Unfortunately, this summer we have had a very sad event: the burning from wild fire of the beautiful palm tree forest of Preveli (with the threatened species of Phoenix theophrasti) in South Central Crete, in August 2010.
We (the Mediterranean Plant Conservation Unit of MAICh) have contacted the Forest Directorate of Rethymno, one of the authorities responsible for the management of Preveli, and we informed them about the seedlot from Preveli preserved in the Seed Bank of MAICh (that could be used for reforestation or for the reinforcement of the population in Preveli); we have also made the point about the risk of transferring genetic material from the other population of Phoenix, since our studies so long have shown that there are genetic differences among the two populations and the diversity of Preveli should not be affected by that of Vai.
At the same time, we have published an article in a local newspaper of Chania about the seedlot of Phoenix theophrasti from Preveli we preserve in our seed bank, along with other endemic and threatened wild plants of Crete, the studies for the genetic diversity among populations, as well as some general things about the function of the seed bank. We took also the opportunity to speak about the networks of seed banks we participate in (GENMEDA and ENSCONET).
The same article has been also published to an important national newspaper and this has risen up a big public discussion about seed banking and also, about the way reforestations take place in Greece without taking into account the origin and the genetic identity of the material used.
The next days, we gave several interviews in other newspapers, in local and national radio stations and TV channels, and many people have been informed about the existence and the importance of seed banking wild plant species!
Fortunately for the site of Preveli, it seems that things are not that bad as initially thought... And probably no reforestation will be needed. The trees of Phoenix (and some other plant species) have already started to regenerate! Christina Fournaraki from our Unit and Prof. Costas Thanos from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have visited the site after the burning. You can have a look at the photos they made.
Now the area is under strict control and guarding; no grazing, no visitors, not any activity is allowed. Let’s hope that soon Preveli will become again the ‘paradise’ it used to be!
Panagiota Gotsiou & Christina Fournaraki
Mediterranean Plant Conservation Unit
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh)
Photo Credits: MAICh and Prof. Costas Thanos
