Organization of Forestry
The contribution of the forest sector to the country’s GDP is low. The main reasons for that are: small percentage of economic (productive) forests, low productivity of economic forests and the fact that the value of non wood forest services cannot be estimated in economic terms.
In Greece state forests account for 74%, whereas 26% are non state forests. The growing stock of the productive forests is 158 million m3.
Forestry in Greece is based on sustainable forest management. Greece established the principle of sustainable forest management in the Forest Law in 1928. Since then sustainable forest management has been implemented in forestry. Management of all forests is based on forest management plans which are valid for a period of 10 years.
Except for Forest Service, Forest Cooperations also participate in forest management and exploitation. In forest industry 700 industry units are involved in which 13,000 employees work. In Greece many people are involved in hunting whereas many professions are related to it.
In Greece state forests account for 74%, whereas 26% are non state forests. The growing stock of the productive forests is 158 million m3.
Forestry in Greece is based on sustainable forest management. Greece established the principle of sustainable forest management in the Forest Law in 1928. Since then sustainable forest management has been implemented in forestry. Management of all forests is based on forest management plans which are valid for a period of 10 years.
Except for Forest Service, Forest Cooperations also participate in forest management and exploitation. In forest industry 700 industry units are involved in which 13,000 employees work. In Greece many people are involved in hunting whereas many professions are related to it.
The main body for protecting and managing the country's state forests as well as for supervising the private forests, is the Forest Service. This body operates under the name Special Secretariat of Development and Protection of Forests and Natural Environment and consists of the Central Service and the Regional Services. The Central Service, which belongs to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, is the inspecting body of the whole administrational structure of the Forest Service. It is responsible for formulating forest policy, elaborating long-term programmes of forest development, monitoring scientific and technological development in managing forests, working out fire protection programmes, supervising and strengthening research programmes and finally promoting the country’s co-operation with EU, third countries and International Organizations.
The Regional Services, which belong to the Hellenic Ministry of Interior Decentralization and E-government, are the instruments for executing the instructions and forest policy in general formulated by the Central Service, but also for applying local programmes and studies. They are divided into Intraprefectural and Prefectural Services.
Furthermore, two Forest Institutes carry out forest research and two University Forestry Schools and four Technological Educational Institutes of Forestry provide forestry education.
The Regional Services, which belong to the Hellenic Ministry of Interior Decentralization and E-government, are the instruments for executing the instructions and forest policy in general formulated by the Central Service, but also for applying local programmes and studies. They are divided into Intraprefectural and Prefectural Services.
Furthermore, two Forest Institutes carry out forest research and two University Forestry Schools and four Technological Educational Institutes of Forestry provide forestry education.