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The existing digital soil maps are mainly characterized by coarse spatial resolution and are not up to date; thus, they are unable to support the physical process-based models for improved predictions. The overarching objective of this work is oriented toward a data-driven approach and datacube-based tools (Soil Data Cube), leveraging Sentinel-2 imagery data, open access databases, ground truth soil data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) architectures to provide enhanced geospatial layers into the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, improving both the reliability and the spatial resolution of the final map. The proposed methodology was implemented in the agricultural area of the Imathia Regional Unit (northern Greece), which consists of both mountainous areas and lowlands. Enhanced soil maps of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and soil texture were generated at 10 m resolution through a time-series analysis of satellite data and an XGBoost (eXtrene Gradinent Boosting) model. The model was trained by 84 ground truth soil samples (collected from agricultural fields) taking into account also additional environmental covariates (including the digital elevation model and climatic data) and following a Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) approach. The enhanced layers were introduced into the RUSLE's soil erodibility factor (K-factor), producing a soil erosion layer with high spatial resolution. Notable prediction accuracy was achieved by the AI model with R 2 0.61 for SOC and 0.73, 0.67 and 0.63 for clay, sand, and silt, respectively. The average annual soil loss of the unit was found to be 1.76 ton/ha/yr with 6% of the total agricultural area suffering from severe erosion (>11 ton/ha/yr), which was mainly found in the mountainous border regions, showing the strong influence of the mountains in the agricultural fields. The overall methodology could strongly support regional decision making and planning and environmental policies such as the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to examine the impacts of management practices on innovation along with the mediating and moderating role of degree of competition, business environment and environmental policies. Design/methodology/approach: Data were derived from the World Bank Enterprise Survey 2019 for Greece, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and Jordan and analyzed by using PLS-SEM to find results. Findings: Findings revealed that management practices have positive significant relationship with the innovation among firms for Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Jordan but surprisingly insignificant relationship in Italy. Further, management practices have positive significant relationship with the environmental policies, business environment and degree of competition among firms in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and Jordan. In addition, environmental policies, business environment and degree of competition have positive significant relationship with innovation among firms in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and Jordan. Practical implications: These useful insights would enable practitioners and policy makers to develop and apply more influential management practices to boost up the level of innovation among firms. Originality/value: Although the topics of management practices and innovation have received a great concern of academia, but this is the first study that offers a comprehensive model of the relationship in these domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During August 2021, a wildfire outbreak in Evia, Greece's second largest island, resulted in a major environmental and economic crisis. Apart from biodiversity and habitat loss, the disaster triggered a financial crisis because it wiped out wood-productive forests and outdoor areas that attract visitors. This crisis highlighted the need for a new governance model in order to respond to environmental crises more effectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance and attitudes of relevant stakeholders towards establishing a Hub—a proposed governance model responsible for monitoring and restoring the natural capital and biodiversity after environmental crises. Results based on quantitative data collected via questionnaires showed that most respondents were positive to the Hub and perceived that its main functions should be to recommend measures after environmental crises and to facilitate cooperation among involved stakeholders. Moreover, results pointed to preferred funding sources, stakeholder groups that should participate in the Hub and key performance indicators (KPIs) for monitoring Hub's performance. The applied methodology could guide the establishment of governance models both in the study area and other countries facing environmental crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of the world in a matter of months evinced the magnitude of the pandemic worldwide with a rising death toll and rapid spreading of infections from a previously unknown virus that appeared in Wuhan (China) in December 2019. Aside from the severe health and economic effects of the coronavirus, the environment has seen a few considerable improvements. Amongst others, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have dropped at a global level as countries struggled to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Although Greece has a long record of problems and challenges in its environmental policy, the pandemic seemed to have caused a significant decline in its air pollution levels. This is mostly manifested in the reduced average monthly concentrations of three air pollutants (NO2, PM2.5, and