The Greek Government has recently introduced NEW forest maps for 33 different areas throughout Greece including the Prefectures of Arcadia, Laconia, Messenia, Chios and Kerkira just to name a few.
The purpose of developing forestry maps is to accurately record forests and forestland throughout the country. Maps are formed by recording existing forests and forestland, areas that were once deforested and/or altered and areas that were reforested and/or forested in the meantime.
These maps are necessary for the Greek Government not only to protect its natural environment, but also to secure property rights and ownership titles in cooperation with the Hellenic Cadastre.
How do I protect my Greek property?
Check your property. Owners can verify if their Greek property has been identified as forest or non-forestland by navigating the search engine of the Hellenic Cadastre.
Don’t be surprised if your patriko or olive grove in your hometown village has been identified as forestry land like my mother’s has in the rural area of Arcadia. If your property has been falsely identified as forestland whereas it is not, you are lawfully entitled to submit objections for this property.
As the law stands up-to-date, applications for objections are filed 15 days after the issuing of the specific forest map of interest. The deadline is 60 days after that date for Greek citizens and 80 days for owners residing abroad.
To properly submit your objections, you will need an accurate and updated land survey, an issue we have stressed on repeatedly in past newsletters, in our Article Series first published in 2014 and our first Greek Property U.S. Workshops in 2014 in Chicago.
*Katerina Sirouni is an Architect and Greek Property Manager