The Ministry of Environment and Energy estimates that approximately 113,000 acres were burned in the devastating wildfire that started in Agios Vasileios, Boeotia, and swept through West Attica, Porto Germeno, Psatha, and surrounding areas — with around 95,000 of those acres located within the Attica Region. With attention now turning to what comes next, including flood protection and forest restoration, there is no time to waste.
Read also: Flood warning after wildfires: The alarm over autumn risks and the call for Aegina’s meteorological radar
According to Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastaurou, mapping of the burned areas is expected to be completed by next week. Studies and necessary procedures will then be finalized throughout August, with the goal of launching anti-erosion and flood protection works before September 15 — ahead of the first heavy rainfall of the season.
€25 million for immediate flood protection works: Ready in West Attica before the first heavy rains
Once the fire is fully contained, approvals will be issued by both competent forestry authorities for the immediate removal of dangerous burned trees. Instructions have already been given to streamline the approval process for harvesting burned timber on non-public, out-of-plan land, along with general guidelines to local government authorities on the management and utilization of timber from burned forests.
Minister Papastaurou emphasized that “the fire was tackled through the heroic efforts of firefighters, the forestry service, and volunteers,” and identified the protection of land and surrounding areas from the risks that follow a major wildfire as the top priority going forward. He noted that production of the necessary mapping materials has already begun, enabling researchers to immediately identify critical areas and develop the required studies. Based on the findings of site inspections and studies, anti-erosion and initial flood protection works will be carried out to stabilize the soil, contain runoff sediment, and reduce the risk of flooding.
Papastaurou’s announcements
The Minister of Environment and Energy announced the activation of €25,000,000 in funding from the Green Fund for forestry-related mountain hydrology, anti-erosion, and flood protection works in Attica. These funds have already been allocated through the Deposits and Loans Fund to the Attica Region and concern interventions in the Geraneia Mountains as well as the areas of Varympompi, Acharnes, and Vilia. The works will be implemented through inter-agency agreements between the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Attica Region. As the minister noted, the relevant decision “opens the way for local government to begin the assignment and implementation procedures.” The cost of the study and necessary restoration works, totaling €1,500,000, will be undertaken by Piraeus Bank as the designated restoration contractor, with flood protection as the primary focus. This will be supplemented by the €25,000,000 donation from HELLENiQ ENERGY, announced by the Prime Minister on Wednesday.
Additionally, a study by Evangelos Gkountouphas, Director General of Forests and Forest Environment, was made public under the title “West Attica: The day after — forest restoration.” The study outlines the following immediate actions:
- Issuance of decisions by forestry directors for the logging of burned roadside vegetation.
- Issuance of a decision prohibiting hunting and grazing in burned areas.
- Issuance of permits to residents of affected areas for the collection of firewood under the supervision of forestry services.
- Collaboration between local forestry services, NECCA (Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency), and NGOs for the collection and care of wildlife species in need of assistance.
- Drafting and approval of studies for the execution of anti-erosion works in areas selected based on environmental, geomorphological, and social criteria.
- Planned use of timber first for anti-erosion works, then to meet the individual needs of local residents and for other uses (technical timber, chipping for biomass production, etc.).
- Immediate designation of affected forest areas as subject to reforestation.
- Recruitment of forestry scientists, forestry technicians, and administrative staff on fixed-term contracts at the forestry offices of the affected areas.
Secretary General of Forests Stathis Stathopoulos expressed the view that the consequences of the recent wildfires would have been considerably more severe without the interventions carried out through the “Antinero” program, describing it as the most comprehensive organized fire prevention effort ever implemented in Greek forests. He confirmed that over the past eight years, approximately 380,000 out of 589,500 acres of forests and forested land in West Attica have been affected by six forest fires: in Kineta in 2018, in Geraneia and Mount Patera in 2021, in Derveni and Parnitha–Moni Kleiston in 2023, and most recently in Porto Germeno. Mr. Stathopoulos stated that through the “Antinero” program, €667,000,000 has been allocated over a five-year period for prevention works, including the removal of excess biomass, the opening and maintenance of forest roads and firebreaks, and flood protection interventions. He noted that while the program cannot prevent every fire, it makes a meaningful contribution to limiting the consequences. Specifically regarding West Attica, he noted that approximately €20,000,000 has been allocated since 2022 for prevention works, estimating that without these interventions the recent destruction would have been even greater.