PM10) in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels. The aim of this paper is to assess Greece's air quality by looking at three cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patra) and comparing the average concentrations of NO2, PM2.5, and PM10 over the period 2019-2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of this study is to investigate the main determinants of renewable energy investments in Greece. For this reason, we build an appropriate framework to infer the decision‐making process in the renewable energy sources (RES). The main drivers are then categorized under two groups as economic, and behavioral ones. In the next stage, we rely on binomial (logit and probit) and quantile regression analysis to estimate the impact of these factors on investment decisions towards RES. Our findings indicate that investors who gain better access to knowledge and exhibit a more positive attitude towards the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI) on the RES industry have a higher share of renewables in their portfolio. We argue that these investors are willing to invest a higher amount in the RES industry today. At the same time, quantile regression models illustrate that this relationship is nonmonotonic (i.e., inverted U shaped curve), arguing that positive attitudes towards the contribution of behavioral factors on RES are not adequate to encourage investments after crossing a certain point (threshold). Based on the empirical findings, we argue that the message to policymakers and government officials is to promote a faster penetration of low carbon technologies to achieve sustainable economic and social growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National Forest Parks are part of the unique places known as protected areas in respect of their complex ecosystems. Therefore, a sustainable forestry policy is essential so as to implement regionalism in these ecosystems. The organization of National Forest Parks commenced in Greece in 1938. Throughout an 80 year period: one presidential decree and eight Greek laws have regulated the protected areas. Now, it is clear that policy has been reshaped rapidly unfortunately not effectively. In examining further the period of national policy enactment, it is essential to understand whether either political change or difficult circumstances have arisen that have demanded a policy response. This study aims to evaluate the political reform by implementing a two way policy analysis approach firstly, so as to examine the legislative initiatives of previous years, including the new legislation or changes in the existing policy in relation to National Forest Parks and secondly, to estimate whether the policy was created according to political change and forthcoming elections or in consideration of the natural disasters in this country. The methodology is based on a case study for Mt. Parnassos recording how regional development has been promoted through the past years. The conclusions of this research can be helpful to the responsible authorities and parties within the development of a sustainable forestry policy, aiming both to preserve biodiversity and to reinforce the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study primarily attempts to understand people's beliefs toward marine protected areas considering as a case study the National Marine Park of Alonissos, Northern Sporades in Greece in order to achieve its sustainability. Specifically, it aims to identify people's opinion about the utility of the park investigating also their beliefs in relation to socioeconomic characteristics. For this reason, a face‐to‐face survey of 200 randomly selected residents and visitors of the area was carried out. The research was structured according to the principles of the contingent valuation method. According to the empirical findings, the majority of respondents recognized the contribution of the park to preserve the monk seal and the natural environment. Moreover, they want the maintenance of the park and more specialized protection measures in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the implementation of a survey in the Department of Political Sciences (A.U.Th.) concerning undergraduate students' attitude towards forest areas in Greece. The aim is to establish a more detailed overview about students' opinions, attitudes, perception or even appreciation of forests. In this study students' were asked to define what a "forest" is and we assessed their correspondence to Greek legislation regarding the constitutional forest definition. Alongside, is recorded students' comprehension about forests' beneficial effects and generally forests' contribution in quality of life. Students' awareness on climate change, environmental policy making, green technology and forests' protection acts are monitored. Also, we examine students' participation in environmental projects during primary or/and secondary education and analyse students' opinion about current environmental issues in Greece. Almost 200 undergraduate students participated in the survey one week before final exams by a face-to-face interview. