Greece and Mediterranean countries are so rich in flora that they can be characterized as ‘hotspots of biodiversity.’ It is truly amazing how this little corner of Earth has so many plant species.

After the sadness sparked by the wildfires and related catastrophic phenomena, everyone is now thinking about “what happens next.”

Apart from the trees, Greece’s forests host a spectacular variety of plant species, many of them endemic, meaning that you will find them only in specific areas.

Beauty is everywhere in the forests, from the canopy to the ground. Endemic shrubs and herbs, over the vast duration of their evolution, learned how to survive and thrive.

Seeds with hard coverings, which break only at fire temperatures, is a great example of a survival mechanism of plants in Mediterranean pine forests. Fire is truly regenerative for them. Underground clusters of herbs and shrubs, reveal the wisdom of plants’ survival.

Everybody finds its way or perish. This is the first and unbreakable law of nature – ‘it is what it is.’

The little treasures in the forests are often edible also. Many herbs and shrubs like rock rose, sarcopoterum, and thyme know how to survive – they are the first to offer food to anybody who comes along. Just a little bit of rain will regenerate what seems to have been lost forever.

That is the good thing about wildfires: Hidden treasures rise from the ashes. This is what we expect to happen if human activities do not take place in the burned ground.

Nature always finds its way – if we let Her. And we can hope that the mistakes of the past will be the lighthouse of the future.

* The above is not medical advice but mere suggestions for improving your diet. Before reach herbal use you should consult your doctor, especially those who have health issues, are pregnant or are under the age of 6.

Evropi-Sofia Dalampira holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and an MSc in Botany-Biology.