Crete’s Chryssi Islet to Undergo Long-awaited Cleanup with €150,000 Funding

Photo source: N.E.C.C.A.

Solid waste and construction materials that have been left for decades on the islet of Chryssi, off the coast of Ierapetra, Crete, will finally be removed.

Greece’s Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) and the Region of Crete signed an agreement earlier this month to fund the project. The meeting in Heraklion marked a significant step towards cleaning the islet, fulfilling a long-held aspiration.

NECCA will allocate 150,000 euros for the project, with the regional authority of Crete overseeing the work. The agreement was signed in the presence of Kaloust Paragamian, coordinator of the Action Committee for the islet of Chryssi.

Photo source: N.E.C.C.A.

The tiny island, home to a cedar tree forest, was placed under a protection action plan in 2022 due to mass tourist visits and management challenges. Three years ago, illegally constructed buildings, also known as “Gaidouronisi”, were demolished, leaving behind solid waste such as tires, wood, umbrellas, and alternators.

“We are utilizing all available resources to restore the precious ecosystem of Chryssi, which has been significantly undermined for many years,” said NECCA CEO Konstantinos Triantis after signing the funding contract in Heraklion.

Chryssi has been designated as an archaeological site, an Area of Exceptional Natural Beauty, a Wildlife Refuge, and an area for reforestation. Along with the nearby islet of Mikronisi, Chryssi is part of the EU’s Natura 2000 protected areas network.