The Environment Ministry announced the members of the "Natura 2000" Committee for the period 2014-2017. The Committee is Greece’s main advisory body for the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the Greek biodiversity and acts as an expert body for the management of Greece's Natura 2000 network and other environmentally protected areas.

Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis said the 14-member committee, chaired by Costas Thanos from the University of Athens biology department, will "contribute decisively, with speed and efficiency, to the implementation of actions carrying out the national strategy for biodiversity and coordinate dialogue on establishing a national system for the administration and management of protected areas."