The Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Nicolas Tagaras has approved the conversion of 4,000 acres of a natural wild life reserve in Pieria into a holiday resort.
The natural wild life reserve is located near Aliki in Pieria and has been included in the Natura 2000 ecological network of protected areas in the EU. The wetlands in the reserve are important in preserving rare birds and wild flora.
The first efforts to convert the nature reserve into a resort were made in 1995, while in 2004 a ministerial decree approved a study on the urban planning of the area. However, about two years ago the European Commission’s Environment Directorate-General intervened, thus halting road works.
Despite this though, the Deputy Minister decided to reduce the land allocated to the “Aliki Kitros” natural wild life reserve by from 17,840 to 13,701.37 acres.
