The Crete branch of GEOTEE, Greece's chamber of agricultural and forestry engineers, has publicly condemned the cutting of olive trees at a site earmarked for a new peripheral parking facility in Mournies, a village on the outskirts of Chania. The organization issued a formal statement expressing strong opposition to the removals, raising concerns about the environmental and cultural cost of clearing established olive trees for infrastructure development. Olive trees hold protected status in Greece due to their agricultural and heritage significance, and their removal typically requires special permits. The planned parking area is intended to ease traffic congestion around Chania. Visitors to the region may notice ongoing construction activity near Mournies. No disruption to tourist access in central Chania is currently reported, but the controversy may influence the project's timeline.
