NATIONAL FOREST FOR SALE | Wild Commons
The Samaria Gorge, in the historic White Mountains of Greece, bears the hallmarks of centuries of human and nature coexistence. Located in the southwestern region of the Greek island, Crete, it is the only gorge in the Chania region to be continuously inhabited since ancient times.
National Forest for Sale is a short documentary following locals who describe the history and mishaps that led to the privatization of a beautiful natural ecosystem. It’s a story of human and nature coexisting, an unfortunate turn with tourism, and the result of privatization without the trust of local communities.
“As for the name ‘Samaria’, many believe it comes from Saint Mary of Egypt…The name actually comes from the ancient word ‘Samara’, meaning trench…The name existed before the church”
The natural and anthropogenic history of this land is rich, and the long-standing sustainable lifestyle of locals has benefited both the humans and wildlife. One example of this reciprocal care is residents burning the built up pine needles during winter so fresh grass can grow, feeding both their own animals and the endemic wild goats that share the landscape, commonly known as ‘kri-kri’.
With limited access to the outside of the gorge historically, everything had to be done locally. Meat, milk and cheese were all produced, and an olive mill helped to provide sustenance. It was a perfect example of how human settlements do not have to lead to environmental degradation.
The Samaria Gorge was designated as a national forest in 1962, resulting in the removal of residents and a severe increase in tourism. Like many examples around the world, a movement designed for conservation turned into a cash grab for private entities without the thought of the locals. The decision to designate certain areas as untouchable by humans removed the people who had made it such a special place.
Through the voices of residents and people who know the gorge intimately, the film examines the tensions surrounding its management. Tourism brings livelihoods and access to this extraordinary place, but locals question rising entrance fees, privatized management, visitor safety, and decisions made far from the communities that depend on it.
“The gorge, like all nature, is a living organism. Wild trees grow taller, and their roots spread through the ground.”
After the national forest was created, the land ceased to be managed as a natural ecosystem, instead being treated as a source of profit. This conflict is familiar to communities around the globe, where large institutions barge in to manage land with the promise of assisting the local people. This film shows us that is rarely the case.
National Forest for Sale demonstrates how the gorge should operate entirely with public funding. Throughout the documentary, the filmmakers Ion Efthimiou, Panagiotis Kyriakakis, and locals fight to keep the natural treasure out of the hands of private interests.
As global populations and natural degradation increase, this film reminds us that “the nature, the sea, the mountains…” belong to us all and we must treat them as such”.
Film Credits
Directors: Ion Efthimiou and Panagiotis Kyriakakis
Narration: Dimitris Velentzas
Location: Samarian Gorge on the Greek island of Crete
Courtesy of: Ion Efthimiou and Panagiotis Kyriakakis
