Medasset Update (1987 Laureate)

ZAKYNTHOS, Greece
Press Release No. 26
26/10/06

Zakynthos National Marine Park (ZNMP): AND IT ALL CAME TOPPLING DOWN.

The latest disturbing news arriving from Zakynthos, confirm what ARCHELON, MEDASSET and WWF Greece reported months ago- that never before has this country witnessed such unlawful activity and lack of transparency within a Management Agency of a Protected Area, the ZNMP. Ultimately, actions taken by the Park's Management have degraded its ecological characteristic and ignored National legislation, European Commission (EC) Directives and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling. Instead of fostering appropriate, accountable and contemporary environmental approaches to Protected Area Management, the Park's President has placed priority on avoiding a large ECJ fine.

• It is approaching seven years since Greece lost the ECJ Case for failing to adopt strict protection measures for the sea turtle Caretta caretta on Zakynthos.
• Two years since former EC Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom sent an official "Reasoned Opinion" to the Greek Government as a final action before reverting to the ECJ.
• Almost sixteen months since the Minister of the Environment, Mr George Souflias, appointed a new President of the ZNMP Committee.
• Six months since the President of the ZNMP met with EC and Greek officials and informing all on the details of the so-called "Pilot Management Plan of Daphne Nesting Beach".
• More than six months since the new President of the ZNMP, on behalf of the Management Committee, signed a "Memorandum of Understanding and Collaboration (MoU)" or "Cooperative Agreement" with the owners of the illegal buildings in Daphne.
• Five months since the implementation of the "Pilot Management Plan of Daphne Nesting Beach".
• Five months since the alliance of three environmental organisations- ARCHELON, MEDASSET and WWF Greece, condemned the unlawful activities taking place on Daphne nesting beach: (concreting of the beach where sand dunes have been destroyed, construction of new illegal buildings and extensions, removal of trees and bushes, sand-mining of the nesting beach for construction purposes, and the opening of two new roads).
• Two months since the President of the NMPZ circulated an open letter titled "Destructive Demolition or Constructive Co-operation" expressing her view that "the positive presence of the NMPZ at Daphne and the willing cooperation of the local community have together implemented an effective and appropriate wildlife and resource management plan".

Now as the 2006 hatching season is coming to an end, the 'fragile support' established by the "Pilot Management Plan of Daphne Nesting Beach" and the infamous "Cooperative Agreement" between the Parks Management and the owners of the illegal buildings in Daphne beach appears to be toppling down.

• The Zakynthos Department of Urban Planning has imposed large fines (ranging from ?270 to • 670,000) on the owners of the illegal buildings in Daphne.
• According to the local press, the inhabitants of Daphne beach who signed the "Memorandum of Understanding and Collaboration (MoU)" or the "Co-operative Agreement" have joined forces and sent the Park's President and members of the Management Agency an extra-judicial letter, calling for a meeting to discuss the President's unfulfilled promises. According to this, the President assured the building owners that by signing the "Co-operative Agreement" water and electricity would be installed and their illegal buildings and operation of their businesses (bar, restaurants etc.) would be legitimised.
• Since October 4th 2006, Daphne local inhabitants have blockaded the area; closing the road leading to the beach and preventing ZNMP guards, sea turtle monitoring teams and visitors from entering. Today the 'Strictly Protected' nesting beach of Daphne remains unguarded; sea turtle nesting beach unprotected and visits to Daphne beach only possible with a police escort.
• In an interview with a Local newspaper the ZNMP President asserted that the recent developments in Daphne are "political issues" with the imposition of large fines a result of "political games" implying that the Zakynthos Prefecture was participating in this. The Park's President also stated that she would refrain from dealing with the new turn of events in Daphne until after Greece's Local Elections. Vice-Head of the Zakynthos Prefecture denied the President's accusations and stated that he believes that with the support of the Ministry of the Environment the fines would be drastically reduced or revoked.

Illegal actions initiated by the ZNMP President aiming to satisfy the local inhabitants "wants", rather than conservation "needs", in an effort to present a 'unified front' to the European Commission, may have succeeded in avoiding a European Court of Justice fine; yet failed in implementing requisite long term conservation measures to protect the sea turtle in Zakynthos. With the implicit consensus of the Ministry of Environment and discreet support of the European Commission, the legal violations undertaken by the ZNMP President have backfired, as she no longer has control or authority over the situation in Daphne.

Furthermore the President's actions constitute serious problems on all levels by permitting and instigating inappropriate, unlawful and degrading activities on the 'Strictly Protected' nesting beach of Daphne, misleading local inhabitants and setting a lethal precedent for the management of the other 27 Protected Areas of Greece.

We urge the Greek Minister of the Environment to assume responsibility, implement National Legislation, Greek National Court decisions, European Court of Justice Rulings and EC Directives, compensate ZNMP land owners (expropriation) and pursue long lasting and effective solutions to guarantee the ecological integrity of Daphne and the future of the ZNMP. We once more appeal to the Commissioner of the Environment to seriously consider the present alarming situation in Zakynthos, immediately send a Committee to assess the situation and spare no effort in pressing the responsible Greek authorities.

For Newspaper clippings from local Zakynthos Press (in Greek) and material related to this Press Release (in English), please visit: http://www.medasset.gr/report102006links.htm

To view the illegal construction on the 'Strictly Protected' nesting beach of Daphne, Zakynthos please visit: http://www.medasset.org/images/press_no26_photos/ .
To view our 2006 Update Report on marine turtle conservation in Zakynthos (Laganas Bay) submitted to the European Commission and the 26th Meeting of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention at the Council of Europe please visit: http://www.medasset.org/pdf/EC_Zakynthos2006.pdf

MEDASSET
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