Court of audit calls for better oversight of reforestation efforts

The Greek Court of Audit on Monday urged authorities to improve the planning and supervision of reforestation projects, warning that current efforts fall short of restoring forests damaged by wildfires.

In a new report, the auditors said “far fewer reforestations take place than those scheduled,” and monitoring of restoration work is insufficient, making it impossible to confirm whether burned areas are being properly rehabilitated.

The General Directorate of Forests and Forest Environments, the agency responsible for implementing the National Forest Strategy, was found unable to provide reliable nationwide data on areas designated for reforestation or on which lands scientifically require such work. This lack of data leads to public funds being allocated “on an ad hoc basis,” the report noted.

While the relatively new sponsorship system has accelerated some projects, the Court pointed to irregular sponsor selection and limited oversight, adding that state funds for certain reforestation initiatives were not released on time.

The Court of Audit called on the relevant authorities to strengthen planning, data management and supervision to ensure more effective reforestation across the country.