Rewilding Kalamos (GRC)

Where is Everyone?

We meet Ted Karfakis. He was born and raised in Kalamos and returned here after years abroad. He tells us that the island once had more than 2,000 inhabitants. But after an earthquake in 1953 and political upheaval, people started to leave. The other village on the coast was completely deserted and is now an overgrown collection of ruins. Young people from elsewhere on the island also moved to the mainland. There was no work and facilities became scarce. Today only slightly more than 200 people live there. “The harbourmaster stopped a few years ago, but nobody wants to take over. There is no regular ferry service. So if you want to go to the mainland or need to transport goods, you always have to arrange something” Ted explains.

“If everyone else leaves, why did you come back?” we ask Ted. He answers cryptically: “A combination of childhood memories and my current mission made me return.” We want to know what he means. “In the United Kingdom I studied ecology and for many years I worked in the field of biological conservation, ecology and on related issues worldwide. A special form of ecosystem regeneration inspired me: rewilding. Such a thing would also be possible here.” Noticing our questioning eyes, Ted proposes to explain it to us in the office of his organization Terra Sylvestris.

Ecosystem regeneration American style

After a climb through the steep streets of the hilly village we arrive at the edge of the forest. Ted’s house has been transformed into the head office of his organization. He shows us a video about the reintroduction of animal and plant species in areas where they originally occurred. We learn about the successful reintroduction of the wolf in Yellowstone National Park. The wolves keep the deer population in check. The deer have since avoided plains and valleys, where they are easy prey for the wolves. This allows the vegetation to recover there. Different tree species return, which attracts birds and beavers. This also means that the soil erosion decreases, the water in the rivers becomes clearer and fish return. This chain reaction brings the ecosystem back into balance and increases biodiversity.

Ted sees the enthusiasm in our eyes. “Inspiring, isn’t it? I think Kalamos would be an excellent place for rewilding, too. Parts of the island are already overgrown, but still a lot needs to be done to restore the island to its original state.” At the same time, he sees opportunities for the local population. “Eco-tourists who come to visit our unique nature could provide much-needed employment.”

A Good Starting Point

Ted talks passionately about his island’s natural beauty. “Our mountainous island is covered by pine forest. The tall trees allow shrubs to grow in their shade. These conditions in combination with dead wood from fallen trees provide for a plethora of different trees, plants and animals, such as the golden eagle. An international bird conservation organization, BirdLife International, considers the area as one of the most important bird areas in Greece.”

Kalamos is not only rich in biodiversity on land. Ted explains that it is special underwater, too. “Posidonia, a rare type of seagrass, grows in the waters around the island. It is not only very important for healthy water management, but also provides important habitats and breeding grounds for several species of fish of economic importance, like the sardine. This in turn attracts whales and dolphins and possibly even the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.”

Kalamos’ natural beauty has led to some protection. Kalamos is in the middle of a marine Natura 2000 site, a designated nature reserve. Yet such status is not sufficient to guarantee successful nature protection, as we soon find out.

Better Protection Instead of Commercial Exploitation

We learn that commercial interests in the region are strong, making rewilding no easy task. Ted highlights that the Greek government decided a few years ago to declare most of the area around Kalamos suitable for the development of industrial aquaculture, or fish farming. There are already some fish farms in place and Ted explains that they pollute the water and destroy the posidonia. As this leads to a decrease in marine biodiversity and natural fish stocks, Ted is not alone in opposing the fish farms: “The local fishermen are an important ally of us in this fight.”

Kalamos is also under pressure from the wind farming industry, which is backed by the central government. The locals oppose it, according to Ted. The proposed sites of the wind turbines are important for birds, so he would prefer to rewild them instead. To achieve that, he supports the island and surrounding area being elevated to a higher status of nature protection. “Only then, nature will be protected adequately and we can begin to reintroduce disappeared species.”

Balancing Rewilding with Human Needs

We wonder how a rewilded Kalamos would differ from the island that we see today and how it would affect the local population. Ted envisages the island’s inhabitants to adopt more sustainable ways of living: “We now live mostly off tourism, like visiting sailboats. If the island is rewilded, we can offer eco-tourism, such as wildlife spotting, bird watching, snorkelling, and hiking.”

He also sees a future for the fishermen. “If they use sustainable fishing methods, such as line fishing, there is room for them, too.” And as there are hardly any farmers left, Ted proposes that the locals grow some of their own food using agroforestry and permaculture techniques. His garden functions as a model. “I have planted various edible plants and fruit-bearing trees, mainly for demonstration purposes to show which foods we could grow ourselves.”

Once rewilded, the island would be covered in vegetation and the sea would be teeming with life again, as it was 60 years ago. To achieve his goal, Ted founded Terra Sylvestris, which stands for “land of the forest”. The organization is committed to protecting the island and the surrounding waters. “I’m running the organisation with the help of volunteers. My house functions as a biological field station. It provides housing for volunteers and is an educational and discussion center. We raise awareness for the protection of our ecosystems and try to find solutions to the challenges we face.”