More than a year after the devastating fire of 2023 that affected the natural ecosystems in Evros and Rhodope, and on the occasion of the licensing of two wind farms within the burnt area, the Minister of Environment and Energy announced that the licensing procedures for projects in the fire-affected area will be suspended. This ban is the minimum protective measure to prevent further degradation while ecosystems are in the process of recovering from Europe's largest fire. The Minister had also announced a scientific study to investigate the impact of projects in the burnt area, with a focus on the planned wind farms. According to the Minister, these data, were necessary to guide the decision-making process for projects in Evros and Rhodope.

The study announced by the Minister of Environment has been completed[1] since July 2024, but the Ministry has not published it yet. On the basis of scientific documentation, the study proposes to suspend for 5 years the environmental licensing procedures for specific groups of projects (including wind farms) both in the burnt area and in adjacent non-burnt areas of Evros and Rhodope, which are critical ecosystems for the survival of endangered bird species.

"Now the Minister of Environment and Energy has the necessary scientific data to make decisions. We look forward to seeing if he finally adhere to what he announced and implement the study that he, through N.E.C.C.A., commissioned to answer critical questions", commentscomments Lefteris Kapsalis, scientific associate of the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace.

In view of the non-proper wind farm siting which is environmentally uncontrolled and in many cases degrading for the natural ecosystems, the Ministry of Environment itself tarnishes the image of wind energy. As renewables are aiming at producing clean energy and addressing the environmental crisis, they should be models of environmental implementation, and in no case to be destructive to ecosystems.

Based on the new scientific data and what the Minister of Environment had previously announced, nine (9) environmental organisations in a joint letter call on the Minister to take specific legislative measures to suspend the licensing and installation of wind farms for five years,  in order to safeguard protected species and ecosystems from damage will cause projects planned within critical habitats.

[1] The study was commissioned by NECCA to the Natural History Museum of the University of Crete.

1. ANIMA
2. Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature
3. Hellenic Ornithological Society
4. Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace
5. Society for the Protection of Prespa
6. Callisto
7. Ecological Recycling Society
8. MEDASSET
9. WWF Greece

More information:

• On 26th of September 2023, the Minister of Environment and Energy announced the suspension of economic activities in the fire-affected area of Evros, but since then no appropriate and adequate measures have been taken in this regard.The Minister's announcement is available (in Greek) here.
• On 27th of October 2023, nine environmental organisations sent an urgent letter to the Ministry of Environment with specific proposals, based on sciendific documentation, calling on the Ministry to suspend by legislation for at least three years potentially harmful projects (not the beneficial ones) and activities within the burnt areas, and in particular for wind energy projects, their suspension also in the adjacent bird-critical areas of Evros and Rhodope. You can see the letter (in Greek) here.
• On 6 November 2023, the Minister of Environment, in response to a topical question, announced that science has the first word and that the continuation of environmental licensing in the affected area will be based on a scientific study to be carried out. You can watch the relevant meeting (in Greek) here.
• On 13 November 2023, the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace (SPBT) submitted comments to the public consultation on a draft bill of the Ministry of Environment, asking for the proposals of the nine environmental organisations to be included in the bill. You can see the comments of the SPBT on the public consultation here.
• On 15 October 2024, based on the new scientific data that emerged, nine environmental organizations reiterate their request calling on the Minister to implement the recommendations of the study of the NECCA and the University of Crete, suspending for 5 years the environmental licensing procedures for Wind Power Plants in critical ecosystems in Evros and Rhodope. You can see the letter here.