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond any doubt, urban green helps to improve residents' quality of life. The lack of greenery in Greek cities is now provoking strong reactions from citizens, who vigorously defend the protection of green spaces. Municipalities in Greece generally lack infrastructure and services, mainly due to the inefficient administrative structure, the lack of specialized staff and the limited use of new technology. The tools of a modern environmental policy which will improve urban planning and management are mainly legal, financial, administrative and institutional. The objective of this study is to investigate the views of the technical employees of the Municipality of Thessaloniki on issues related to improving planning and management of urban green, in order to formulate appropriate policies and to draw useful conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Green tourism' is defined as tourism that enhances local cultural elements, which are operating under the control of local communities, providing employment and maintaining economic benefits within the local communities. In fact, many times the above definition is poorly utilized, since there are times when the economic benefits dim from local communities. Tourism industry uses the term as a message to tourists on energy saving, avoiding coastal pollution and so on. Sometimes, the same tourist businesses are accused of using the term or labelling 'green' primarily for marketing purposes. Although it is a fact that tourism industry is starting to respond to the changing values of tourists regarding environmental issues, however, the purpose of this research is to infer if there is a future for sustainable tourism development concerning the enterprises that provide sport tourism in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the austere economic measures imposed to Greece after the commencement of the economic crisis in 2010, we calculate the Index for Sustainable Economic Development (ISEW) with the aim to inform policy and stakeholders about the sustainable Greek GDP. Throughout 2000–2012, annual GDP per capita appears many times higher than the ISEW per capita for the period, thus making the Greek debt payback a more difficult exercise to solve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel articulations between the state, markets and civil society arising from the shift to networked environmental governance highlight the importance of creating equal participation opportunities. Relevant questions from an environmental justice perspective are not only who participates, but also with whom, in what, why and how. In this paper, we explore public participation in biodiversity governance that has emerged after the initial designation of a Natura 2000 network in Finland, Greece, Poland and the UK by focusing on distributive and procedural justice. Our analysis, based on focus groups and document analysis, shows that new participatory arrangements have taken the modes of project-based, market, interest group and e-governance. These arrangements have been marked by problems in power and knowledge sharing, and in the distribution of conservation costs and benefits, reflecting serious deficits regarding environmental justice. Calls for public participation and wider stakeholder engagement in conservation across Europe should be followed by an acknowledgment of the diversity of perspectives, conflicting interests and social positions and their integration into biodiversity governance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental policy integration is an acknowledged principle of sustainable development. Spatial planning may be a useful means of integrating two policies with differing objectives. The Birds and Habitats Directives of the European Union (EU) aim at preserving biodiversity through the conservation of the Natura 2000 protected areas network, while the EU's Environmental Noise Directive aims at improving human health and wellbeing by controlling environmental noise, through the preservation of Quiet Areas (QAs). Using Greece as an example, an integrated network of Natura 2000 sites and QAs permitted the identification of potential spatial overlaps. The established Natura 2000 network incorporates more than 30% of the QAs located in the open countryside of Greece, and the combined network includes 17 out of the 19 conservation priority habitat types. Flagship species (like bear, wolf and wild goat) show a preference for sites containing QAs. It may be possible to combine these two EU policies efficiently, as protected and quiet areas appear to be mutually beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article constitutes a preliminary attempt to address the effects of the current economic crisis on the Greek environment. The austerity policies and other conditions imposed by the Memoranda of Understanding with the troika of international lenders are undermining the progress made in the pre-crisis years in the framework of European Union (EU) environmental policy. The latter conflicts with the EU's new priorities in the context of the Greek bailout programme. Examples include the air pollution caused by fuel substitution following a vast increase in heating fuel tax, the escalating environmental conflict related to gold-mining investment, and the crumbling environmental management apparatus. Strictly monitored by the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund, Greece needs to carefully delineate the trade-offs inherent in the country's ‘new’ model of growth. Proper policies are needed to avoid natural resource depletion, environmental decay and further national wealth reduction in the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Indicators and indexes are useful tools for experts and decision makers who deal with environmental issues. This research seeks to identify and provide specific agro-environmental information, in the form of indicators (metrics), in order to assess the effects of human activities on the landscape and the degree of sustainability of the ecosystems. Two Hellenic regions were analyzed in order to provide an overview of sustainability at landscape hierarchical level: the first one in northern Greece (Imathia) and the second one in central-northern (Larissa). Results show that in Imathia the land cover is more diversified than in Larissa (i.e., in Larissa the 93% of the area is dedicated