Saving Greece’s Forests: The Battle Against Fires, Deforestation and Climate Change

Forests in Greece face many problems that threaten their survival (=επιβίωση).

Wildfires

Wildfires are one of the biggest dangers for Greece’s forests. They can start quickly in hot, dry weather and spread (=εξαπλώνονται) fast, especially when people aren’t careful.

In 2023, a huge wildfire happened in the Dadia Forest,  where some of Europe’s rarest animals live, like the griffon vulture. The fire burned many trees and plants, hurting the habitats of many animals.

Illegal Logging and Deforestation

Some people cut down trees in forests without permission (=άδεια), which is called illegal (=παράνομη, against the law) logging. This can hurt (=βλάπτει) the forest by destroying (=καταστρέφοντας) habitats for animals and plants.

Cutting Down Trees for Farms: In some areas of Greece, people clear forests for farms, like olive groves. This can damage (=destroy) the land, hurt wildlife, and reduce (=μειώνει) the number of trees that help clean the air.

Illegal Building:

In many places, people build houses or businesses on land where they shouldn’t. This can be dangerous because it makes it harder for firefighters to stop fires or for animals to find homes.

Climate Change

Climate change means that the Earth is getting hotter, and this causes problems for forests. The weather is changing in ways that make forests more at risk for fires and other dangers.

Drought (=ξηρασία) and Heatwaves (=καύσωνας): In Greece, the weather has become hotter and drier, which makes it harder for trees to survive. This makes them more likely to get sick or catch fire.

Forest Fragmentation

Forests are sometimes broken into smaller pieces because of roads, farms or buildings. This can be bad for the animals and plants living there because they don’t have enough space to survive.

Overgrazing

When animals graze (=βόσκουν) too much in a forest area, they can damage vegetation and prevent the growth of new plants.

In Greece, this is a problem, especially in the mountains and forests where people let their animals, like goats and sheep, graze free.