Greece's Environment and Energy Ministry has unveiled a restoration plan for Western Attica, ravaged by wildfires that scorched roughly 113,000 stremmata, with anti-erosion and flood-protection works set to begin by September 15 and finish by year's end.
Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, presenting the plan, said the burned area — about 95,000 stremmata of which lies within the Attica region — will be formally declared subject to mandatory reforestation within 30 days.
He paid tribute to the five firefighters killed battling the blazes over the past week, which also threatened Crete's rare Preveli palm forest, ultimately sparing all but 3.5 of its roughly 30 stremmata.
Piraeus Bank will finance €1.5 million in restoration studies and projects as the designated restoration contractor, while energy firm HELLENiQ ENERGY has pledged a €25 million donation for recovery efforts, primarily in Western Attica.
Mr. Papastavrou also announced €25 million in Green Fund financing for mountain flood-protection and forestry works in Vilia, Gerania, Varympompi, Afidnes and Kryoneri.
The minister highlighted Greece's AntiNERO wildfire prevention program, which has received €667 million in funding since 2022 and earned recognition from the European Commission as an effective model for forest protection against climate change.
He said prevention efforts had spared far greater destruction, noting the Forest Service had gone nearly two decades without new hires before recent reinforcement.
Mr. Papastavrou also signaled plans to tighten regulations governing privately owned electrical networks, saying incentives created in 2006 are no longer justified and loopholes will be closed