to herbaceous crop cultivation); therefore, in Larissa ecological structures such as woodlands are practically absent. Land use homologation represents a driving force working to increase the amount of agricultural outcomes but the environmental costs are frequently underestimated or not considered. In order to pursue the goal of sustainable development it is necessary to improve the landscape management in Greece and under this perspective, agriculture can play an important role, also in view of the arrival of the new European Common Agricultural Policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of the present paper was to examine if Environmental Management Accounting, and especially its tool Environmental Cost Accounting, can support both the augmentation of environmental nonprofit/nongovernmental sector’s accountability, and the provision of meaningful results for policy decision making. Based on a case study at the Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace, a nonprofit forestry organization responsible for the management and protection of wildlife resources in Greece, implications about the challenges of applying Environmental Management Accounting in the sector were examined. It was concluded that the existing Environmental Management Accounting tools can partly address the several dimensions of their operation and additional accounting regimes may be needed. Nevertheless, these tools can prove to be a useful starting point. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tourism accounts for 15% of Greece’s gross domestic product. In the wake of a struggling economy many of Greece’s coastal villages have turned to tourism to supplement local economies. Preliminary analysis of structural and cultural materials recovered from an excavation on Mitrou, a small islet near the coastal village Tragana located 140 km north of Athens has established the site’s contribution to a fuller understanding of settlement practices in Central Greece from the end of the Bronze Age through the Early Iron Age. The site’s historic importance combined with its scenic coastal setting has considerable potential to be developed into an important tourist site. The physical geography of the region is the product of the complex interaction of coastal, alluvial, fluvial, and seismic processes. This investigation integrates the archaeological material with a geographical analysis employing a variety of geographical techniques (soil and sediment analysis, past climatic data, environmental surveys, and geospatial modeling) to reconstruct the geomorphological history of the site and to evaluate the area as a potential tourist site. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The identification of local and remote particulate pollution sources, as well as the understanding of the factors determining the spatial and temporal variability of the particulate matter in urban areas is an issue of increasing public concern, since the above actions are absolutely essential for the design of effective particulate pollution control strategies. In the present study, the sources and the factors affecting the particulate pollution were studied in Thessaloniki, the second largest Greek city, in order to develop the necessary scientific framework for the subsequent development of integrated mitigation and control strategies and the design and implementation of effective environmental policies. Hourly PM10, PM2.5 and PMc concentrations from two monitoring sites (the Egnatia-Dimarchio and the Eptapyrgio stations) were therefore correlated to gaseous pollutant concentrations (CO, NO, NO2, NO x , SO2 and O3) and meteorological parameters (temperature, wind speed and relative humidity) during the 2-year period between June 2006 and May 2008. The analysis revealed that both sites experienced poor air quality, while a large number of exceedances of the daily and annual EC objectives were observed, especially during the cold season. Positive correlation between particles and NO x in DHM, provided evidence about higher combustion-related emissions during the cold season, whereas increased contribution of secondary particles was suggested during the warm season. In addition, Principal Component Analysis was used to identify the main particulate pollution sources, while the quantification of the combustion and the non-combustion-related fraction of particles was performed through Regression Analysis. Specifically, the non-combustion-related fraction ranged between 25.1 and 72.7%, depending on the site and the season. Finally, concentration roses were constructed in order to gain insight into the distribution of local emission sources around the monitoring sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Taking as example a multipurpose dam in Greece, we wish to show that by following a rational operation policy, where the improvement of the broader environmental system becomes a high-priority target, it is possible to achieve a much more efficient allocation of its “traditional” water uses. In this context, we review the 50-year history of the Plastiras reservoir in central Greece, to highlight the multiple negative impacts from a non-systematic, abstraction-oriented, operation policy. This kind of management is contrasted to a hypothetical one, obtained through a multidisciplinary methodological framework that has been developed ten years ago, which aimed to compromise a number of conflicting water uses. This required establishing a minimum allowable level for agricultural abstractions and stabilising the annual releases for irrigation and drinking water supply. The criteria under study are, directly or indirectly, related to the water storage in the lake. Therefore, the key idea is to investigate the performance of each criterion with regard