Press Releases

04 Dec Nature is under attack: The protection of wolves is being downgraded in the Bern Convention.

Press Releases04/12/2024

On December 3, 2024, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention voted in favor of downgrading the protective status of wolves. This decision has faced strong criticism from nature conservation experts and environmental organizations. The Environmental Organizations co-signing this announcement join their voices with other European groups and international networks, denouncing the decision as a serious misstep devoid of any scientific rationale. This decision, influenced by the EU's push to weaken...

24 Oct In Parliament, a draft law has been proposed to strengthen public participation in environmental decisions.

Press Releases24/10/2024

Joint Announcement of 12 Environmental Organizations We welcome the submission to the Hellenic Parliament of the draft law aimed at strengthening and expanding public participation in environmental issues. The bill was submitted by the New Left in response to the invitation extended by 12 civil society organizations. These organizations have launched a joint initiative to address the serious deficit in public information and meaningful participation in the policy-making process and environmental...

30 Sep The EU’s decision to downgrade the protection status of the wolf targets a protected species, sending the wrong message!

Press Releases30/09/2024

Last Thursday, September 26, 2024, the EU Council formally ratified the decision of the majority of EU member states to adopt the European Commission's proposal to downgrade the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention. This decision was made possible after most countries, including Greece, changed their position and voted in favor of the proposal despite initial reservations.Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, the EU's Environment Ministers ignored the...

25 Sep Alliance for Wildlife: Eleven environmental organizations join forces, aiming to protect wildlife in Greece.

Press Releases25/09/2024

Eleven (11) environmental organizations are joining forces to establish the Alliance for Wildlife, a new ambitious initiative aimed at contributing to the conservation and protection of Greece's biodiversity. This is a collective initiative focused on the effective protection of both well-known and lesser-known species important to our country. By combining the extensive experience, significant work, and expertise of these organizations, the Alliance for Wildlife aims to play a crucial role...

12 Sep Appeal from 20 Environmental Organizations to the Greek Government to Support the Protection of Wolves in Europe

Press Releases12/09/2024

Joint Press Release Twenty environmental organizations are calling on the Greek government to reject the proposal for downgrading the protection status of wolves, which will be discussed soon at the Council of EU Environment Ministers. They request the government to align with a scientifically grounded and ambitious approach to preserving species and ecosystems in the EU and Greece. In a letter to the...

20 Dec 19 Environmental NGOs ask the Greek Government not to consent to a change in the wolf protection status in Europe

Announcements, Press Releases20/12/2023

The co-signatory 19 Environmental Organizations express our complete opposition to the proposal announced today by the European Commission to degrade the wolf's protection status under the Bern Convention and we call on the Greek government to proceed to its rejection during the Council of Environment Ministers that will be held.A few days ago, we joined with almost 300 European organizations, who addressed a new open letter to the EC President,...

22 Sep PrespaNet Celebrates a decade of Transboundary Collaboration & Conservation Efforts in Prespa

Press Releases22/09/2023

PrespaNet, a network of environmental NGOs dedicated to the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the transboundary Prespa Lakes Basin, is proud to be passing its 10th anniversary this year! Founded in 2013 by three organisations with a rich history of environmental stewardship in the region – the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP), the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), and Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in...

20 Mar Letter of 9 Greek environmental NGOs to Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis (text in Greek)

Press Releases20/03/2023

Αξιότιμε κύριε Πρωθυπουργέ,Mε την παρούσα επιστολή, οι υπογράφουσες περιβαλλοντικές οργανώσεις επιθυμούμε να σας εκφράσουμε την απογοήτευση μας για το περιεχόμενο των ρυθμίσεων και τον απαράδεκτα σύντομο χρόνο διαβούλευσης του νομοσχεδίου του Υπουργείου Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας, που πρόκειται να τεθεί προς συζήτηση και ψήφιση την επόμενη εβδομάδα ενώπιον της Ολομέλειας της Βουλής των Ελλήνων, με τίτλο «Μετονομασία της Ρυθμιστικής Αρχής Ενέργειας σε Ρυθμιστική Αρχή Αποβλήτων, Ενέργειας και Υδάτων και διεύρυνση του...

02 Feb World Wetlands Day – Restoring Prespa’s Wetland habitats

Press Releases02/02/2023

Wetland & degradationThe wetlands of the Prespa basin have long been recognised as providing refuge to important biodiversity, while also playing a central role in the well-being of the local communities that have evolved around them over the centuries. Nonetheless, both lakes are not impervious to human-induced pressures, including climate change, which has been leading to increasing degradation of their wetlands in recent years. Long-term drought events, reduced precipitation and...

15 Dec 25 international NGOs sound the alarm to prevent an environmental catastrophe at Lake Marmara in Turkey

Press Releases15/12/2022

In 2017, the Turkish Government ratified Lake Marmara as a wetland of national importance. It is globally recognised as one of the 305 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and 184 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Turkey. In addition, the lake also meets the criteria to become a wetland of international importance, also known as Ramsar Site.Today, there is no water in this lake. Most of the wetland has been converted to...