IMPORTANT NATURAL AREAS
Most outstanding ones in boldface
Diverse mixed pine-oak forests in the Evros Hills, Thraki.
MACEDONIA AND THRAKI
1. Evros riparian forest [Evros]:
Lush riverside forests.
Threats: Continuing tree felling, and river pollution.
2. Evros hills (including Dadia forest) [Evros]:
Ecologically varied hill country retaining large oak, pine and mixed sclerophyll scrublands
and forests; one of Europe's richest areas for endangered birds of prey including several globally
threatened species such as the Eurasian black vulture. This area is host to an exceptional wealth
of migratory and breeding birdlife; unequalled reptile and amphibian diversity: 39 species. Many
rare mammals survive: marbled polecat, souslik, jackal, wolf, near-extinct brown bear.
Threats: Widespread clear-cutting of deciduous forests and replacement with pine
plantations is catastrophically degrading area's biodiversity; expanding road network, disturbance
to wildlife by hunters, poaching of raptor eggs and fledglings, disruptive military activities. Illegal
poisoning of wolves (and, unintentionally, raptors) is still occasionally practised.
3. Mt. Fengari - Samothraki Island [Evros]:
High mountain, rare plants.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats; expanding road network.
Ancient old-growth forest in west Rodopi Mountains
4. East Rodopi [Xanthi, Rodopi, Evros]:
Traditional grazing land for subsistence herders with great habitat diversity, including forests of
oak and beech, rich in wildlife. Many endangered eagles and vultures depend on the area.
Threats: Clear-cut logging by the Greek Forest Service is forcing the shepherd communities
of the Pomak people (a Muslim minority) to abandon their pastoral life. (The Pomak's subsistence goat-grazing
is banned once an area is logged and the pine-plantations developed.) Logging roads are now extending
into the Kompsatos river's tributary valleys, the epicenter of the area's ecological importance. Habitat alteration,
increased hunting, and poaching are threatening several eagle species and the brown bear with local extinction.
5. West Rodopi Mountains [Drama, Xanthi]:
Large, sparsely populated mountain area with extensive forest harbouring boreal plant communities
found nowhere else in Greece. Unique old-growth virgin forest remnant survives near Bulgarian border.
Outstanding wildlife populations and rich birdlife includes grouse and rare owls.
Threats:Widespread poaching is threatening the area's brown bear, chamois, and red deer
populations. A very dense road network created by extensive logging allows poachers to enter
previously wild mountains. Only in the last 10 years have the roads destroyed many wilderness remnants.
6. Mt. Falakro [Drama]:
High mountain with very rare flora.
Threats: Livestock grazing, road expansions, poaching.
7. Nestos Gorge and Limnia hills [Xanthi, Kavala]:
Mixed woodland, rare plants, nesting grounds for rare birds.
Threats: Livestock overgrazing, roads planned within Nestos Gorge; fires and marble-quarrying
affect Limnia hills where griffin vultures breed.
8. Mt. Psari, Thassos Island [Kavala]:
Extensive pine-fir-forests, rare plants.
Threats: Forest fragmentation by fire, roads, logging.
9. Mt. Panagheo [Kevala, Serres]:
Scattered forests, rare plants, varied bird life.
Threats: Livestock overgrazing, logging, fires, expanding road network, quarrying.
One of the last white-tailed eagle nests in northern Greece.
10. Mt. Vrondous - Mt. Menikio [Serres, Drama]:
Diverse forests, many rare mountain plants, birds of prey and threatened large mammals.
Threats: Logging, expanding road network, hunting, and widespread poaching.
11. Mt. Orvilos [Serres, Drama]:
High mountain on Bulgarian border; rare wildlife, and rare plant associations.
Threats: Occasional hunting and poaching.
12. Mount Kerkini [Beles] and Krousia Mts. [Serres]:
Two large forested mountains surrounding Lake Kerkini; support rare mammals and several species
of endangered eagles still nesting.
Threats: Road construction and logging on both mountains threaten last wildlife refuges;
intense poaching and hunting is responsible for the probable extirpation of lynx, brown bear and red deer from the area.
