ABSTRACT

Greece is a relatively entrant to the European Community (EC), having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1981. Greece's population density is one of the lowest in the EC, notwithstanding the very low densities of the two most recent Scandinavian countries. Greece has traditionally had a centralized administration, focused on the decision making within the capital. Heritage landscapes One of the earliest land-based protection Jaws in Greece was enacted in 1932. Within Greece, perhaps more so than in any European country, the linking of heritage and archaeological importance of sites with natural history, is a very important consideration. Early legislation in Greece was principally concerned with the historic and culturally important sites of the country. National Parks in Greece are designated to protect the natural integrity of the areas so defined, and no reference is made for tourism or recreational pressure.