Not even a year after the devastating fire in Evros, which almost vanished the most important habitat of the Cinereous vulture in the National Park of Dadia - Lefkimi - Soufli Forest, and the threat of wind turbines development is increasing,instead of reducing. The latest episode is the permission of the Wind Stations “Megali Rachi” GREENFIELD WIND Company, “Ragada, Milia, Xenos” ES ENERGY Company and “Kontokorfi” AIOLIKA RODOPIS Company, by the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia - Thrace (DAMTH), following by a positive(!) opinion from the Ministry of Environment [1].

Even with the fact that the Wind Stations are located within the NATURA 2000 - Special Protection Area (SPA) GR1130011 "Koilada Filiouri" (and the corresponding Important Bird Area GR008), with the Cinereous Vulture as a trigger species [2]…

Even with the fact that they are located within the mapped “core-area” of Cinereous vulture activity…

Even with the fact that the Management Unit of Evros Delta and Dadia National gave an opinion –clear and well documented- AGAINST the licensing of both projects… the licensing of both projects…

These facts seem to be “small print” for the General Directorate of Environmental Policy of the Ministry of Environment and the Decentralized Administration which ignored the data and gave the “green light” for these projects within a few days.

A decisive role in the approval of the two projects by the Decentralized Administration, seem to have played the positive opinions of the Ministry of Environment [3], signed by the head of the General Directorate Mr. Dimopoulos , where, once again, the detailed and scientifically documented opinion of the Management Unit of Evros Delta and Dadia National Parks (N.E.C.C.A.) [4] was ignored without substantial justification.The Management Unit documents in a sufficient and unquestionable way that the two wind stations are located in the core-area of the Cinereous vulture (and the Griffon vulture) activity and the flights of the endangered vultures are frequent, so that the possible impact of the projects would pose another serious threat to these species,which are in an even more vulnerable position due to last year's fire. During the public consultation on the "MEGALI RACHI" project, the Hellenic Ornithological Society intervened in a similar direction.. 

It should be noted here that at the Wind Stations operating in Evros and Rodopi have been recorded 563 birds and bats deaths, including 7 Cinereous vultures and 9 Griffon vultures [5].

Unfortunately, once again it turns out that the "commitments" for the protection of the natural environment of Thrace after last year's disaster were nothing but empty promises, given for communication reasons only. From the very first moment it was made clear that it was absolutely necessary to strictly protect the critical habitats of the Cinereous vulture not only within but also outside the burnt areas in order to allow the birds to adjust to the new condition. However, the Management continues introducing threats to the Cinereous Vultureand degrading its habitat with its decisions, as if last year's dramatic deterioration in its status had never happened! In particular, for the Ministry of Environment, it is highly unacceptable that -with its actions- it practically circumvents its own legislative work and the Ministerial Decision on the implementation of the National Action Plan for vultures of the National Action Plan for vultureswhere it is explicitly stated - among other things - that the main objective of the Ministry of Environment is"The spatial mapping and conservation of critical breeding, dispersal and feeding habitats and their improvement".

We call on the political leadership of the Ministry of Environment to act and IMMEDIATELY CANCEL the highly damaging for the Cinereous vulture and the other threatened raptor species permissions of the Wind Stations "MEGALI RACHI", "RAGADA, XENOS, MILIA" and "KONTOKORFI" given by the Decentralized Administration. At last, the Ministry must show basic sense of consistency, matching words with actions.

[1] Permit decision of the Wind Station “MEGALI RACHI” (in Greek) https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/81-4?inline=true

Permit decision of the Wind Stations “RAGADA, XENOS, MILIA, KONTOKORFI” (in Greek) https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/61-2?inline=true

[2] Trigger species for a NATURA site are those that meet specific population criteria in order for the site to be designated as a protected area.

[3] The opinion of the Ministry of Environment for the Wind Station “MEGALI RACHI” (in Greek): https://ornithologiki.gr/images/nea/pdf/Aiolikos_Stathmos_MEGALI_RAXI_Gnomodotisi_YPEN_THETIKH.pdf

The opinion of the Ministry of Environment for the Wind Station “RAGADA, XENOS, MILIA, KONTOKORFI” (in Greek): https://ornithologiki.gr/images/nea/pdf/Aiolikos_Stathmos_Ragada_Mhlia_Gnomodotisi_DDFPB.pdf

[4] The opinion of N.E.C.C.A. against the Wind Station “MEGALI RACHI” (in Greek): https://ornithologiki.gr/images/nea/pdf/Aiolikos_Stathmos_MEGALI_RAXI_Gnomodotisi_OFYPEKA_ARNHTIKH.pdf

The opinion of N.E.C.C.A. against the Wind Station “RAGADA, XENOS, MILIA, KONTOKORFI” (in Greek):

https://ornithologiki.gr/images/nea/pdf/OFYPEKA_Aiolikos_Stathmos_Radada_Mhlia_XENOS.pdf

[5] Database of the recorded collision incidents of birds and bats species at the wind farms of Evros and Rhodope: www.spbt.gr/downloads

[6] Immediately after the fire of the year 2020, nine (9) Environmental Organisations sent a letter (in Greek) and a scientific memorandum to the Ministry of Environment highlighting the need for strict protection of the critical habitats of birds in Evros and Rhodope: https://ornithologiki.gr/el/enhmerwsh-ekpaideush/enimerosi/ta-nea-mas/1682-amesa-metra-gia-tous-aspie-se-evro-rodopi-zitoyn-9-perivallontikes-organoseis-9