Seventeen environmental organizations answer to the “rural myths’’ about a “scheme” for releasing wild animals in Greek nature. Although those myths are not valid, they trigger dangerous practices and they form negative precedents regarding endangered species and more.
Every year, we have to face rumors about snakes, bears, wolves and jackals that have allegedly overwhelmed the Greek countryside. All these come from secret and uncontrollable ecological liberations or from unknown people that move suspiciously on forest roads… The rumors concern mostly protected animals that cause damages, such as wolves, bears or other “scary animals’’ like snakes.
But to what extent could such a practice be possible to be applied to the Greek nature or be beneficial to it? The article (in Greek) deconstructs the particular myth and analyzes how much groundless and dangerous it is for both the biodiversity and ourselves.
Additionally, the members of the organizations that have been working daily for seven years out in the nature, share some personal evidence from tragic or funny moments that they have experienced during their contact with various people that have been enticed by those myths.
The seventeen bodies that have composed the text state that “the protection of the endangered species requires the cooperation and comprehension of the residents and professionals of the countryside. Myths regarding liberations exactly affect that necessary condition and cause professional groups like stock-breeders to get into disputes with NGOs, local authorities and scientists. The deconstruction of those science fiction scenarios is very important, because only with the help of all these people can we implement realistic solutions for both the protection of the wild life and the countryside professionals as well as their properties”.
More information:
Konstantina Ntemiri, Environmental Policy Officer, contact: +30 210 8228704, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Check the whole text (in Greek) here.