Galery

1

Demand for real Christmas trees in Greece has shrunk a lot because of the crisis. According to the permits issued by the Ministry of Environment, about 30,000 fewer trees will be cut for the market this year compared with last year, mainly from private plantations across the country. Those who will prefer a real tree, however, will have to check if the Christmas tree has the special mark ensuring that it comes from a licensed plantation, not from illegal cutting.

So, what will the origin be of all 124,976 Christmas trees, which will be offered in the market this year? 98,476 of them will come from private plantations throughout the country, 22,390 from private groves and 3,910 from private farms. The majority of the plantations are located in Halkidiki: this year 37,100 trees will be cut from the area of ​​Polygyros and 20,000 from Arnea. Another 14,200 will come from the region of Sperhiada, Fthiotida district, 6,500 from Arta, 4,990 from Trikala, 4,940 from Sparti, 3,385 from Metsovo and 2,500 from Aridea. It should be noted that permits for the felling of 153,728 Christmas trees were issued in 2014 whereas in the pre-crisis years their number exceeded 200,000 each year.

According to the Ministry of Environment, customers can easily recognize the trees. A special lead seal is put near the top of each tree, between the 2nd and 4th branch as well as a special forest stamp at the point of cutting.