WILD GREECE MAP AND INVENTORY CATEGORIES
This preliminary map and the accompanying inventory highlight the most significant wild natural areas in Greece, those places where the rarest and richest natural ecosystems still exist.
The areas shown on this map are delineated to encompass important natural and semi-natural areas from a bioregional, holistic perspective. Biotic and abiotic attributes of each area were key determinants in selecting the boundaries. Sites of known ecological importance have often been combined to show regions which express notable biogeoclimatic interrelationships and land-use similarities. Since there are no sharp boundaries in nature, those shown here should be considered as approximations for the descriptive purposes of this inventory.
This map represents the collaborative efforts and generosity of many scientists, conservationists, and leading environmental organizations in Greece. It shows the regions which need immediate legislative protection and appropriate conservation management in order to preserve the wild nature of Greece.
Click on image for detail.
LEGEND
The following five categories are labelled and/or delineated on this map. The selection criteria for each of the five categories are as follows:
IMPORTANT NATURAL AREAS
Criteria:High biological diversity; presence of nationally and globally rare species; high wilderness quality; relatively large size of remnant natural ecosystems.
WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
Criteria:Global importance to waterfowl and biodiversity as designated by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (includes other wetlands of unique ecological significance due to rarity of species present and large extent of natural habitat).
IMPORTANT WETLAND BIOTOPES
Criteria:Significance as smaller wetland habitats (or remnants of once larger ones); relatively high biodiversity; presence of rare and vulnerable species; great importance to migratory bird species.
WILD SEA COASTS AND ISLETS
Criteria:Naturalness of shoreline and small islands scattered in various localities along a coastal region possessing high wilderness quality; large extent of remnant natural habitat and presence of rare and endemic species.
EXISTING NATIONAL PARKS
Criteria:Designation by Greek Ministry of Agriculture prior to the publication of this map (spring, 1991).
A brief description of each numbered area outlined on this map and the current threats to it will be found within the inventory section of this paper.
The information found on this map is based primarily on the work of B. Hallmann, M. Gaetlich, V. Hatzirvassanis, and G. Sfikas. Additional important information and data provided by members of the Hellenic Ornithological Society (especially G. Tsakona, S. Bourdakis, D. Bousbouras, A. Vlamis, Th. Kominos et al.), members of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (G. Tsunis, P. Broussalis, et al.), members of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Epirus (H. Papaioannou et al.), members of the Greek Wildlife Hospital (P. Dragoumis, M. Ganoti), the Ministry of Agriculture, the Dept. of National Parks and Aesthetic Forests, the Department of Game, the Athens Institute of Forestry Research (G. Mavrommatis), the Corine Biotopes Programme, and the International Council for Bird Preservation (Important Bird Areas of Europe, Technical Publ. No. 9).
We thank the many unnamed field naturalists and scientists in Greece for their information, help and advice. The compiler, Stamatis Zogaris, takes full responsibility for all errors or omissions. Please send in any comments, corrections and/or additions directly to the publisher.
Cartographic information compilation: Stamatis Zogaris
Cartography: Ian Parfitt, Volker Bodegom, Dennis Rosmini
Copyrighted WCWC 1991. All rights reserved.
