On 30 January and 2 February 2023, Sympraxis realised two successful public consultation days on the proposals of the Special Environmental Studies (SES) / Management Plans (MP) of the areas of the Natura 2000 Network, in Epirus and Western Macedonia and in Western Greece and Ionian Islands.

The consultation days were realised on behalf of Greece’s important consulting firms: ADENS S.A. and D. ARGYROPOULOS & associates, the Contracting Companies for the Study of the areas of the Natura 2000 Network for the Regional Units of Thesprotia, Preveza, Ioannina and Grevena, and EPSLON S.A. and ILIDA CONSULTING ENGINEERS, the Contracting Companies for the Study of the areas of the Natura 2000 Network for the Regional Units of Kerkyra, Kefalonia, Ithaki, Lefkada and Zakynhtos. The participants had the opportunity to intervene live, as well as in writing, through their comments in social media. All comments and questions were recorded to be taken into account by the researchers. Through the consultation, the local communities of the said regional units as well as the stakeholders were informed.

The Special Environmental Studies, within the framework of their assignment by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, determine and delimit the object under protection, the permitted uses of land, in relation to the protected species and habitats, and in harmony with anthropogenic activities. The studies include threats and challenges in the study area, biodiversity and developing ecosystems, as well as the assessment and delimitation of protection zones, and the proposed management plans. The analysis is completed with the intended results, the environmental and economic effects, as well as the development perspectives.