WWF in despair over Greek fire damage

· Rare species of animals and plants lost in flames
· Anger rises as developers move in on stricken areas

Helena Smith in Athens
Friday September 28, 2007
The Guardian


A burnt-out fire truck and cars in village of Artemida in southern Greece. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty images

Two percent of the surface area of Greece was destroyed by forest fires this summer, including some of Europe's lushest nature reserves. The extent of the damage wrought by the infernos is much larger than initially thought, with rare species of reptiles, mammals and endemic plants being lost, according to the conservation group WWF.

"The destruction by far exceeds our expectations, and is more dramatic and extensive than we imagined," Dimitris Karavellas, who heads the WWF in Greece, said. "These fires were not only the worst on record, they ravaged everything. Very few patches of life, patches that are now refuges for various animal species, were left behind," he said.

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Aided by satellite maps, environmentalists have established that in six weeks the flames consumed roughly one-tenth of the country's forests, with large swaths of land inside EU-protected areas also being burned. Among the designated areas was Mount Taygetos, one of Greece's most spectacular nature reserves, which had just begun to recover from devastating blazes in 1998.

The destruction - exacerbated by the hottest summer in 50 years - will doubtless worsen if a winter of heavy rainfall follows, Mr Karavellas said.

The group's grim assessment came a month after fires erupted in the southern Peloponnese, killing 67 men, women and children, many of whom were burned alive as they tried to flee the flames.

The report's release will put further pressure on the recently re-elected conservative government, the popularity of which was badly hit by accusations of ineptitude during the conflagrations.

Alongside mounting anger over the scale of the damage, indignation is rising over the rehabilitation methods officials are resorting to in affected areas. "Everyone, it seems, wants to exploit the situation economically," Nikos Bokaris, the president of the Panhellenic Union of Foresters, said in an interview. "I have been to the stricken region and seen with my own eyes that there is absolutely no coordination of relief efforts. The confusion that allowed the fires to rage uncontrollably is now raging uncontrollably in those areas."

Greeks have been incensed by evidence that investors, scenting profit, are moving in to the Peloponnese, one of the last parts of Greece to have escaped mass tourism.

Ecologists point to a deal that paves the way for construction on up to 10 miles of virgin coastline around the southern seaside town of Zacharo. The deal, signed by the former deputy finance minister Petros Doukas and the mayor of Zacharo, Pantazis Chronopoulos, appears to have gone through, despite the region being on a list of protected sites drawn up by the EU.

The approximately 6,000 people who were made homeless by the fires have also been encouraged to ignore otherwise stringent environmental rules when they apply for housing subsidies. In the absence of a land registry and forest maps, Greeks invariably have been able to build with impunity in areas that would normally be protected.

Trail of destruction

· 300,000 hectares were burnt.

· 30,000 hectares of this were within protected areas.

· Seven designated nature reserves were affected.

· 55% of the razed area consisted of forests and other areas of vegetation.

· Habitats of rare species of golden jackals and red deer were among those destroyed.

· The fires caused a severe degradation of soil and water balance, increasing the risk of flooding.

Greek Fires Start to Subside

ATHENS, Greece, August 29, 2007 (ENS) - Firefighters are beginning to gain ground against the worst forest fires to strike Greece in more than a century, but only after the blazes claimed 64 lives and charred much of Ilia prefecture on the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece.

The country remains in the state of emergency and suspicion is rife that arsonists are to blame for more than half of the wildfires. To date, seven people have been arrested and charged with arson, including one person who is accused of setting fires at Zacharo, a village in Ilia where 37 people perished last week trying to escape the flames.

Two new wildfires broke out in northwest Ioannina prefecture today, and some large fires are still burning, but many others have been doused by firefighters and aircraft from across Europe. Greek firefighters are getting reinforcements of about 120 men from Cyprus, France and Israel.

Wednesday, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis expressed the gratitude of all Greeks to the firefighters and called them heroes.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis promises cash to fire victims. (Photo courtesy Office of the Prime Minister)

Quick cash was made available to anyone who declared they had been harmed by the fire by Karamanlis' conservative government concerned about retaining power in elections slated for September 16.

The prime minister said emergency allocations of 3,000 euros (US$4,096) per affected household were to be made "without delay," upon only "a simple solemn statement of the beneficiary, with only one signature."

Greeks have suffered enough, he said, without being made to suffer more by bureaucratic processes.

Banks are offering debt forgiveness for those who have lost close relatives or suffered major losses of property. Credit card and loan payments are being deferred for borrowers in fire-ravaged areas.

Main opposition leader George Papandreou, visited Zacharo on Saturday, but refrained from criticizing the government. His party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, suspended its weekend campaigning and pledged 30 percent of the party's election funds to people hurt by the wildfires in the Peloponnese.

Wildfires have plagued Greece since July, but since Thursday at least 190 fires broke out across southern Greece, and also near Athens, Sparta and other cities. Fire singed the edges of ancient Olympia, site of the first Olympic games, but was stopped before the ancient monuments were destroyed.

Firefighters are still battling blazes across southern Greece and on Evia island, off eastern continental Greece, and fire officials fear the rekindling of wildfires where they already have been doused.

