The proposal for the integrated management of Greece’s forest ecosystems was presented today at a special press conference by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Thodoros Skylakakis.

Mr. Skylakakis described the seven main features that the proposal will have as well as the steps that should be taken for its implementation.

In particular, the features of the new management model of the forest ecosystems of Greece, proposed by the Minister of Environment and Energy, include the following:

1. Updated management studies

Management studies will be drawn up for all forests – with updated technical specifications, which will receive approval from the relevant forestry service. In addition, a digital platform will be created through which these management studies, as well as all other work of the forest service, will be monitored and implemented.

2. Subsidy of the extraction of certified forest biomass

The subsidy will result from the approved management studies, based on the protection and development of forest ecosystems. The more difficult it is to extract the biomass and the more it contributes to prevention, the higher the subsidy will be. It will be provided annually, based on the sales invoices of the biomass consumed. For the design of the subsidy system, all relevant parameters will be taken into account, such as the type of timber, the end use, the degree of difficulty of extraction (e.g. forest slope, accessibility, special features of the relief), etc.

3. “Twinning” of North-South forests

Of the 76 million hectares, which is the total area of ​​forest ecosystems in Greece, about half are not managed – mainly the forests in Southern Greece. That is why it is proposed that they be “twinned” with those managed in the North. This means that the invitations of the Ministry of Environment and Energy for the management and productive exploitation of these will jointly concern “sisterly” forest ecosystems of Northern and Southern Greece.

4. Carbon Credits creation system

The creation of a voluntary CO2 absorption market, through an exchange, from afforestation, reforestation or forest management improvement projects is foreseen. CO2 absorptions are calculated based on common rules, which will be set by the State – depending on the type of project, the type of vegetation and the climate zone – and will be certified by specially accredited companies of recognized prestige.

5. Mandatory fire protection measures

Along with the respective management study, the corresponding approved fire safety study will be applied, compulsorily.

6. New hybrid cooperative schemes

The Forestry Work Cooperatives (DCWs), which currently amount to 293, will be utilized for all processes of extracting biomass products in public forests, either independently or through the mandatory cooperation with the DCWs, in the form of hybrid cooperative schemes of companies that manage and add value in certified biomass (wood processing, biofuel production, etc.). Pursuit, the realization of significant investments in equipment, which will increase the efficiency of biomass extraction.

7. Reinforcement of the forestry service

For the implementation of the above reform, the forestry service is being strengthened with permanent (500 staff) and seasonal staff (1,200 staff per year, based on existing legislation) and its means and infrastructure are being upgraded from the “smart forest” program (e.g. laptop, tablet, satellite internet, sensors, drones, 300 AEGIS vehicles, etc.).

“The integrated management of forest ecosystems will lead to clean-up and prevention projects, reducing the fire risks brought about by the impending climate crisis. At the same time, local communities will be supported and new jobs will be created, while taxable income will increase and the informal economy will decrease. This is a reform that creates a new dynamic, from which permanent resources will emerge for the sustainability and development of our forests,” said the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Skylakakis.

The strategic objectives of the proposal, as emerged from the presentation, are the integrated management of forest ecosystems, which, among others, will lead to cleaning and prevention projects with the aim of reducing the risk of fire, increasing the product chain and national produced value, supporting local societies and the creation of new jobs, the reduction of the informal economy and the creation of a reliable data recording and monitoring system.

At the same time, the directions and the basic steps to be taken were presented in order to implement the proposal for the integrated management of the country’s forest ecosystems.

Specifically:

– For all forests, drawing up of a Management Study with up-to-date Technical Specifications and its approval by the relevant forestry service.

– Subsidy from the pollutant resources of biomass extraction from forests (indicative amount in full implementation approximately 150 million euros per year) and creation of a pollutant market created by forest management and the certified extraction and use of forest biomass (in the context of a wider system purchase of pollutants from the forestry, agricultural etc. sector).

– Effective prevention of illegally logged biomass, as well as its trafficking

– Utilization of Forestry Work Cooperatives (DACE) for all processes of extraction of biomass products. Anticipating the possibility of DASE cooperation with companies that manage and add value to certified biomass (wood processing, biofuel production, etc.) by creating joint hybrid cooperative schemes, to make significant investments in equipment that increases productivity in the forest.

– Upgrading of means and infrastructures of DASE and hybrid cooperative schemes, following the relevant provision of funding from the Green Fund.

– Safety regulation for forest workers and provision of relevant specializations for forest work by the Public IEK.

– Activation and utilization of the DASE in major incidents of forest fires with their compensation, through a relevant legislative provision.

– Competitive procedures for the implementation of management studies and the obligation of prevention projects in forests with low productive capacity to those who undertake the management of forests with high productive capacity. The procedures start in principle from forests that are out of management.

– Reinforcement of the forestry service by rapidly completing recruitments with permanent staff (500 staff) and seasonal staff (1200 staff per year, based on existing legislation). Upgrading of means and infrastructure of the forest service through the “smart forest” program (laptop, tablet, satellite internet, sensors, drones, 300 AEGIS vehicles, etc.).

– Establishment of a compensatory benefit to all households in mountainous / disadvantaged areas based on the biomass enjoyed in the form of rebates on electricity bills.

– Burned forest ecosystems are not included in the biomass subsidy system.

According to the data presented regarding the current situation, the total area of ​​the forest ecosystem (year 2022) is equivalent to 76 million hectares. About 49% of forest ecosystems are under productive management (spatial approach). The number of registered Forestry Workers in MIDASSO amounts to 9,220, while the total number of Forestry Labor Cooperatives in Greece (DASE) currently amounts to 293.

As mentioned during the press conference, approximately half of the forest ecosystems in the Greek area are not under management, while it was emphasized that there is a need for the sustainable management of all the forest ecosystems in the Greek territory, a fact which is even more required by the climate crisis. Furthermore, it was underlined that in all the forest ecosystems that are currently under management, not all the forest products foreseen by the approved Management Studies (DM) are enjoyed. “Management is of multiple importance because it is the best type of prevention,” noted Mr. Skylakakis.

Regarding the management studies, the majority of those in force are recorded in the Regions of Thessaly (101), Central Macedonia (96) and Western Macedonia (62).

As Mr. Skylakakis pointed out, in southern Greece and on the islands there is a lack of DASE and management studies.

In particular, Northern Greece has the most DASE, with the first positions corresponding to the Regions of Central Macedonia (105), Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (48) and Western Macedonia (45) which add up to approximately 68% of the country’s total number of DASE .

The majority of forest worker members of the active DASE are located in the respective Regions, namely 3,179 in Central Macedonia, 1,503 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and 1,139 in Western Macedonia.

In addition, it was emphasized that the staff in DASE and forestry services are over 50 years old with the majority of employees between 50-60 years of age, while it was pointed out that not all forest workers are active and there is an immediate need to activate new forest workers with certification technical training. Finally, it was underlined that although there is an obligation for a minimum of 21 forest workers / DACE, there are some DACE that operate with a smaller number of active forest workers.

The event, held at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, was also attended by the Secretary General of Forestry, Efstathios Stathopoulos, and the Director General of Forestry and Forest Environment, Evangelos Goudoufas.