Samaria Gorge - A telling story of the imbalance between local communities, tourism, and commercialization

By Lucas Pace

National Forest for Sale tells the story of the remote Samaria Gorge, located off the southern coast of Greece, where the balance between human activity and nature seemed to coincide until it was designated as a national forest. It is a film told through the locals’ lens, following the centuries old history of this land to the current issues with commercialization and mismanagement.

A land like no otheR

The Samaria Gorge is one of the most important forest ecosystems in Crete. This island is part of Greece, however it is about 400 km south of Athens. The gorge possesses rare biodiversity, exceptional historical significance, unique geomorphology, all with an isolated geographical location. This ecosystem is also home to an endemic wild goat commonly called the kri-kri.

Arguably the most incredible story from this land is the balance between the local inhabitants and the nature that surrounded them. For hundreds of years the inhabitants of the gorge lived sustainably off the land, which also provided benefit for the wildlife. Every winter, residents would burn the piled up pine needles to encourage fresh grass to grow. This fed not only the animals, but the native kri-kri and other grazing animals.

An unwritten pact was created for both sides to prosper. The humans required good land for their livelihoods and the land required non intensive and non invasive methods. The pure history of humans living in the gorge shows just how it was done and still can be done. In this community, everything was done locally and with a purpose. Meat, milk, cheese were all produced locally, and there was an olive mill, providing a safe and healthy living environment. 

A turning of the tables

The Samaria Gorge has long been a symbol of hope and freedom. The gorge hosted soldiers fighting against the axis powers in World War Two, when they were outnumbered and forced to hide. With the knowledge of local people, they were able to navigate the intricate geology and were ushered out to safety.

In 1962, Greece designated the Samaria Gorge as a national forest. By definition, a national forest is designed to protect the natural ecosystem, but remain unaffected by human intervention. The locals who grew up and built lives on their ancestors' land were expropriated to land outside the gorge and promised compensation. The result was displacement without proper housing.

Human intervention is undoubtedly the cause of most environmental degradation, but there are ways to learn from nature and live harmoniously with the land. National Forest for Sale describes how the people of Samaria Gorge did exactly that. 

Tourism - A double-edged sword

Tourism is a global market that can be sectioned into a multitude of specific areas - ecotourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, wildlife tourism, etc. All have similarities, but are also different. No matter what, tourism brings an increase in people and foot traffic, which will always have an environmental cost.

Nature-based tourism is a type of tourism where national parks and nationally designated protected land are often involved. It does help to protect some of the world's most beautiful and unique landscapes, but it has drawbacks. In this film, the producers Ion Efthimiou and Panagiotis Kyriakakis show how the designation of the national forest displaced the local community. A scenario that is all too familiar all over the world.

Ecotourism, when done correctly, can be a solution to this. Ecotourism is under-researched and lacks a definitive definition, but the core values could provide successful solutions. This form of tourism strives to incorporate local communities and their knowledge. It strives to protect the land, the environment, and the wildlife, not at the expense of locals. No national government, no large entities, just local communities showcasing their world and tourists visiting to experience and appreciate it. 

However, since ecotourism is relatively new, it struggles with unclear definitions and minimal regulations, so there are no agreed upon benefits or requirements. 

National Forest for Sale describes how the locals are treated outside of the forest. They discuss receiving no respect from the national government, and being used to run the forest with very little benefit.

Why this story matters

Throughout history, local and indigenous communities inhabiting beautiful landscapes have been removed from their homes because of larger, more powerful entities. This story is not new. Samaria Gorge is a recent example of how communities are underrepresented in decision-making and removed despite their sustainable lifestyle. 

Ion Efthimiou and Panagiotis Kyriakakis create a visual story that allows the audience to experience what it could be like living in their situations. National Forest for Sale is an amazing piece that showcases what can be done to restore or preserve the balance seen in the Samaria Gorge pre-privatization