JOINT PRESS RELEASE 21/08/2025
As the hunting season begins while the burned areas of Chios are still smoldering, 21 environmental organizations send an urgent request to the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Chios Forestry Directorate for an immediate universal ban on hunting throughout the island of Chios for five years at least.
The fires in June and August burned 114.325 acres –an area equal to approximately 13,6% of Chios– according to estimates by the Emergency Management Service – Mapping of the European monitoring program Copernicus. Of the island’s six wildlife reserves, two appear to have been completely destroyed, while the rest, along with the two protected areas of the Natura 2000 network, have been severely affected. These extensive fires have left behind enormous losses to ecosystems with incalculable consequences for wildlife.
Under these circumstances, the unhindered continuation of hunting will lead to further weakening of the already burdened wild animal populations, depriving them of the opportunity to recover and find refuge in the remaining unburned areas. The urgent need to ban hunting on the island must, of course, be accompanied by the reinforcement of the Forestry Service with personnel and resources, so that the ban is enforced in practice and does not remain on paper.
The ban on hunting in Chios is not simply an option, it is the minimum and absolutely necessary measure to offer wildlife some respite and prevent further loss of biodiversity on an island that has been hit harder than ever before.
The Environmental Organizations:
Alkioni
ANIMA
ARION
ARCHELON
Action for Wildlife
Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage
Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature
Hellenic ORNITHOLOGICAL Society
Society for the Protection of Prespa
Greenpeace
iSea
Callisto
MedINA
MEDASSET
Ecological Recycling Society
Panhellenic Ecological Organizations Network
Pindos Environmental Organization
Naxos Wildlife Protection
Tulipa Goulimi Association
Naturefriends Greece
WWF Hellas