Natural environments subject to high pressures
Fifth island of the Mediterranean, Crete has remarkable ecosystems, which are home to endemic species, such as kri-kri (wild goats), or the juniper called "Cretan cedar". The natural environments are however subject to strong anthropic pressures. The artificialization of soils, and in particular the coastal urbanism, has for example caused the disappearance of turtle nesting sites. Uncontrolled grazing, poaching, tourist traffic and unauthorized camping have contributed to the degradation of natural environments and the loss of biodiversity. In some areas, trampling, dune erosion, but also global warming, which has caused more frequent and severe droughts, have contributed to the decline of many "Cretan cedars". Restoration programs such as "junicoast" have been initiated. The island also has tools to protect its natural heritage. Natura 2000 zones aim to protect ecosystems and remarkable species. National parks ensure missions of environmental protection associated with actions of reception and awareness of the public.
Samaria National Park or White Mountains National Park: located in the north-western part of the island, it is home to the nature reserve of the Samaria Gorge and the narrow passage "of the doors", which offers a picturesque hike, only accessible from May to October. It also protects a remarkable biodiversity, associated with several endemic plant species. The Samaria Gorge is also the natural habitat of the kri-kri.
The Natural Park of Sitia: located at the eastern tip of the island, it has joined the Unesco Geopark network. This area has many hiking trails (geo-trails) and a visitor center that allow you to discover the unique geology of the site, but also its biodiversity.
Psiloritis Natural Park: located in the center of the island, it is home to the highest peak of Crete, Mount Ida. Hiking itineraries allow you to discover the park, its mountains but also its valleys, and a whole coastal fringe. Created in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Crete, it protects a rich geological heritage and has joined the Geopark network.
Since 2012, against the backdrop of the economic crisis, foreign investors have been buying up land using simplified procedures to set up large solar or wind farms. This "fast track" system dispenses with impact studies and arouses the ire of many inhabitants. Although the island is not connected to the mainland's electricity transmission network, opponents point to the oversized size of the equipment in relation to the island's energy needs and the impact on the natural environment (Natura 2000 zone) and the landscape. In 2020 was held a demonstration against one of these projects of installation of renewable energy production units on an industrial scale (EREI), in Sitanos. Another subject of discord, the construction of the new airport of Kastelli, which would cause the destruction of natural environments and crops. Beyond it symbolizes the choice of a massification of tourism and the sacrifice of the environment on the altar of the economy. A choice justified by the economic situation but which seems to forget the gravity and the consequences of the global warming in progress. By ignoring the warnings, the myth of Icarus could become premonitory.
Natural risks amplified by climate change
In recent years, droughts and floods are becoming more frequent and intense. The amplification of these phenomena as well as the climate change that is becoming more and more threatening have alerted the officials of the Departmental Region of Crete. Thus, after a few years of studies, in September 2022, a strategic plan was completed and adopted with the general title "Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan of the Region of Crete" with the main goal of reducing, and predicting, the vulnerability of the island to the threat of climate change. Within this framework, 14 key sectors for the development of the island have been identified as well as the geographical areas to be monitored and prioritized for the next 5 to 15 years.
Resilient agriculture
The oldest olive tree in the world is found in Crete. The Cretan agriculture is based on a polyculture associated with the olive tree and the goat breeding, which allowed to ensure the resilience of the territory. However, the "seas of olive trees" constitute in some areas monocultures sensitive to climatic hazards and pathogens. This is what happened in 2018: after several dry winters and the occurrence of pathogens, olive oil productions have experienced a decline in their yield.
Water and waste management still deficient
The territory has not implemented selective collection and does not have a regulated waste treatment facility. The situation is even more problematic during the tourist season, when the population is larger (Crete welcomed 3 million tourists in 2019). The same applies to water management. The wastewater most often ends up untreated in the sea. Crete is also one of the islands in the Mediterranean, along with Corsica, that suffers the most from plastic pollution. It has been qualified as a "plastic hotspot" by a WWF report in 2017, which recommends, among the actions to be implemented, an international agreement to ban plastic discharges in the Mediterranean by 2030.
Travel differently
"In the sheltered hollows, the lemon and orange trees were fragrant, and further on, from the endless sea, emanated an inexhaustible poetry. It is possible to find the charm described by Nikos Kazantzaki in his novel Alexis Zorba. Crete lends itself to walking and cycling. The traveler will also be invited to use the local resources sparingly. For the slow travelers, it is quite possible to go from Paris to Athens by train. More and more travelers by bicycle are heading from France to Greece.
