Cry of anguish from the president of the municipal community Neurokopiou due to lack of firewood in the region: «We are the largest forest area in Greece and we have no firewood,» he stressed. Isaiah Hatzikonstantinou, speaking on the program «Open Communication» on Open TV.
«There is no firewood on the market. This is a serious problem for our region,» emphasized Mr. Hatzikonstantinou., warning that if this situation continues, everyone will go into the forests to cut wood, «Because it's a matter of survival now, not a matter of luxury.».
Speaking on the show, the timber merchant George Kaskalidis, sounded the alarm about the premature closure of some livestock pens. «Starting next month, or perhaps even in the coming days, some livestock pens that have not been adequately supplied will begin to close one by one. Those who were more organized and have done their homework will sit back and wait as long as they can. This does not mean that there will be no shortage.».
What happened and why is the market running out of wood?; «There was wood, as much as every year, maybe even more. However, it was the large turnout that created the shortage. There is a shortage of wood due to high demand.».
Who is entitled to free firewood?
The ability to residents of mountainous areas of the country to proceed, either as a community or individually, to timber harvesting, under the supervision of the relevant forestry services, to meet the needs for the winter period, is provided by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, with a relevant circular signed by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, George Amiras.
It should be noted that firewood is already available free of charge from Forestry Labor Cooperatives (DASE) to residents throughout Greece.
This year, the Ministry allocated €4,500,000, the highest amount in the last decade, to the Forest Policy Implementation Inspection Services: Macedonia-Thrace, Epirus-Western Macedonia, Thessaly-Central Greece, Peloponnese-Western Greece, and the Ionian Islands, to cover the individual needs of residents in the mountainous areas of the country.
More specifically, the annual funding amounts are as follows:
2022: 4.500.000 €
2021: 3.500.000 €
2020: 3.000.000 €
2019: 680.000 €
2018: 480.000 €
2017: 457.000 €
2016: 907.500 €
2015: 1.100.000 €
2014: 90.000 €
At the same time, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, understanding that current conditions necessitate an adjustment of logging and other work prices, is taking the necessary steps to increase them. from the next fiscal year.
