Greece has witnessed a recent fire incident in the Decentralized Administration of Peloponnese, Western Greece and the Ionian, marking a continued challenge for the nation's environmental health. Over the years, Greece's tree cover has faced significant threats, with forestry activities and wildfires being the primary drivers of tree cover loss. The data reveals a worrying trend where the total tree cover loss amounted to 90,399.35 hectares, while the gain was only 71,537.47 hectares, leading to a net loss of 18,861.88 hectares. This represents a 0.38% decrease in tree cover from an initial extent of 3,672,496.93 hectares.
Wildfires have been a persistent issue, contributing to both the loss of tree cover and CO2 emissions. In 2021 alone, wildfires accounted for 345.06 hectares of tree cover loss. However, it is the forestry sector that has had the most substantial impact, with a staggering 48,5.14 hectares lost in the same year. The cumulative effect of these losses over the years has led to a significant environmental disturbance, with a total of 227,256.48 hectares affected.
Explore country profileThe latest fire alert underscores the ongoing risk to Greece's natural landscapes and the urgency of addressing environmental vulnerabilities. With the country's rich biodiversity at stake, the incident acts as a reminder of the broader discussions needed on sustainable land management and environmental protection.
