The natural environment through economics has influenced the Greek culture. Greece has never been a country that worshiped certain animals or that certain foods were holy. The natural environment has always played a role, past and present in their economic life. Farming, fishing and herding is how the Greek culture has survived. Because Greece has such great lands to grow food and other plants, in addition to the water source they have from being an island to fish, most families in the past grew their own crops and either fished for food or had a farm. Being self-employed was valued highly in the past and is still valued highly. Still to this day many families have farms and fish but now the products are used for income. The agriculture industry is second leading cause of economic growth in Greece.
The Greek culture is centered around food. If you are a guest in a Greek household you will always be offered food and at all major ceremonies food is always the center. This has been a cultural aspect that has stayed the same for centuries. They look at food has welcome mat and a form or peace as do many Mediterranean countries. This has shaped the welcoming personality that the Greek culture has.
Greece’s land is gravely affected by tourism as well as the population growth. It is predicted that within the next 30 years the population will grow 34%(Naveh). This will in turn lead to the destruction of native plants, especially around the Mediterranean coast. There will be a need for more housing for this increase in population. There have already been many areas that have been cleared of vegetation to create touristic beaches and land for resorts and hotels (Lal Mukherjee.) Tourism is the leading cause of revenue in Greece. The countries economy needs tourism to survive, although tourism is causing significant damage to the coastal areas of Greece’s ecosystems. The tourists cause pollution and waste. They also add to the water needs taking away from the local habitants. Because the tourism is so concentrated to a specific area the habitat in the coastal region is gaining stress which leads to hurting the species that inhabit that area (Lal Mukherjee.)
Greece is in the top 50 nations in the world with the highest levels of industrial carbon dioxide. As a result the air pollution is extremely high causing 45 animals to be threatened with extinction in addition to the 446 plant species (Harmon.) If the plants and animals become extinct then the other species that rely on their existence to survive with also become extinct. The coral reef is experiencing great issues with over fishing. This is not only endangering the fish and their ability to reproduce but it is also affecting the coral and its ability to grow. If the fish are being taken away at to great of an amount then it is disturbing the natural sequence of events that enable the coral to grow.
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Harmon. (n.d.). Greece-Environment. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Greece-ENVIRONMENT.html
Lal Makherjee, A. (2013, March 11). Impact of tourism in coastal areas: Need of sustainable tourism strategy. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sustainable_tourism_strategy
Naven, Z. (1998). From Biodiversity to Ecodiversity — Holistic Conservation of the Biological and Cultural Diversity of Mediterranean Landscapes. Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems Ecological Studies, 13, 22-53. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-03543-6_2
Petrou, N. (2013, January 1). Greece. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/resources/country_focus/greece/
Sutton, S. (2000, January 1). Greece. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Greece.html
The Greek culture is centered around food. If you are a guest in a Greek household you will always be offered food and at all major ceremonies food is always the center. This has been a cultural aspect that has stayed the same for centuries. They look at food has welcome mat and a form or peace as do many Mediterranean countries. This has shaped the welcoming personality that the Greek culture has.
Greece’s land is gravely affected by tourism as well as the population growth. It is predicted that within the next 30 years the population will grow 34%(Naveh). This will in turn lead to the destruction of native plants, especially around the Mediterranean coast. There will be a need for more housing for this increase in population. There have already been many areas that have been cleared of vegetation to create touristic beaches and land for resorts and hotels (Lal Mukherjee.) Tourism is the leading cause of revenue in Greece. The countries economy needs tourism to survive, although tourism is causing significant damage to the coastal areas of Greece’s ecosystems. The tourists cause pollution and waste. They also add to the water needs taking away from the local habitants. Because the tourism is so concentrated to a specific area the habitat in the coastal region is gaining stress which leads to hurting the species that inhabit that area (Lal Mukherjee.)
Greece is in the top 50 nations in the world with the highest levels of industrial carbon dioxide. As a result the air pollution is extremely high causing 45 animals to be threatened with extinction in addition to the 446 plant species (Harmon.) If the plants and animals become extinct then the other species that rely on their existence to survive with also become extinct. The coral reef is experiencing great issues with over fishing. This is not only endangering the fish and their ability to reproduce but it is also affecting the coral and its ability to grow. If the fish are being taken away at to great of an amount then it is disturbing the natural sequence of events that enable the coral to grow.
.
Harmon. (n.d.). Greece-Environment. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Greece-ENVIRONMENT.html
Lal Makherjee, A. (2013, March 11). Impact of tourism in coastal areas: Need of sustainable tourism strategy. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sustainable_tourism_strategy
Naven, Z. (1998). From Biodiversity to Ecodiversity — Holistic Conservation of the Biological and Cultural Diversity of Mediterranean Landscapes. Landscape Disturbance and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems Ecological Studies, 13, 22-53. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-03543-6_2
Petrou, N. (2013, January 1). Greece. Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/europe/resources/country_focus/greece/
Sutton, S. (2000, January 1). Greece. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Greece.html