Greece: Lack of environmentally aware politicians, cohesive Government policy, non enforcement of E. U. policy, entrenched corruption, poorly educated populace, virtually no re-cycling.

There are now ten under-funded National Parks in Greece. Though some are better managed than others, they are generally lacking in many respects, especially in conservation management and in protection of areas within the parks against timber cutting, grazing, and sometimes even farming. There are also few visitors services and little availability of information about the park environments.

Ramsar Wetland Sites

On a more positive note, during the past ten years, eleven Ramsar Sites (designated as internationally crucial wetlands) have been surveyed and established as such in Greece. Pressure and funding from the European Union, brought about this very important set of events.

Included in these sites are coastal wetlands such as the Evros Delta and the Messolonghi Lagoons, and inland sites such as Lake Kerkini (in eastern Macedonia) and the Prespa Lakes in northwestern Greece (shared, as stated above, with Albania and FYROM).

It was under pressure from the EU, and with funding from it as well, that these very important areas are now being given protection (though it is not always a given that such areas will be managed well, and managed towards conservation). Another program providing for a network of protected sites is EU Natura 2000, aimed at habitat and wild bird protection. Two sites in the Peloponnese (which has no National Parks), have been selected for protection: the lagoon at Pylos and the Evrotas Delta.