Participation of LIFE MareNatura in the consultation on the SES of the South Aegean

LIFE project partners MareNatura and the project’s expert policy partner, The Green Tank submitted their views to the consultation on the Special Environmental Study (SES) EPM 8b: Natura 2000 Areas of the Regional Units of South Aegean – Dodecanese (parts) and Cyclades (2nd Group of Areas).

Considering the consultation on the South Aegean Special Study a positive development, the opinions, comments and recommendations submitted (per chapter), mainly concern the need to expand the study area of the present or a complementary Special Study and, consequently, also the area of the protected areas it proposes as well as the need for additional buffer zones and ecological corridors to cover more ecologically important marine areas.

In addition, the contribution of the LIFE MareNatura project to the objectives of the Special Study is emphasized. The LIFE MareNatura project will enrich the available knowledge on protected species in the areas examined by the Special Study. The updated data will contribute to the achievement of the additional commitments undertaken by the country in line with the latest European and international nature policy developments. The commitments concern the designation of at least 30-32% of the country’s national waters as protected and the declaration of the Aegean National Park, as announced during the 9^th Our Ocean Conference.

You can read the comments submitted to the consultation here (only in Greek).