GREECE: Suspicious fire destroys forest in protected sea turtle marine park
Copyright 2001 Associated Press
October 15, 2001
ATHENS, Greece -- A fire that officials said appeared to be a case of arson has destroyed a forest around a national marine park established on an island in the Ionian Sea to protect rare Mediterranean sea turtles.
The fire that broke out Thursday on the island of Zakynthos wiped out a forest and shrubbery Thursday in the area of Vasilikos, where the protected beach in the Zakynthos National Marine Park is located.
The beach is a nesting site for the endangered Caretta Caretta turtle.
"The beach is the most important nesting site for the sea turtle," the World Wide Fund for Nature, or WWF, said. It added there was a danger that soil erosion would harm the shoreline.
Environment Ministry Undersecretary Ilias Efthimiopoulos said Friday arson was suspected.
"The multiple sources of the fire that broke out in various parts of the Zakynthos National Marine Park, burning significant tracks of forest, lead the fire department to believe it is the work of arson," Efthimiopoulos said.
"Those responsible will not remain unpunished," the official said.
The WWF also said the fire "seems to be the work of arson."
In an effort to protect the area, the WWF launched an international fund raising campaign and in 1994 bought 82 acres from local residents in an effort to prevent it from being developed. The region is a prime tourist area and for years has been sought after for development.
The government declared the area a national park in Dec. 1999 in an effort to protect the turtles and the Mediterranean monk seal.
The turtles have become a major tourist attraction on the Ionian Sea island. Between 1,300 to 2,200 turtle nests are found in the 550-yard core of the protected zone.