to the variability of the level, by examining alternative level vs. abstraction control rules. Thus, the quantity of water that would be yearly available is a function of the minimum level allowed and the desirable reliability. In fact, objective analysis indicates that the maintenance of the reservoir level as high as possible is necessary for the conservation of the quality of the lake''s landscape, for the development of tourist activity and also for providing drinking water of good quality. The advantages of the proposed framework are then exhibited through a back-analysis that focuses to the recent period. The implementation of this management policy not only would improve the water and landscape quality as well as the tourist perspectives, but also allow for a much more efficient planning of the agricultural and, under some premises, hydroelectric energy needs. Thus, the adoption of a constant annual release, irrespective of the recent sequence of inflows, may be beneficial for the long-term interests of all social groups and, therefore, conflicts among drinking water supply, tourism, landscape quality, irrigation and hydroelectric production would become less intense. Yet, the practice showed that a consensus between scientists, authorities and stakeholders for establishing the suggested policy is a considerably difficult task. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Four main components of social capital are identified: social trust, institutional trust, social networks and compliance with social norms. A theoretical analysis explores the links between these components and environmental behaviour and policy in order to lay the ground for an investigation of the influence of social capital on the implementation of environmental policy. The influence of social capital on citizens' behaviour connected with two solid waste management policies is investigated empirically by means of a survey. The findings indicate some differentiation regarding the influence of the components of social capital upon environmental behaviour in the context of different environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning and implementing environmental policies for the sustainable management of water resources is a challenging task. In order to improve the effectiveness of these policies it is essential to explore their social implications. The present article aims to investigate environmental policies focusing on domestic water conservation and their interconnection with social capital elements. In particular, by means of an empirical study conducted in an insular community of Greece, citizens' perceptions are explored concerning the restrictions imposed from different environmental policy instruments for water consumption and their perceived level of effectiveness. Furthermore, the influence of social capital parameters on these perceptions is investigated. Aggregated indicators of social capital are estimated with Confirmatory Factor Analysis measuring social and institutional trust, participation in social networks and compliance with social norms. Through the results of ordinal regression models it is evident that significant connections exist between elements of social capital and perceptions of citizens towards water consumption policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscapes are made from different components and elements, some of which are characterized through their presence and patterns. The assessment of this character is performed via the identification of landscape characteristics. For agricultural landscapes, such characteristics can be natural elements or elements of farming systems. Their preservation can be of great importance in Europe today, and agri-environmental measures have been used towards this goal. One such characteristic in Greece is cultivation terraces, today widely neglected, as the cultivations they supported are abandoned or modernized. This paper discusses the effectiveness of an agri-environmental policy measure for the reconstruction of cultivation terraces in Greece, with regard to existing practices of farmers. A picture for the whole country is presented and farmers' practices are discussed with greater detail through research with farmers that have been supported on the island of Lesvos. Findings from Lesvos reveal that only part-time and 'hobby' farmers have participated and that they acknowledge the productive, conservation and symbolic value of terraces. In this context, although these farmers are actively farming the fields, terraces appear to have lost their original functional role in agricultural production and they are mainly maintained as a decorative element of the form of the landscape by farmers who can afford such concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When dealing with the ecological, social and economic impacts of climate change, it is important for each country to formulate and implement mitigation and adaptation measures. In this context, the present paper examines the application of the contingent valuation method (CVM) for the monetary estimation of the Greek national mitigation and adaptation climate change costs. To this purpose, the CVM in this case study has been applied to the Greek climate change experts only as, theoretically, they represent the most informed part of Greek society in technical and economic aspects of the climate change. Therefore, the findings of this paper express strictly the opinions of the national experts and are not representative of the general population. The monetary estimates include the experts’ WTP for mitigation and adaptation measures as well as their preferences on that percentage of the national GDP that should be funding such measures at the present as well as the future time-scale. In