No wind parks on Chios' burnt soil

Wildfires on the Aegean island of Chios have destroyed more than 12,000 hectares of forest and cultivated land. In addition, more than 30 percent of the Mastix trees, the sap of which is an important economic factor for the island, have been burnt down. The wildfires may be caused by arson instigated by investors interested in building wind parks, the magazine Intellectum fears: "It is widely believed on the island that the devastating forest fires are directly connected to this year's decision by the supreme administrative court to allow the construction of wind parks in areas that are to be reafforested. According to this ruling, projects are incontestable in terms of constitutional law when their execution has been assessed as crucial and serving social, national or economic interests. ... We want to see forests and Mastix plantations on Chios in the coming years, not wind parks. If the wind parks do come they should be called 'wind parks of fire'. And the name should be emblazoned on a huge sign."

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