Wildfires in the forest of Seich Sou, Thessaloniki - July 13, 2021.

The forest of Seich Sou (Kedrinos Lofos) is home to more than 277 plant species an a variety of mammals such as hares, foxes, squirrels, weasels, hedgehogs and around 80 types of birds including owls, nightingales, cuckoos and the magnificent short-toed snake eagle chief. Amphibians and reptiles like salamanders, frogs, turtles, grass snakes, and lizards are also common in the forest.

It’s a lush ecosystem that’s not only vital for the city’s atmosphere acting as a green lung, but also well-being, as it offers a pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for many of its residents.

Covering around 2.800 hectares the forest of Seich Sou is just outside Thessaloniki, making yesterday’s wildfire incredibly dangerous. The incident brought bitter memories to those that experienced the wildfires of Seich Sou in the year 1997 which burned almost half of the forest.

Fortunately this year the fire was quickly contained leading to the loss of only 9 hectares of forest. But with global temperatures on the rise, summers are getting hotter and hotter with every passing year. It remains to be seen when the next wildfire will strike and what might be its consequences.

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