The map that tells the real story
In a stunning display of environmental irony, TERNA Energy’s own Environmental Impact Study from March 2025 (page 84) presents a map that actually demonstrates why Kythira should be protected from industrial wind development, not exploited by it.
The detailed environmental map reveals that Kythira is essentially a mosaic of protected areas, conservation zones, and critical habitats – making the proposed construction of three wind parks not just inappropriate, but potentially devastating to one of Greece’s most environmentally significant islands.
What This Map Really Shows – A Conservation Paradise Under Threat:
Natura 2000 Protected Areas (Red zones – GR3000013, GR3000010, GR3000019)
The map shows multiple Natura 2000 sites covering significant portions of the island. These are European Union protected areas of critical importance for biodiversity conservation. The codes visible on the map (GR3000013, GR3000010, GR3000019) represent officially designated Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
Key Fact: Natura 2000 sites are legally protected under EU law, and any development within or affecting these areas requires the strictest environmental scrutiny.
Special Protection Areas for Birds (Blue zones)
The striped blue areas indicate Zones of Special Protection (ZEP) specifically designated for bird conservation. These areas are critical for:
– Migratory bird routes
– Breeding grounds for protected species
– Feeding areas for endangered birds
The Wind Turbine Threat: Industrial wind turbines are documented bird killers, particularly dangerous to raptors and migratory species that use Kythira as a stopover point.
Wildlife Refuges and Conservation Zones
The map shows multiple categories of protected areas:
– Ειδικές Ζώνες Διατήρησης (EZD) – Special Conservation Areas
– Ζώνες Ειδικής Προστασίας (ZEP) – Special Protection Zones
– Καταφύγια Αγρίας Ζωής – Wildlife Refuges
– Σημαντικές Περιοχές για τα πουλιά (ΣΠΠ) – Important Bird Areas
Corine Biotopes (Gray areas)
These represent important natural habitat types classified under the European Corine system, indicating areas of significant ecological value that support diverse plant and animal communities.
Unique Natural Features
The map also shows:
– Τοπία Ιδιαίτερου Φυσικού Κάλλους (ΤΙΦΚ) – Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
– Various habitat corridors and ecological connections between protected zones
The irony
The profound irony is unmistakable: TERNA Energy is using a map that showcases Kythira’s extraordinary environmental protection status to justify industrial development that would compromise these very protections. The map clearly shows that:
– Over 60% of Kythira is under some form of environmental protection
– The island serves as a critical wildlife corridor in the Mediterranean
– Multiple international and EU conservation designations recognize the island’s unique value
– Protected areas are interconnected, creating an ecological network that would be fragmented by industrial wind development
The Legal Questions
This map raises serious legal and environmental questions:
– How can industrial wind parks be justified in areas with such extensive protection?
– What cumulative impact assessment has been conducted for three separate wind parks?
– How will the projects comply with EU Birds and Habitats Directives?
– What happens to the ecological connectivity between protected areas?
The Numbers Don’t Lie
According to recent data, 32% of licensed wind turbines in Greece are already located inside Natura 2000 sites – a concerning statistic that highlights the systematic targeting of protected areas by the wind industry. Kythira would add to this problematic trend, potentially becoming another example of how renewable energy development is being prioritized over biodiversity conservation, despite EU law requiring both objectives to be balanced.
Kythira’s Future
The environmental map from TERNA’s own study serves as powerful evidence that:
– Kythira is already recognized as environmentally invaluable at local, national, and European levels
– The island’s ecological integrity depends on maintaining connected protected areas
– Industrial wind development would fragment and degrade these critical habitats
– Alternative renewable energy solutions should be pursued that don’t compromise protected areas
A Call for Environmental Justice
TERNA Energy’s environmental study has inadvertently provided the conservation community with the perfect argument against their own project. The map clearly demonstrates that Kythira’s value lies not in its wind resources, but in its irreplaceable natural heritage.
The question we must ask: If TERNA’s own environmental consultants have documented such extensive protection and ecological value, how can they simultaneously argue that industrial wind development is appropriate for this island?
Download here the complete Environmental Study (in Greek)