Experts and communities in the Cyclades islands warn that the destruction of traditional drystone terraces and walls - once used to shape and protect the rural landscape - now poses a greater threat than abandonment. At a recent event on the legal protection of the Cycladic agricultural landscape, speakers stressed the urgent need for a specific legal framework.
"These stone walls are part of our cultural identity and living history," said Eleni Maistrou, professor emeritus at the National Technical University of Athens. Maria Karamanof, president of the Chamber of Environment and Sustainability, called them "the epitome of sustainable human intervention in nature."
Architect Vivianna Metallinou said current building regulations hinder preservation, as permits are required even for restoration. Legal experts urged Greece to enforce the Florence Convention by defining which rural elements to protect. Though drystone craft is listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage, a planned Culture Ministry committee has yet to be formed.
Architecture Islands Tradition Construction