addition, questions concerning the political and institutional climate change settings are included in the survey, providing a more comprehensive socioeconomic analysis in this particular study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As confirmed recently by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change already exists with wide ranging consequences. Europe is as affected as all other regions of the world. Management responses to climate change include the development of new approaches to system assessment and design and the adoption of non-structural methods through mechanisms like the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) and the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In this article, the evaluation and contribution of recent European policies towards the protection and preservation of water under climate change is discussed. The impact of WFD and EU CAP application in Lake Koronia is presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effort to reduce the dependence on imported crude oil in Greece, after the oil crises in the ''70s, has resulted, among others, in a total installed area of 3.57millionm2 solar collectors in 2007, making Greece one of the pioneers in the use of domestic solar hot water system (DSHWS) worldwide. In the present work, the contribution of DSHWS to the reduction of conventional energy and greenhouse gases and other air pollutant emissions in Greece from its early years in mid ''70s up to now is assessed. DSHWS market penetration, solar system technological changes and development and demographic changes in association with the climatic conditions in all regions of the country have been taken into account in order to calculate energy conservation and emissions reduction. The results show that the conserved energy ranges from 21.27GWhel (0.1% of the domestic sector energy use) in 1978 to 1513GWhel (2.4%) in 2007, resulting in an abatement of CO2 emissions, which for the year 2000 was 1.67Mt, exceeding by 76% the objectives of the Greek Program of “Climatic Change”, which indicated savings of 0.95Mt CO2 for 2000. Moreover DSHWS maximum technical potential is assessed to be about three times the current installed area, showing that they can play an important role in energy end environmental policy of the country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The management of solid waste at regional level has received considerable attention over the last years. Increased consumption levels are causing an exacerbation of the problem, whereas the sensitivity of the public over environmental issues makes its solution harder. Although the main difficulties in resolving the different occurrences of the problem belong to the realm of policy making, so far the employment of operational research and systems methods seems to adopt a purely technocratic stance, concentrating on the content and understating the solution process. In the different formulations of the problem as static optimization relating to the economics of the location of the treatment facilities and the methods and routes of waste transportation, the dynamics of the issue and the intervention activities are neglected, whereas cognitive and social perspectives of the solution process are objectified and over-rationalized. This paper aims at demonstrating how the solid waste management (SWM) problem and its solution process can be addressed in a more holistic way by adopting a multi-methodological point of view. Towards this end, we present the combined application of soft systems methodology, system dynamics and multi-objective optimization in an action research project for the development of an SWM system for a specific region in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece responded to the Habitats Directive aims, maintaining biodiversity through sustainable natural resource use, by establishing a network of protected areas. In implementing the European conservation policy, 27 management agencies were established in 61 Natura sites. To assess the effectiveness of the Greek state’s policy response we conducted 91 semi-structured interviews with state and non-state actors in the Greek conservation policy process. Following a grounded theory approach, we revealed national strategy as compromised by absence of conservation policy history, lack of state capacity, uncommunicated biological knowledge and lack of public participation. This strategy gap became apparent when appraising the decision making process in establishing a network of protected areas in terms of its interrelated activities. In particular, incomplete intelligence, ineffective promotion, irrational prescription and discontinued and non-independent appraisal led to a break down in implementation and to policy failure. Lack of clear goals, and divergences between stated and actual goals led to bureaucratic interpretations of conservation objectives and distortion of decision processes in favour of satisfying economic and development interests. Given the importance of Greek biodiversity and governmental failure to confront this policy hiatus, we argue for specific actions at both member state and European level and, in particular, the formulation of a conservation strategy as an official part of an integrated Greek conservation policy, and the establishment of independent institutions staffed by qualified reviewers to evaluate and monitor member states conservation policies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Rodopi mountain range is located between Greece and Bulgaria and constitutes a natural and political boundary whose crest delimits the frontier between the two countries. However, these two neighboring countries have significant differences: Greece is one of the oldest members of the European