⚠Juniper Forest Chania
At the South coast of Chania, theRE IS A Juniper Forest ALSO KNOWN as Kedrodassos. An amazing beach full of trees, sand dunes & people!
In our previous blog, How to visit Elafonissi Beach ''pink sand'' responsibly, we highlighted the problems that the over-tourism wave has created, in the name of ''development'', to this sensitive ecosystem, even though it is part of the E.U.'s protected environmental network, NATURA 2000.
We also analyzed today's reality & made practical suggestions on how things can change & evolve for the better & we are happy to see that some of our proposals, are now accepted from the local authorities.
The human presence in sensitive environments & eco-systems, has as a result a continuous degradation of these areas. Over the last years, through the rapid expansion of the internet & apps, there are almost no hidden places left on our planet.
Chania Kedrodassos (Juniper Forest)
Kedrodassos, in Greek language, is a combination of two words: ΚΕΔΡΟΣ (kedros) = Juniper & ΔΑΣΣΟΣ (dhassos) = Forest.
The Cretan juniper species are:
Juniperus oxycedrus* (subsp. macrocarpa)
Juniperus phoenicea*
All the main areas with Juniper trees in Crete & South Aegean, are under a protection network that called Junicoast . The Junipers trees, even though most of the times are in remoted areas, they attract many visitors because they are very beautiful & also create good shade from the sun.
The Juniper Forest of Chania is no exception to this alarming phenomenon. Full of juniper trees & sand dunes, is one of the most important ecosystems in Greece, covering an extensive area of 11 hectares, including a magical sandy beach.
What isn't magical, is what visitors leave behind after their visit.
In short, the situation is unacceptable: uncontrolled number of daily visitors & free campers polluting the environment with plastics & garbage, pitching their tents on top of the juniper roots or even cutting branches off the trees to fuel their barbecue!!
I have seen this with my own eyes...
Additionally, there are speed boats in a close distance from the main beach, divers who spearfishing just a few meters away from swimmers, thousands of flies buzzing around & toilet papers behind the bushes.
It is totally understandable that people seek to visit & experience this unique place. We, humans, need to have a direct connection with nature. This is in our DNA & it is wonderful but we also need to respect nature to the maximum.
If this earth paradise gets destroyed, how could we possibly replace it? Or, are we going to move on to the next available paradise & repeat the same?
If you plan to visit Kedrodassos or you already have been there, you should note that these trees are highly fragile & need our utmost respect. Unintentionally or without realizing it, we cause severe damage to these plants. The most common harmful acts are breaking branches, destroying young roots by stepping on them or lighting fires. Even if the branches look dry/dead, they are alive & grow extremely slowly; by only 1cm / year.
Changes for a better reality
Many things can be done in order to have a win-win situation for ''Kedrodassos'', the Juniper Forest of Chania.
First of all: PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE!!! If you don't do it, probably no one else will.
Carry them back to your vehicle when leaving & throw them out at the large garbage bins that you'll see at the side of the main road.
Do not light fires for any reason!
Do not cut tree branches or sand flowers.
Be careful of where you step. If you decide to stay overnight, sleep under the stars. Tents harm the juniper roots; it might not be visible to the human eye but it does harm them.
No speed boats close to the shore. They pollute & they are also dangerous for the swimmers (it'll take a long time for a rescue team to get there). The same applies for spearfishing.
Use of sea friendly sun protection creams only. Standard sun creams, creates a layer of chemicals on the sea's surface which is toxic for sea life. Choose only sea-friendly creams.
To create a non-profit organization under the supervision of local authorities, who would be responsible to educate visitors & protect this sensitive ecosystem.
A small symbolic entrance ticket to cover the maintenance expenses. This is already happening in the Samaria Gorge with big success. Why can't it be done elsewhere?
We strive to shed light & raise awareness about the problems our rare Cretan ecosystems facing from over-tourism. We need to discuss these subjects openly & not to pretend that everything is fine (until is not any more).
Through our Travel Agency Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours we promote only
small scale & earth friendly experiences always in small groups, with a human approach to the core.
Thankfully, many other people all around the world, share the same vision with us.
- Bonnie and Clyde Urban Tours
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**Our credits to: https://www.cretanbeaches.com
for all the information we used in this article.
Thank you for being part of the movement & choosing eco-responsible travel agencies & being an aware, conscious traveller!! Yes!
😓Thanks for bringing awareness about what's going on in Greece and Crete. It's good for eco-tourists to know what's going on, in an honest way. That helps make better travel decisions and speak up for long-term environmental impact. Great job!! Keep it up!