At a Glance

Greece needs careful spatial and urban planning. Small localities, with their unique natural and cultural characteristics and their great significance for the quality of life and identity of communities, require respect, clear regulations, and sustainable development.

By Lydia Carras 

Founder and president of the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage and corresponding member of Komvos.

Lydia Carras has extensive experience in protecting natural and cultural heritage and has spearheaded major initiatives to preserve historical and natural sites in Greece.

As ms. Carras notes in her article for the “The N Society” column of Naftemporiki, small localities are at risk from uncontrolled construction and investment pressures, even in areas of high natural or cultural value. The challenge is to find a balance between development and protection so that these places can maintain their identity and provide quality of life for their residents.

She emphasizes that the solution does not lie in rapid expansion or exploiting every available space, but in careful planning that takes into account:

• the carrying capacity of the area,

• the preservation of traditional settlements and natural resources,

• the balance between infrastructure and quality of life.

Only with such a strategy can small localities remain great in value, both for residents and for future generations.

📌 This article is part of the series “Node of Ideas – Greece 2025‑2040”, initiated by the Secretary General of Komvos, Prof. Konstantinos Drosatos, and Dr. Athena Coustenis (founding members of Komvos), in collaboration with the newspaper Naftemporiki.

📖 Read the full article here (in Greek) ➡O τόπος ο μικρός, ο μέγας, με προσεκτικό σχεδιασμό

The Komvos is generously sponsored by Piraeus Bank, who is supporting the realization of its vision.