Union (EU) while Bulgaria has just recently entered the European family. As a result, the existing financial and political differences between the two nations are also reflected in issues concerning the environmental know-how, education, and training, since Greece seems to have a small lead in these fields. On the other hand, given that Bulgaria possesses exceptional scientific personnel, it has made significant progress in all aspects of environmental policy during the last decade by absorbing up-to-date knowledge and putting it into practice; thus, catching up with the other EU countries in environmental issues is just a matter of time. Taking these factors into account, the Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management of the Technological Educational Institute of Kavala (Greece) and the Department of Geography-Ecology and Natural History (Bulgaria) prepared a joint proposal which was approved and financed by the European Union Initiative ΙNTERREG IIIΑ/PHARE CBC GREECE-BULGARIA. The proposal concerns the Rodopi mountains and focuses on integrated environmental education, technology exchange, and transfer between the two institutions. The Rodopi complex constitutes a very important ecosystem of particular ecological and biological interest for both countries. This paper reveals the cooperation possibilities on environmental education and know-how exchange with regard to the shared natural resources of these contiguous countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Best Available Techniques (BATs) contribute significantly to the reduction of industrial environmental burdens with respect to air pollution, wastewater, and solid wastes. In Europe, the application of BATs is prescribed by Directive 96/61/EC, which, however, leaves the selection of specific BATs to plant operators. In making their choices, installations have to consider not only the environmental benefits of BATs, but also all relevant cost components. In assessing the economic attractiveness of potential BATs and their combinations, as well as incentives and disincentives to be instituted, the cost of environmental externalities, usually not reflected in market prices, should be taken into account. In this paper, a decision-aid framework combining an assessment of environmental externalities and the utilization of multicriteria methods and, more specifically, Multiobjective Mathematical Programming, capable of addressing all these issues in a comprehensive and coherent manner, is presented. This is illustrated by its application for the region of Attica in Greece, where over 50% of the industrial basis and Athens, with its 4 million inhabitants, are located. The implementation of the framework and its associated tools to 800 installations led to the identification of the specific BATs, alone or in combination, that provide the most cost-effective reductions of four air pollutants (PM10, SO2, NOx, VOC) and CO2. The results also clearly demonstrate the increased pollution reductions that would result from the adoption of BATs made economically attractive by the inclusion of externalities. Estimates of investments and net present values with and without incentives/disincentives are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study we attempt to evaluate the stock value of Greek firms, which apply systems of environmental management in the light of systemic risk. Risk is examined empirically with the help of conditional volatility models of investment in environmental friendly firms. The empirical analysis relies on financial econometric models, which determine the underlying conditional volatility. We find that improved environmental management system and environmental performance result in reductions in firms’ beta. Specifically, our empirical estimates show evidence of volatility clustering, short- and long-run persistence of shocks to the returns of the market and asymmetry in the leverage effect between negative and positive shocks to returns. Finally, the macroeconomic factors proposed and included in the analysis have no statistical significant influence on the beta estimates in almost all cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Poaching has deep social and cultural roots and its meanings are multi-layered. This article explores the meanings attached to the practice of illegal hunting and fishing around Lake Kerkini in northern Greece. Here poaching must be considered in the context of a disordered ecosystem, where the dominance of locally maligned fish and bird species results from economic and environmental policy designed to benefit distant farmers. We conclude that poaching cannot be understood only as an individual action, but as one where collective and personal identities are defended in the face of seemingly irrevocable economic and social decline. The discussion shows that poachers identify different kinds of poaching. Some of the most apparent forms of poaching, done by local inhabitants, may be less damaging than other commercially oriented forms, including by outsiders. Poaching is motivated through a complex mix of factors. Our data lead us to discuss two manifestations of poaching (a) poaching as a form of collective resistance; and (b) poaching as a violation of culturally valued types of human-nature interaction. Some people who admit undertaking what they perceive as least detrimental forms of poaching are antagonistic towards what they construe to be truly harmful forms. Such people appear willing to act and to support actions against types of poaching they agree to be threatening. This is a message with potential importance for environmental management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The paper aims to compare traditional and contemporary architecture in terms of their