Protection Regime

National legislation

In Greece, the need to preserve the natural heritage was understood from a very early age. With A.N. 856/1937 it became possible to declare the “particularly important natural areas” as National Parks. Already from the year 1961, in application of A.N. 856/1937, the Parnitha National Park was founded by virtue of the NW. 644/1961 and its initial management was planned.

According to the B.D. 644/1961, in order to establish the National Park of Parnitha, a forced expropriation was made in favor of the State of an area of ​​approximately 12,000 acres of monastic areas owned by ODEP. (Ecclesiastical Property Management Organization), located at the entrance of the Forest, as well as resin collection rights of natural persons in a pine forest of Western Parnitha (Romania – Petralona). These areas together with the purely public areas of central Parnitha formed the core of the Parnitha National Park, with an area of ​​38,230.00 acres.

The same area was declared a “landscape of special natural beauty”. Also, with Law 177/1975, game shelters were established in a large part of the peripheral zone of the Parnitha National Park.

The PD is also special legislation. 671/1981 “On the protection of native flora and fauna and the establishment of a procedure for the coordination and control of research on them” (excluding birds), for which collection, killing, capture, preservation, in captivity, trafficking and export are prohibited.

Finally, special legislation can be considered art. 110 of N.D. 86/1969, as supplemented by article 28 of Law 2040/1992, which prohibited goat grazing in all forests and forest areas of Attica, and consequently, in the Parnitha National Park as a whole.

However, the basic law is Law 1650/1986 “On the protection of the environment” Government Gazette 160 / A / 06.10.1986, which establishes the fundamental rules and establishes the criteria and mechanisms for protection of the general environment of our country.

International Treaties and Conventions

A comprehensive plan for the administration and management of the Parnitha National Park must take into account the international treaties and conventions, which refer to the protection of the environment and are applicable to the legal status of Parnitha.

Directive 79/409 / EEC “On the conservation of wild birds” – Special Protected Areas.

The aim of this directive is not only to preserve wild bird populations living in the wild, but also to provide sufficient area and variety of habitats to protect them. This directive was incorporated in the Greek state with the K.Y.A. 414958/1985 (Government Gazette 757 / Β / 18-12-1985) “Measures for the management of wild bird fauna” article 57 of Law 2637/1998.

The reason for the adoption of the directive was the fact that a large number of species of birds that live in the wild in the wild are rapidly declining, which poses a threat to the preservation of Europe ‘s natural environment and biological balance. The broader goal of wildlife conservation is the long-term protection and management of natural resources as an “integral part of the European heritage”, as well as “the conservation and adaptation of the species’ natural balances to the limits of reason”. A key regulation of the directive is the obligation for Member States to take all necessary measures to maintain or adapt the population of all bird species “to a level which is particularly relevant to ecological, scientific and educational requirements”. However, the well-known consideration of financial and leisure requirements is added.

Following a proposal from our country, the Parnitha National Park has joined the Special Protection Areas of the Community. Special Protection Areas are included in the European ecological network “Natura 2000”, in accordance with Community Directive 92/43 / EEC.

Directive 92/43 / EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.

Directive 92/43 / EEC on the restoration and conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, which was incorporated into Greek law by JM 33318/3028/1998, aims to contribute to the protection of biological diversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna on European soil (Article 2). To this end, the Directive imposes on Member States the obligation to “establish a coherent European Ecological Network of Specific Zones (NATURA 2000)”, according to a set timetable, in order to ensure the conservation of certain types of natural habitats and the habitats of its species flora and fauna. This network consists of “Special Conservation Areas” as well as “Special Protection Areas” (SPAs) classified in accordance with the provisions of Directive 79/409 / EEC. This Directive shifts the Union’s environmental policy from species to habitat, from entire sites to ecosystems and from national to international, and sets out a policy to establish and further develop a coherent European network. (ECONET – European Ecological Network).

The strict protection of animal species includes the prohibition of any form of intentional capture or killing of specimens of the species, intentionally harassing the species, especially during the breeding season, intentionally destroying or collecting eggs in the wild or damaging or destroying them. breeding or resting places. The philosophy and individual choices of the directive in terms of the scope and scope of protection, the conditions that accompany it, the means proposed, the policies outlined for its implementation highlight its systematic superiority over other institutional mechanisms, national or international, relating to the protection of wildlife and the conservation of biodiversity.

 

Definition of protection zones and conditions

According to the Presidential Decree 336 / Δ / 24-7-2007, protection zones of the mountain range of Parnitha were defined, which are described below:

Zone A1

It is an absolute protection zone, within which scientific research is allowed and the visit of special scientists and employees, who are in charge of guarding, supervising and managing the Park. It is also allowed the passage of the public only on specific routes – hiking trails and recreation only at specific points, distributed on the above routes. The routes and recreation points are defined by a study approved by the competent services of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Executive Committee of the Athens Organization.

Zone Α2

It is also a zone of absolute protection, within which only outdoor recreation, and public overnight stay, scientific research and observation and environmental education are allowed. It is also allowed the movement of all kinds of vehicles along the main road network, with the restrictions that refer to hours, days, seasons and places and are determined by the Rules of Operation of the National Park. Also within the boundaries of this zone, is allowed without the expansion of their facilities and activities the operation of the two existing mountain shelters, the Cyclamen refreshment room, the environmental information building of the Parnitha Forest Service, and the operation of SEGAS facilities for student sports only. All the above uses and activities may be limited in time and space, by the more specific provisions of the Rules of Operation of the National Park.

Zones Β1

They are zones of recreation, environmental education, outdoor sports and outdoor cultural events, in which the construction of refreshments, restaurants, outdoor or semi-outdoor lounges and kiosks of historical and environmental information for the area is allowed.

