Protected areas in Greece The Pindos mountain Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou General Directorate of Forests Ministry of Agriculture Greece
Dec 03, 2014
Protected areas in Greece
The Pindos mountain
Aristotelis C. PapageorgiouGeneral Directorate of Forests
Ministry of AgricultureGreece
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A mountainous
country
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High biodiversity
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From subtropical…
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…to alpine
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Administration and management
• Responsibility of the Forest Service since 1938.
• No special administration units for protected areas.
• Implementation problems during the last 20 years, due to the shrinkage of the Forest Service
• No public participation
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A participatory approach
• Law 1650 established in 1985 and activated in 1999.
• Management of Protected Areas is assigned to a “management unit” where local representatives, NGOs and national authorities take part.
• Time consuming and complicated procedures.• Lack of funding and central guidance.• Several conflicts in the local level.• One park established, which is ineffective.
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A transition phase
• New system is still ineffective and the old system is still valid – coexistence
• Lack of political commitment and support (€ needed = 10 Kms of highway)
• Lack of interest from the public• Institutional problems and administration
gaps• Reactions in the local level
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Protected areas
• 263 “Natura 2000” sites
• 10 national parks
• 11 “Ramsar” wetlands
• 19 aesthetic forests (protected landscapes)
• 52 monuments of nature
• 2 marine parks
• several game reserves
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Pindos
• Near the Greek – Albanian borders
• Divides Greece in East and West
• Many peaks, such as Smolikas, Tymfi, Lyngos
• Large variety in ecosystems
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Biodiversity
• 34 biotope types• More than 1500
species of flora in Tymfi alone
• 32 mammals, 166 birds, 14 amphibians and 12 fish species
• Many endemics and endangered species
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Important fauna
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…and floraColchicum autumnale Anacamptis pyramidalis
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National Park “Vikos – Aoos”
• Founded in 1973 and covers an area of 12.300 ha
• Includes two goarges (Vikos and Aoos) and the main massif of Tymfi.
• Mediterranean ecosystems, oaks, black pines, heldreich pines, firs.
• Impressive rock formations, cliffs and caves
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National Park of Pindos
• Founded in 1966 and covers and area of 6838 ha
• Includes the plateau of “Valia Kalda” (1350m), several peaks over 2000m (Avgo, Pyrostia, Flega) and the river “Arkoudorema”
• Subalpine landscapes, forests of black pines, heldreich pines and beech.
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Management
• The National Parks are managed by the Forest Service.
• A new large National Park including the two existing ones and six Natura 2000 sites is planned (participatory system).
• Tensions and conflicts have arised
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Main problems of the area
• Poaching
• Uncontrolled tourism
• Waste management
• Ineffective management
• Gaps and overlaps in responsibilities between authorities