As the crisis is showing its ugly teeth on societies around Europe, reports of serious environmental impacts of crisis-related policies keep coming in, often calling for urgent WWF action. ...

The impressive coastal umbrella pine (Pinus pinea) forest of the National Park of  Strophylia and Kotychi Lagoons in W. Peloponnese is under serious threat, due to increased illegal logging operations. The site is protected under the Ramsar Convention and designated as SCI and SPA under the EU’s Habitats and Birds Directives. The particular habitat type (2270 Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea) is listed as priority in Annex I of 92/43/EEC and is o...

The Italian Government announced the establishment of a Kyoto Fund, in its “first 100-day” report. Its aim is to channel funds of €600 m., through the support of the banking system and particularly the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (70% state-owned), to energy efficiency measures implemented by SMEs....

Criticism mounts against the HELIOS project for the generation of 10 GW or solar power. According to a report published by the Institute of Energy for South-East Europe in February 2012,...

The national energy regulator stated that the halt on subsidies for new renewables must remain in force at least until 2017, in order to eliminate the €21.8bn deficit of the energy sector, which has been exacerbated by the reduced energy consumption resulting from the economic crisis....

On a fast track mode, the Ministerial Council approved oil exploration operations in deep waters offshore the Canary Islands. The approved project includes the drilling of exploratory wells on the seabed at depths of 3,500 m....

On a rather positive note, the Government of Bulgaria announced that its plans to abandon the plans to construct a 2000MW nuclear power plant at Belene, due to the economic crisis....

According to reports from NGOs, Portugal's strategic transport and sustainable mobility plan (" Plano Estratégico dos Trasportes - Mobilidade Sustentável 2011-2015"), violates the EU’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC. ...

In the framework of  the legislative consolidation and simplification decree, the Government has suggested a new  classification of “forests” which will exclude from protection a number of ecologically important habitats and areas....

Italy: Through the "liberalization" decrees, the Government has started a process for the privatisation of State-owned agricultural land, which will not be destined for other activities for the next 20 years. ...