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The conference was attended by more than 100 participants from forests services, protected areas’ management bodies, local authorities, NGOs and other organizations. Presentations were given and discussions were made regarding the main futures of Black pine forests of Greece and the principles for their ecological restoration, the conditions of the Parnona’s Black pine forest after the fires of 2007, the structured approaches for the restoration of Black pine forests and for techniques that facilitates natural regeneration and artificial restoration. Participants had also the opportunity to visit the burnt area of the Black pine forest of Parnonas and further discuss on the above issues on the spot.

The key points of the conclusions are:

• Black pine forests of Greece face an increasing threat from wildfires during the last 20 years.

• Natural regeneration will always be the first option for the restoration of Black pine forests but artificial restoration will also continue to be an important tool, particularly for recently burnt areas.

• Particular attention should be paid to the timely collection of local reproductive material to a seed stock to support the artificial restoration. Improvement of the facilities of the Central Seed Storage would also support this task.

• Of particular importance is the adequate staffing of forest services required to meet growing needs for rehabilitation of burnt forest ecosystems and the establishment of forest nurseries near areas that need restoration.

Conference proceedings have already been printed and you can read them here.