BREAKING NEWS 22 Sept. 2002

22 Sept. 2002

Government Inaction Jeopardises Marine Park

An apparent reluctance by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Public Works to honour its financial commitments to the flagship National Marine Park of Alonissos-Northern Sporades (NMPANS) is severely jeopardising monk seal conservation efforts in the area, according to sources in Athens.

Deputy Minister Rodoula Zisi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the NMPANS during a high-profile visit to Alonissos on 15 March 2002 [see Sporades receives ministerial commitment, TMG 5(1) May 2002]. Then, on 5 June, World Environment Day, the Minister of Environment, Vaso Papandreou, stated that “we are not celebrating the environment only to forget it for another year.”

Although Ms. Zisi has successfully pursued the establishment of the Park’s management body through the Greek Parliament, no government funding has been made available to vital conservation efforts in the Sporades since June 2001. With the funding crunch now reaching a crisis point, guarding, monitoring, education and public awareness activities are facing imminent collapse. Making matters even worse, the crisis in the NMPANS coincides with the critical high summer tourist season, when threats to the Park and its vulnerable monk seals are most apparent.

We urge concerned readers to make their views known directly to the Minister and Deputy-Minister of Environment by filling in the automated petition form below.

Petition closed 30 Nov. 2002

Dear Minister of Environment Dear Deputy Minister of Environment The National Marine Park of Alonissos-Northern Sporades is the world's most important habitat of the Mediterranean monk seal, holding the largest surviving population of this critically-endangered species. Since 1992 to the present day, conservation and management measures implemented in the area have secured not only the effective protection of the coastal and marine environment, but also the acceptance of the Park by the local and regional communities. With this letter, I would like to express my strong personal concern that the non-fulfilment of your ministry's obligations is jeopardising the continuity of the Park's protection measures. I appeal to you to proceed without delay with all necessary steps to ensure the continuation of these activities. Your personal involvement at this particular moment is of utmost importance to the success of the Park's long-term conservation objectives. Sincerely,

Name
Organisation (if any)
Country
email