environmental performance. It will demonstrate that the traditional constructions create much more stable and comfortable environments than the contemporary ones. Design/methodology/approach — The case study used for the analysis is the medieval settlement of Kastro in the Island of Siphnos in Greece. Five representative houses were examined; three traditional and two contemporary. They were measured and monitored for five days in terms of temperature, air movement, illuminance, and surface temperatures; however, this paper will focus on the temperature results. Findings — The research showed that traditional houses are primarily environmental shelters, as opposed to the contemporary constructions, which failed to provide such an optimum microclimate. The contemporary need for more spacious residences with wider openings, large facades and views to the outside cannot co-exist with the microclimate created by the heavy mass, compact, with small openings traditional dwellings. Practical implications — The paper does not suggest that architects should recreate former techniques and morphology, but argues that in the quest for the sustainable building, traditional architecture can offer valuable information. Originality/value — Traditional climate responsive constructions are proving to be sustainable throughout the centuries, since even today with the new technology and knowledge they perform better than the contemporary constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach to measuring environmental quality and trends in coal mining and industrial areas was attempted in this work. For this purpose, the establishment of a reference scale characterizing the status of environmental quality is proposed by developing an Environmental Quality Index (EQI). The methodology involves three main components: social research, the opinion of environmental experts, and the combination of new or existing indices. A survey of public opinion was carried out to identify the main environmental problems in the region of interest. Environmental experts carried out a survey, and the weights of specific environmental problems were obtained through a fuzzy Delphi method and pairwise comparison. The weight attributed to each environmental problem was computed, using new or existing indices (subindices) in the relevant literature. The EQI comprises a combination of the subindices with their own weights. The methodology was applied to a heavily industrialized coal basin in northwestern Macedonia, Greece. The results show that the new index may be used as a reliable tool for evaluating environmental quality in different areas. In addition, the study of EQI trends on an interannual basis can provide useful information on the efficiency of environmental policies already implemented by the responsible authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay the author uses a sample of Greek primary school teachers to investigate environmental education awareness in three counties of northern Greece. The author begins by outlining the status of environmental education in Greek primary schools. The author then states the study’s rationale by defining the term ‘awareness’ and moves on to discuss the methodological considerations that guided the project. This is followed by a presentation of the study’s findings. Here the author shows that environmental education awareness is influenced by several philosophical notions about nature and that its implementation is mediated by both local and state factors. This then allows the author to offer recommendations for enhancing the current practices of environmental education and discuss future perspectives for it in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses environmental law presented before the European Commission as of July 2004. Commission of the European Communities' application for a declaration that the Hellenic Republic was in breach of obligations under the Directive 91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment; Proceedings brought against the EDF in relation to damage caused by the discharge of fresh water from a hydroelectric power station into a saltwater marsh connected to the Mediterranean.

Both Italy and Greece experience considerable problems in adjusting to the underlining logic and the precise requirements of EU environmental policies. Their poor record of compliance with EU environmental legislation is often attributed to an alleged weakness of civil societal activism in environmental matters. Recent literature challenges these conventional assumptions by offering evidence of high levels of grassroots environmental mobilisations. This article seeks to add a new dimension to the study of societal impact on policy outcomes in terms of domestic compliance performance with EU environmental legislation. It suggests a number of empirical indicators related to the use of opportunities offered by EU institutions, such as the complaints procedure, that allow such an assessment in comparative perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the environmental dimension into sectoral and regional policies constitutes a dominant concern of the current EU strategy for sustainable development. Thus, physical planning as an instrument of environmental policy and its combination with environmental planning, both at a policy as well as implementation level is a key pursuit in almost all European countries. In Greece, the adoption of a concept about a rational and unified approach of physical and environmental planning has met with many difficulties. The aim of this paper is to contribute towards a critical approach of recent developments, mainly in the field of the institutional framework for spatial and environmental planning in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]