Their opposition to grant to a private person, for 50 years, of the beach “Sahara“, in Nea Heraklia Halkidikiexpress environmental organizations with an open letter to the relevant bodies.

“Sahara” beach is a coastal wetland and sand dune ecosystem which is protected by the law “On the conservation of biodiversity” (3937/2011) and is the property of the municipal communities of N. Heraklia and N. Kallikrateia.

In 2013, it was granted to the TAIPED section of the wetland and then sold to a private entrepreneur who built a restaurant and entertainment center there.

The organizations “Kallisto” and “Action for Wildlife” request the acceleration and completion of the process of definitive inclusion of the wetland under protection status and its rational emergence, based on the permitted activities and uses that will be defined by the legal protection framework.

In this context, according to the organizations, the compliance of the municipality of N. Propontida with the existing legal status of the wetland is considered imperative and consequently the cancellation of the municipal council’s decision of 21/02/2024 to lease the wetland to a private entrepreneur for 50 years .

Photo provided by “Kallisto” regarding the earthworks for the beach bar installation in “Sahara”

In a relevant announcement by the organizations, it is stated that the activation of art. (16) par. 2 of Law 3937/11 on biodiversity, for the issuance of a Presidential Decree, for the institutionalization of financial incentives for the preservation of the natural environment and biodiversity, “which includes, possibly, a system of retributive benefits as an incentive to private individuals or local communities for their conservation, with the aim of recognizing the value of the services and functions that ecosystems offer, especially when they are maintained in a satisfactory state”.

Central photo of Sahara Beach from visit-halkidiki.gr