Soil policy

Editor's note 3Jul14: Sources D142-3 and D242-4.

In Greece, the main legal basis and instrument regarding soil protection is the UNCDD as ratified by Law 2469/1997. Soil quality is also a key component/theme in other EU and national policies, most notably agricultural and environmental policy (landfill of waste and industrial pollution prevention). The objective of the UNCDD (Law 2469/1997) is “to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, … in the framework of an integrated approach … with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas”. (article 2 UNCDD). “Long-term integrated strategies” are identified as the main instrument to achieve the objective. The Ministry of Rural Development and Food (formerly Ministry of Agriculture) is by law responsible for the implementation of the UNCDD, through the joint participation of the Directorate of Land Reclamation and Agricultural Structures and the General Directorate for the Development and Protection of Forests. A Greek National Committee to Combat Desertification (GNCDD) was established in 1996 as a scientific advisory body (Min.Dec 96990/9361). The GNCDD's National Plan to Combat Desertification foresees that Prefectural Committees to Combat Desertification should established to formulate, coordinate, and implement local plans. No such Committees have been established.

To date the main policy instrument directly addressing soil issues is the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (NAP), prepared by the GNCCD and adopted by Ministerial Decision in 2001. The measures foreseen in the Plan are broad and extensive. Several of those are being implemented through other policies with no concrete reference to desertification.  In addition (as shown in other policy articles), two central policies which could directly address and prevent the desertification problem, water policy and land-use planning, have  failed to yet engage in the cross-cutting issues.

The NAP identifies the Asteroussia Mts as an area at extremely high risk of desertification and singles the site for the implementation of pilot projects and measures, none of which however have been implemented.

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