Some villages on the Peloponnese peninsula are still being evacuated today. Homes in more than 100 villages were destroyed and many families lost livestock and olive trees. Damages are estimated in the billions of euros.

Silent demonstrators outside the Greek Parliament building in Athens. August 29, 2007 (Photo by Constantin)

In Athens, thousands of people gathered outside the parliament buildings in protest of the government's slow and inadequate response to the fires. They expressed resentment at the "false statements of Karamanlis" from this past March that supposedly Greece was ready to face fires expected in the summer, while the government allocated only "minimal means" to fight them.

Weather conditions, including record summer temperatures and hot dry winds, have made Greece and southern Italy a tinderbox, said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Greece has experienced more wildfire activity this August than other European countries have over the last decade, according to data from sensors aboard European Space Agency satellites.

Working like thermometers in the sky, the sensors measure thermal infrared radiation to take the temperature of Earth's land surfaces. Data from July 1996 to August 28, 2007 were used to plot the number of fires occurring monthly. Results show Greece has had four times the number of fires this August as were burning in August 1998.

Burned over land at Zacharo, where 37 people died trying to flee last week. (Photo credit unknown)

The data from these sensors is compiled to create the ATSR World Fire Atlas, which provides data to online users approximately six hours after acquisition. All available satellite passes are processed for the atlas.

In addition to maps, the time, date, longitude and latitude of the hot spots are provided. The data are meant to be used for research and especially for fire prevention and management.

But a report today in the "Economist" says Greek forestry officials were hampered by "lack of access to satellite pictures that could have enabled fire-fighters to find and douse blazes before they caused serious damage."

In 2000, the European Space Agency and the French space agency formed the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, which rapidly creates tasks for earth observation satellites and delivers the resulting spacemaps to emergency response and civil protection authorities anywhere in the world.

Finally today, the Hellenic national mapping and survey agency, part of the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, requested spacemaps of the Greek fires from the International Charter.

Information gathered from:
http://www.ens-newswire.com...

What Can I Do To Help?

Since the blaze begun many fund raisers have started across the world to help those without homes, re-forestation, lost pets, etc.

Western Canada's Greek consul George Aravositas said the fire is expected to cause more than $1.2 billion in damage. Every little bit helps including your contribution.

If you wish to volunteer your time, please click here to find out how you can physically donate your time and energy to this cause.

Below is a list of genuine fund-raisers started by various organizations around the world.


Facebook:

If you have a facebook account please consider:

Campaign for reforestation of areas in Greece destroyed by forest fires.
(click here to donate)

Our mission is to contribute to the reforestation of Greece.

Description:
The fires that have broken out in many areas of Greece have ruined people's lives and homes. Many speculate that people have started these fires deliberately to criticize the Greek government, to influence the upcoming elections, or to cause chaos.

Whatever the motive or their cause, the fires are devastating for the people of Greece, who are losing family members, firefighters, homes, land, sacred ancient sites, and faith in their country. The Greek-American "Plant Your Roots in Greece" is a non-profit foundation which has started a reforestation campaign to restore the beauty of the country and to strengthen the bonds between Greek-Americans and their homeland.

Please contribute to this foundation and do what you can to support the efforts to rebuild Greece. Below is a letter on the official website from Theodoros Spyropoulos, president of the foundation, US coordinator and Vice President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE). http://www.saeusa.org/content/view/81/65/lang,en/

HelpGreeceNow.org
(click here to donate)

The summer of 2007 in Greece has been the worst year to date for fires raging out of control, destroying homes, livestock, trees and tragically lives. In the most recent and fiercest battle yet, fires have claimed at least 63 lives to date and the number is estimated to climb once the fires have been extinguished and homes are searched for those left behind. Many of whom perished protecting their livelihood or were simply too old or sick to evacuate. The terrain of many of these villages is not what we are accustomed to, and unless you have visited such areas, it may be difficult to imagine why this happened and the destruction so profound. Many are villages where people work and live off their land and their livestock. They are beautiful modest and picturesque villages built on the mountainous landscape surrounded by trees and fresh air and pure water. But no more.

Now they are villages burned, charred and their people must attempt to rebuild, salvage and try to determine how they will go on living with no home, no belongings and no means of income now or for the future. Acres and acres of land used to cultivate, grow and sell products has been destroyed. Generations of olive trees, orchards, livestock and other means of livelihood completely gone. The long term effects of this ecological and financial disaster are devastating.

This website is offering a wristband that you can wear in pride as a supporter of this cause. 100% of the profits will go to benefit those who lost so much in these devastating fires. .

Greece gave us so much. Its people, our people need our help. Please donate in any manner you feel is appropriate.

Greek Relief Fund:
(click here to donate)

The Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC (HCC(BC)), in coordination with the Hellenic Community of Vancouver, has initiated the Greek Fire Relief Program which is aimed at assisting the victims of one of the worst disasters to strike Greece in modern history.

