roads will not be open, wind turbines will not be able to be installed. Historic trails will be maintained, their signage will be upgraded, they will be even more suitable for excursions, hiking, sports and ecotourism activities. Here I would say that this is the other side of our development program, which in the stubbornness of risk-takers does not see the environment as a distant scene, as a painting still life, but as a key component of the expressions of our daily lives. “I also want to point out that this initiative in no way calls into question the parallel pillar of the development of Renewable Energy Sources,” said the Prime Minister.

Addressing the participants in the workshop, Mr. Mitsotakis thanked for all the scientific support and pointed out: “I think that in terms of the way we perceive the new jobs that can be created around the field of environmental protection and a tourism that respects the environment and biodiversity, that we open a new path for young children who may perceive their stay in their place differently “.

Political application based on scientific research

Starting the presentation, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, George Amyras, stated: “You had instructed us, in the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, in Kostas Skrekas and in me, to take care of biodiversity. Because, as you told us, protecting biodiversity is the answer, the best answer, to the climate crisis. The longer we keep the habitats organized, organized and indestructible the more we help the places to grow, the flora and the fauna. So, we start with the “Fraudulent Mountains”, 6 mountains all over the country, from north to south “.
“Such actions will greatly help agritourism and especially a tourism that is considered quality tourism and which has discovered Greece long before we ourselves discover this type of tourism. So these people will continue through these decisions you make and the mountains that will remain a scam. It is certain and guarantees in the future this kind of quality tourism that it will continue and come to our mountains and why not to the beaches as you want to expand it “, noted the Mountain Guide and Manager of the Astrakas Shelter in Tymfi, George Rokas.

“This is one of the brilliant examples that political application is based on scientific research, because this is always the magic rule that is always successful when there are scientifically substantiated political decisions. Congratulations personally and for the political courage that you show and you move forward and you start and you will inspire Europe, I am sure through this initiative. To say that there is a global trend on this “, pointed out the professor, head of the Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, Department of Biological Applications & Technologies of the University of Ioannina, Vasiliki Kati.

“The first discussions I have had with my colleagues who are in other organizations, is that it is a pleasant surprise,” said the president of the Board of the Association for the Protection and Care of Wildlife ANIMA, Maria Ganoti. “I remember from the beginning that we were trying to say that roads are a problem and that was treated disparagingly, this terrible attitude, because the road thousands of years ago has been identified with culture with access, with development and it is very difficult people to change their attitude towards it. Growth always came with the road and always the road brought all the other evils. And it is really very pleasing that six mountains now, and I believe to become fifty-six, and that we would like to reach a percentage of around 2% of the Greek land that is fraudulent “, added Mrs. Ganoti who reminded a dialogue that The father of the prime minister, Konstantinos Mitsotakis, once had a cattle breeder in the mountains of Crete.

“I’m glad you mentioned my father and I think he would be happy today if he was with us because many times having walked with him in the White Mountains, we had just this conversation and he did not hesitate to go then against his friends and his constituents. breeders, explaining to them that the future is not always to go a road to the place where the breeder wanted to be. Already if you go for a walk today and climb Pachnes, which is the highest peak of the White Mountains, you will see a road that reaches 2,100 meters. The next thing was to reach the top. So we put an end to what happened, it happened, but from now on we have to look at things through a different perspective. “So thank you very much again for being here and we still have a lot to do,” the prime minister replied.

The working meeting was also attended by the Ministers of State George Gerapetritis and Akis Skertsos.

The following is the entire position of the Prime Minister:

I am really very happy to welcome you today at the Maximos Palace to officially announce, I believe, a very important initiative, at least for us who love the mountains, I consider this program of “Cheat Mountains” extremely important, which we are launching today.

You will remember that this is a program that I announced in advance when I spoke at the Glasgow Climate Change Conference a few months ago and we are now pleased to be able to implement it. And to put it simply, let everyone understand it, we are essentially putting in a regime of much increased environmental shield six virgin mountains: the White Mountains, Taygetos, Saos in Samothrace, Tymfi and Smolikas in Pindos and Mount Hatzi in Thessaly. And there will be virtually forbidden any intervention that would alter the character of these mountains. In this way we will help the flora and fauna to develop, but I believe that we will also orient human activities in new ways of getting to know the mountain.
Land will no longer be fragmented in these areas, new roads will not be open, wind turbines will not be able to be installed. Historic trails will be maintained, their signage will be upgraded, they will be even more suitable for excursions, hiking, sports and ecotourism activities. Here I would say that this is the other side of our development program, which in the stubbornness of risk-takers does not see the environment as a distant scene, as a painting still life, but as a key component of the expressions of our daily lives. I would also like to point out that this initiative in no way calls into question the parallel pillar of the development of Renewable Energy Sources.

We have enough space in Greece to install the wind turbines we need in order to achieve the ambitious goals we have set in the framework of the National Plan for Energy and Climate and our overall commitment to move towards a model of energy production that will comes very much from renewable energy sources. It’s just that these wind turbines will not be installed in the “Fraudulent Mountains” and I believe that this is an initiative that balances between the various manifestations of green growth but also the need to protect these mountains which are so special and which are slowly beginning. and gain the global recognition they deserve.

I was watching a Reuters report a while ago with photos of Behrakis, which unfortunately left us very early, and this is also a way for everyone to know the wealth of the Greek mountains and to realize that Greece is not only sun and sea, it is also mountains. . And in fact, with great interest, I saw – you may have seen it – an article in the New York Times that highlights Crete as perhaps the best destination in the world for spring mountain skiing. And of course, I can not remember, maybe you do not know, that my first acquaintance after the mountains of Epirus was when I was 14 years old I participated in an excursion organized by scenes then XANTH and we had crossed Viko, but we had climbed in both Tymfi and Smolika.

So I have these very strong memories in me and I am glad that after some decades I am given the opportunity, we are given the opportunity, together with the Minister to do something essential to protect these mountains and of course to look at how the program this can be extended to other mountain ranges. But today we are making an important start and I believe it is an initiative that will be recognized internationally. And I want to thank you for all the scientific support that we have and I think that in terms of the way we perceive and the new jobs that can be created around the field of environmental protection and a tourism that respects the environment. and biodiversity, that we are opening a new path for young children who may perceive their stay in their place differently “.

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