Tender green shoots are beginning to appear in the wake of the devastating fires that reduced almost five and half square miles* of forest and shrub land to ash.  Brought on by the recent heavy storms, thousands of minute seedlings have sprung to life as nature prepares to fight back.  Though, this is not an easy battle to win, the dirty tactics of organised arsonists has, over the years caused mass deforestation on Zakynthos.  The countryside surrounding the mountain village of Maries was this year’s target.  The fires were deliberately lit as the ‘meltami’ winds blew over Greece; the uplifts fanned the flames and sent airborne sparks igniting in all directions making it impossible for the fire fighters to contain the spread of burning.

The idyllic location of Maries will unfortunately hinder the regeneration process for north-facing areas are much slower to renew, although some areas will not get a chance.  Almost always, a percentage of burnt land is permanently lost to development in one way or another.  At least October 31st signals the end of ‘high’ fire alert.

It is estimated to take pine forests fifty plus years to renew; I can remember when the hillside that stretched all the way around from Mouzaki to Lithakia was cloaked in pine trees.  Without the plants to anchor the earth, heavy erosion from the winter downpours, more so on the slopes have washed away much of the soil.  Fifteen years on, white boulders and rocky outcrops prominently mark where a woodland habitat once thrived.  “Siga, siga”, slowly, slowly as the habitual Greek saying goes – shrubs and thicket have taken hold, each year advancing just a little.  Hares, rabbits and flocks of small birds have moved back.  The charred landscape of Maries will renew, today’s army of seedlings will advance, forming low shrub land in four to five years and in time a forest will emerge with the help of a few wet winters...every cloud has a silver lining.