We have started the new season energetically and are already at the forefront of developments, actively participating in sessions of relevant parliamentary committees. Through our continuous presence, we exercise pressure on critical environmental issues concerning nature conservation, sustainable development, and other issues (directly or indirectly) related to the island’s environment.
In September, we focused on two significant issues: the environmental impacts of the construction of a residence in Pano Platres and the protection of agricultural land from photovoltaic park development.
Specifically, during the examination of the Standing Committee of the Environment of the environmental impacts caused by the construction near the Kryos Potamos in Pano Platres, we proposed the inclusion of key natural landscapes, such as mountain waterfalls and sea caves, in the list of protected landscapes of countryside. We also requested the designation of the Kryos Potamos stream as a Water Protection Zone and the inclusion of steep slopes in the same zone. Additionally, we recommended the publication of the results of the land surveys and topographical studies of the land plot, as well as the results of the administrative evaluation concerning the construction works already completed. Furthermore, we proposed the enforcement of current legislation for unauthorised constructions and the restoration of the natural environment and landscape.
Regarding our participation in the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, we suggested the promotion of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) while safeguarding the protection of High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland. We recommended the delineation of these areas, which contribute to agricultural production and the protection of the rural landscape, while also calling for a reassessment of the impacts of land-use changes to safeguard primary resources and biodiversity.