A Press Conference has been called for Thursday, August 30th at 12 noon at the SFU Campus in Downtown Vancouver. This modern day Greek tragedy hits close to home for all Greeks across British Columbia. Most have loved ones visiting or living in Greece’s Peloponnese and Evia Regions. The fortunate ones have been able to contact their relatives and have heard of their courageous attempts fighting fires that have so rapidly incinerated much of Greece. Others sit and wait by the telephone for a sign of life from anyone.
“The Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC’s response to this horrendous disaster has begun; the infrastructure is almost near completion and the funds that British Columbians donate will be used to aid those in most dire need,” says Demitrios Douzenis, Greek Fire Relief Program Chair, adding “the press conference will highlight the various ways people from around the province can donate to this cause.”

“The Hellenes of BC are deeply saddened by the tragedy unfolding in Greece. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their way of life and we commend the heroic efforts of local and international firefighters alongside the Greek population,” stated Peter P. Kletas, President of the Hellenic Community of Vancouver. “One of the smallest European countries that plays the perfect host to millions of tourists from around the world each year, a country that has touched so many people with its culture, way of life and emphasis on family, is now in need for the world to give a little back,” cites Alex Peter Tsakumis, President of the HCC(BC).

The HCC(BC) represents the social, political, and cultural interests of Greeks across BC, while the Hellenic Community of Vancouver maintains the province’s largest Greek community. Information on donating can be found at www.greekrelief.ca, which will go live Thursday afternoon. For over 20 years, the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC, a non-governmental organization, has been an advocate of unity for Canadians of Greek decent, a promoter of Hellenism, a campaigner for inter-group cooperation, and a cohesive voice for Greeks in BC.

Media Contact
Jenny Siormanolakis
778 688 7252

Red Cross
(seeking clothing, tents, toothpaste, food, ect.)
(click here to donate)

FIRES IN GREECE - 24 AUGUST 2007
up to date SITUATION REPORT No 1, -
PRELIMINARY EMERGENCY APPEAL
27 August 2007

Greece has been experiencing an ordeal, since Friday the 24th of August 2007, when a number of wildfires started burning forests and villages in most of Peloponnesus peninsula, namely regions of the Prefectures of Helia, Messinia, Achaia, Lakonia, Argolida, Korinthia and Evia Island. The situation on the 26th deteriorated with more new fires in different regions of the country.

Update, Monday the 27th the situation is still devastating most of the affected areas. These fires have already burned hundreds of thousands of square km of forest areas, olive groves as well as a vast number of residences in villages in the above mentioned areas. On Saturday the 25th the Prime Minister declared Greece in a state of emergency. International assistance has been requested from several countries in fire-fighting means. In addition to these damages the death toll seems to have no ending. The number has risen to approximately 63 causalities, for the time being, while there are serious fears that this number will rise again, since there are people still missing. Many people have been in need of first aid, psychological support and medical care due to burns, traumas and respiratory problems.

Moreover, as a result of the fires a lot of regions - not only the affected ones – face breakdowns in telecommunication, power (electricity) and water supply. There is a great number of people who have been left homeless, however, it is too early to measure the extent of the damages and the affected populations, since the disastrous fires are still ongoing.

Bank of Greece
(click here to donate)

Relief for the victims of the recent fires.

The General Council of the Bank of Greece, which convened extraordinarily on Sunday 26 August 2007 by invitation of its Chairman Mr Nicholas C. Garganas, expresses its profound sorrow for the victims of the recent fires ravaging the country and for the enormous economic and ecological disaster they have caused. It was decided that the Bank will contribute the amount of €5,000,000 to the restoration effort and the aid of victims. By virtue of Ministry of Economy and Finance decision 2/53006/27.08.2007, a

"Hellenic Republic-Relief Account for Fire Victims" with ΙΒΑΝ GR9801000230000002341103053 and SWIFT/BIC: BNGRGRAA has already been opened at the Bank of Greece, Government Accounts Section. The above mentioned contribution of the Bank was deposited in this account, which will also receive any amounts deposited for this purpose by individuals and institutions with banks in Greece and abroad.

GreekBoston.com
(click here to donate)

GreekBoston will collect funds and make all arrangements, including the names of each individual donator, to submit to the official fund setup for this fire disaster relief. We will also list all donators here so please help today! If you would like to donate a care package or anything non-monetary, please check back here for instructions on where to donate.

Generous Donors: George Pissimissis - Hyannis, MA Digital HiFi Inc - Wesley Chapel, FL Katina Sidiropoulou - Sweden Jeannie Green - Grants Pass, OR John Kontos - Miami Beach, FL Caroline Kalogeropoulos - Boston, MA Neeloofar Jenks - Seattle, WA Georgia Flamburis - Allston, MA

In addition to our efforts, SAE has posted information for contributions below:

SAE / USA is appealing to all Hellenes to contribute whatever you can to the bank account listed below to provide relief, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to families victimized by the fires and to fund reforestation of devastated areas through the SAE / USA project “Plant Your Roots in Greece.”

Please make your contributions payable to “Plant Your Roots in Greece” and send to:

Chicago Community Bank Acct: # 459-0070-59
234 S Wabash Ave FL2-Chicago, IL 60604-2365

Deposits in Greece:
Alpha Bank Acct: # 143-0021-1-037288
Eurobank Acct: # 0026.0012.39.0100763237