Stavros Siokos, co-founder and CEO of Astarte Capital Partners, who specializes in international natural capital investments, joined Dimitris Kontogiannis on Voice of Greece’s “Our Global Voice.” He discussed his experience of the recent crisis in Paraguay, where Astarte has invested in sustainable forestry projects, following the collapse of a bank and the removal of its president. He also examined how sustainable investment and the green transition have been affected by Trump’s election in the United States, as well as the lack of progress in Greece.
Turning to Greece, Siokos expressed disappointment that the country is failing to pursue sustainable investments, such as forest cultivation across large areas of Thrace, Epirus, and elsewhere. He estimated that such projects could generate €4–5 billion annually through the sale of carbon credits. He said that officials express interest, but nothing moves forward. He added that the regulatory framework also presents a major obstacle, requiring reforestation projects to use the same tree species as those destroyed by fire. Siokos claimed that pine trees are highly flammable and were brought to Greece by the Romans, who planted them around cities so they could set them ablaze. Cypress trees, which he described as native to Greece, are less easily burned, he said.
He also pointed out that farmers could increase their income and reduce their reliance on EU subsidies by switching to particular tree crops, such as hazelnuts, and adopting specific cultivation practices. These, he explained, could provide upfront income through the sale of credits certified by international certification bodies.