In a recent visit to the beach of the «Xifia» settlement in the community of Nomia, located within the Municipality of Monemvasia, Manolis Makaris, the leader of the regional party «First the Peloponnese,» engaged in discussions with local residents and business owners. The focal point of these conversations was the pressing issue of severe coastal erosion that has been affecting the area for years.
Mr. Makaris expressed deep concern over the alarming state of the coastline, which continues to recede. He emphasized that this ongoing erosion poses significant risks to the environment, society, and tourism. According to a preliminary study conducted by the Oceanography Institute of ELKETHE in September 2024, a staggering 69% of the original beach area has already been lost. The coastline has retreated an average of 30 meters from 1945 to 2023, with the period from 2008 to 2014 witnessing a rapid acceleration of this phenomenon, resulting in retreats exceeding 1 meter per year.
In his announcement, Mr. Makaris highlighted the urgent need for a specialized coastal engineering study aimed at restoring the beach. This initiative would involve collaboration with ELKETHE and the commitment to allocate part of the available €16 million from the Peloponnese Region for this purpose. The goal is to design and implement well-documented and sustainable protective measures.
Furthermore, he stressed the necessity of immediate temporary measures to slow down the erosion and called for close cooperation among all stakeholders, including the Peloponnese Region, the Municipality of Monemvasia, the Ministry of Environment, OFYPEKA, ELKETHE, and active participation from the local community.
«The Xifia beach is disappearing day by day. The Peloponnese Region must finally take action after years of neglect,» Mr. Makaris stated emphatically.
This situation underscores the critical need for prompt and effective responses to combat coastal erosion, ensuring the preservation of both the natural landscape and the livelihoods that depend on it.