Zone Β2

It is a zone of high protection and is defined as an area of ​​outdoor recreation and agricultural use excluding agricultural warehouses. Within this zone is allowed the construction of a small Municipal Shelter and a Municipal installation of cultural – educational character. The location of the above municipal facilities is done after a special study and is approved by the Executive Committee of the Athens Organization after the consent of the competent forest service. The traffic of all types of vehicles is allowed with the restrictions defined in the Rules of Operation of the National Park.

Zone Β3

It is a zone of recreation, sports, cultural events, equestrian facilities and environmental education in which it is allowed to build refreshments, restaurants, small sports facilities, facilities for cultural events, equestrian facilities, outdoor and semi-outdoor and suburban outdoor, cultural and outdoor facilities. These facilities are located after a special study for zone B3 approved by the Executive Committee of the Athens Organization after the consent of the competent department of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. The special study must refer to an area greater than 200 acres.

Zone Β4

It is a zone of recreation, outdoor sports, agricultural use excluding agricultural warehouses, and environmental information, within which the construction of refreshments, restaurants, outdoor sports facilities, outdoor and semi-outdoor living areas and pavilions for historical and outdoor kiosks is allowed. In the part of zone B4 that includes the Tatoiou estate, as delimited by Law 2086/92 (A ‘172), the use of the existing buildings of the estate is required exclusively after their required repairs and arrangements. The location of uses in the already existing building potential for this section of B4 are approved by the Executive Committee of the Athens Organization after the consent of the competent service of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

Zone Δ1

It is a zone of recreation and outdoor sports activities. Within this zone, the construction of historical and environmental information kiosks for the area and the operation of refreshments is allowed, in the already existing auxiliary buildings of the former royal estate of Tatoi. These facilities are located after a special study for the entire zone D1 approved by the Executive Committee of the Athens Organization after the opinion of the relevant department of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

Zone Δ2

It is an area of recreation, culture, hospitality of personalities, organization of international political councils, spiritual events and exhibitions of special topics. Within this zone and only within the existing buildings it is possible to establish a museum, host personalities, organize international political councils, spiritual events and exhibitions on special topics.

 

Zone Δ3

It is a zone of recreation, sports, environmental education, agriculture and animal husbandry excluding agricultural warehouses. Within this zone and within the existing buildings only the operation of restaurants, refreshments, museum, exhibition spaces, equestrian facilities, sports facilities, livestock and agricultural facilities, educational activities of a research nature and outdoor and semi-outdoor and outdoor nature is allowed.
In zones D2 and D3 the repair and layout of the existing buildings is allowed as well as the interventions and additions absolutely necessary for their operation, which are foreseen by their evaluation as preservable buildings or not. It is also allowed to maintain, repair and modernize all existing facilities and infrastructure networks. The above mentioned interventions are performed without increasing the structured surface and the volume of the existing buildings, without altering their form and physiognomy. In the above zones D2 and D3 the uses, activities and facilities, repairs, the above considered as necessary additions of each building, are specialized in a comprehensive study approved by a joint decision of the Ministers of Environment, Spatial Planning and Public Works, Culture , Rural Development and Food and Finance after the opinion of the Executive Committee of the Athens Organization.

Zone Γ1

It is a recreation area. It is allowed to build refreshments, restaurants, cafes and residential buildings. It is not possible to build one building per stadium.

Zone Γ2

It is the area of the settlement of Ippokratio Politia.

Zone Ε1

This zone is the Park of Radio-Television Antennas.

Zone Ε2

They are tourist zones, the facilities of which have been determined by Law 3139/03 (A ‘100) and for which as well as for their escorts, the provisions of the above law apply.

Zone Ε3

This zone includes the Bank of Greece Camps.

Zone Ε4

This zone includes the Quarry area of Xirorema, which has been located with the joint Ministerial Decision No. 70966/3099 / 5.4.1996 (B ‘403).

Zone Ε5

It is a zone of agricultural land within which it is possible, if there is no suitable space outside the protection limits of the mountain mass, the installation of a cemetery of the Community of Ag. Stefanou.

Regulation of Operation of Parnitha National Park

Pursuant to paragraph 3 of article 5 of Law 996/1971, the special operating regulation of the Parnitha National Park was issued, which was approved by decision no. 164975/2850 / 20.05.1985 of the Ministry. Of Agriculture and was published in the Government Gazette 344 / 31.05.1985.

All visitors to Parnitha should know that at the core of the National Park:
NOT ALLOWED

• The lighting of fire all year round
• The cutting of trees, branches and tops, the uprooting and collection of flowers or other plants and generally any damage to the vegetation.
• The collection and transport of topsoil.
• The pollution of the space in general.
• The traffic of all kinds of wheeled vehicles on the forest roads, where there are obstacles and prohibition signs.
• The use of the road network for all kinds of tests and races of cars and motorcycles, as well as the development of excessive speed and deafening noises on all roads.
• The hunting and capture of any animal by any means, throughout the year.
• The handling of all kinds of weapons, even those housed in holsters, axes, saws or other cutting tools.
• The grazing of each animal.
• The movement of dogs, even tied up, or other pets and their abandonment in the area of the Forest.
• Overnight in tents or caravans.
• The installation of bee hives.
• Advertisements (on rocks, trees, fences, etc.) and the writing of slogans.
• The distribution of canteens and vendors.
• The destruction of signs, fences and generally works and materials that are the property of the State.

For the violators of this regulation, the provisions of N.D. 86/1969, of N.D. 996/1971 and L.998 / 1979.