National Parks
Several national parks protect the islands' ecosystems. They are also designed to welcome visitors and raise public awareness of the fragility of natural environments and the need to protect them.
Zakynthos Marine National Park: located in the south of the island of Zakynthos, this park protects monk seal habitats and loggerhead turtle nesting sites. It offers beautiful walking routes and snorkeling opportunities.
Mount Ainos National Park: located on the island of Kefalonia, the park is dedicated to preserving the habitat of the Apollo fir or Kefalonia fir, an endemic species found on Mount Ainos.
Territories subject to strong pressures
The Ionian Islands are subject to natural hazards. The area was severely affected by the 1953 earthquake. Droughts and floods are aggravated by human activities. Greece and the islands saw record tourist numbers in 2017 and 2018 (over 30 million visitors to the country in 2018). Tourism, the main economic activity, generates a number of pressures on the constrained spaces of the islands. Land artificialisation (urbanization) and land clearing accelerate erosion and the degradation of natural environments. Resource management (water, energy) and waste production are also major ecological challenges.
The burning issue of waste and sanitation
Waste management on the islands remains very poor, marked by a lack of political will and environmental awareness. The European Court of Justice has repeatedly condemned the country for its illegal landfills and recycling shortcomings. In terms of prevention, i.e. reducing waste at source and raising awareness, there is still much to be done. Plastic bags have been charged for in Greece since 2018, which in 2019 has resulted in... an increase in plastic bag consumption! The Mediterranean Sea suffers from a great deal of pollution, particularly plastic, for which NGOs are calling for plurilateral and binding measures, as well as awareness-raising actions. Here again, much remains to be done, especially in a country facing an economic crisis. Efforts must also focus on setting up wastewater treatment systems and bringing them up to standard.
Corfu: when illegal dumpsites rub shoulders with yachts
"There grow great flourishing trees, pear trees, pomegranate trees, [...] domestic fig trees and luxuriant olive trees. Their fruit never dies or fails, winter or summer", we read in theOdyssey. And it's true that Corfu boasts some absolutely idyllic scenery, attracting many visitors every year. The other reality is the tons of garbage piled up in the streets or stockpiled in landfill sites, due to the lack of properly sized and compliant facilities. Despite reminders from the European Union, the island is struggling to put waste management in place. The various stakeholders are unable to agree on the construction of a new treatment facility.
Fire hazards
Back in the spring of 2023, Ta Nea warned and headlined: "What happens if... Greece reaches 50 degrees". To illustrate its point, the Greek daily put caryatids in apocalyptic orange on its front page that day. For the background, it relies on a study by the Aristotle University of Thessalonica, anticipating extreme heat and its consequences in the country. "A temperature of 48°C in Athens would be absolutely dangerous for human life, according to the scientists. Although this is, as they explain, an extreme scenario, our country is in the 'red zone' of climate change." A pessimistic scenario? Three months later, Greece experienced the hottest summer in its history. During the summer, the country recorded up to 80 fires a day. In addition to mainland Greece, Euboea, the island of Rhodes and Corfu were particularly hard hit.
Sacrificing the environment for the sake of the economy? In 2015, the Central Bank of Greece calculated that the cost of climate change, if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, could amount to 701 billion euros by 2100 (damage cost). In 2019, the MedECC network (a network of Mediterranean experts on climate and environmental change) reported that current warming was +1.5°C compared with pre-industrial averages in the Mediterranean. "Without additional mitigation actions, temperatures will increase by 2.2°C (compared to the pre-industrial period) in the Mediterranean region by 2040, and even by 3.8°C in some areas by 2100" (source: www.medecc.org).
Initiatives and perspectives for sustainable tourism
In Corfu, billionaires and environmentalists agree to denounce the construction of a luxury tourist complex in a protected natural area. Preserving natural environments and limiting pollution are essential to maintaining biodiversity. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is also a sine qua non for safeguarding the conditions for a world fit for human habitation. We are all players in these global challenges, both in our travels and in our daily lives. If traveling differently is necessary, it can also be a great source of joy and a return to more authenticity, in keeping with the frugality that many islanders have preserved over the centuries. Living with local people and eating locally will open you up to new encounters, and to the virtues of the Mediterranean diet. Rediscovering a different relationship with time and yourself is also one of the benefits of slow travel, so extolled by travel writer Jacques Lacarrière, for example, in his story L'Eté grec. You can also discover the islands by sail or bicycle. You can also travel to Greece by train, or by bike, via the EuroVelo 8(https://fr.eurovelo.com/greece).