13. Rendina Valley and surrounding hills [Thessaloniki]:
Important wildlife passage corridor; rich bird life.
Threats: Logging, roads, and poaching.
14. Holomondas Mts. [Halkidiki]:
Deciduous forests important to birds of prey and mammals.
Threats: Roads, logging, fires and poaching.
15. Sithonia Peninsula [Halkidiki]:
Scattered forests and sclerophyll scrublands supporting rare wildlife including jackals,
and near-extinct red deer; a few monk seals survive on the coast.
Threats: Roads, intentional fires, mining exploration, livestock overgrazing, poaching
and rapidly increasing tourism development.
16. The Aghion Oros Peninsula [Aghion oros-autonomous]:
A Byzantine monastic sanctuary where goat grazing has been strictly prohibited for centuries.
Virgin forest pockets exist on sacred Mount Athos; a remarkable diversity of rare plants
(19 endemics) and rare wildlife: eagles, cappercallie grouse, jackals, wolves and monk seals.
Threats: This globally unique area is being destroyed by modern development.
Clearcut logging by the Greek Forest Service and many roads are eliminating old-growth forests.
Recent fires (in 1990) also reduced the forest cover.
17. Voras-Pinovo-Tsena [Pella, Florina]:
Wild mountain-chain on Yugoslavian frontier supports many rare mountain plant associations;
endemic wildflowers and threatened wildlife; near-extinct eagles and vultures. Patches of old-growth
mixed forests survive in highland valleys.
Threats: Extensive logging, road expansion and the construction of a ski resort centre on
the highest mountain, Kaimaktsalan. The roads are destroying rare plant communities; poaching
is threatening the area's few brown bears, chamois and birds of prey.
Lesser-spotted eagle, drastically declining in numbers due to the destruction of wild mature forests.
18. Apsalos-Moglenitsa gorge [Pella]:
Two small gorges important to birds of prey.
Threats: Roads, hunting, and a nearby cement factory.
19. Mr. Vermio [Imathia]:
Dense beech forests and alpine.
Threats: Expansion of road network, ski centre, logging and hunting.
20. Prepsa-Mt. Verno-Mt. Peristeri [Florina, Kastoria]:
Broadleaved forests and alpine; rich wildlife: brown bears, chamois and grouse; rare plant-life.
Threats:Roads, clear-cut logging; poaching threatens large wildlife with extirpation.
21. Aliakmon gorge area [Imathia]:
Steep cliffs are important to birds of prey: Egyptian vultures.
Threats:Dams, quarries, and road expansion.
22. Mt. Pieria [Pieria]:
Beautiful beech forests and alpine areas with uncommon wildflowers.
Threats: Expansion of road network; logging of mature forests.
23. Mt. Vourinos [Kozani, Grevena]:
Small forest pockets and alpine meadows with a large number of very rare and endemic wildflowers.
Wolves and roe deer survive.
Threats:Roads, poaching, and potential logging.
24. Kamvounia Mts. [Grevena, Kozani]:
Livestock-grazed mountains important to rare raptors.
Threats: Expansion of road network, hunting, livestock overgrazing.
EPIRUS
25. North Pindos Mountains [Ioanina, Kastoria, Grevena, Trikala]:
Rich montane mixed forests, alpine peaks and wild valleys such as the spectacular Aoos ravine; important
refuge for wolf, chamois, eagles, vultures; and especially for the brown bear in Greece. This area supports over
1520 plant species including rare endemics.
Threats: Logging roads, small dams and river diversions are planned within national parks.
Road construction and tourist developments continue. Intense poaching and intentional poisoning of
carnivores by shepherds threatens rarest of wildlife.
26. Mt. Douskos, Gormos ravine and Delvinaki forests [Ioannina]:
Old oak and mixed woodland, a gorge and a wild mountain on the Albanian border; rare wildlife: chamois,
wolves, eagles.
Threats: Logging of mature oak forests; expansion of road network; excessive hunting.
Frequent poaching is leading to the extirpation of the brown bear.
Mixed deciduous forest, Mt. Voras, Macedonia.
27. Upper Arachthos River [Ioanina]:
Wild river with otters and breeding vultures.
Threats: hydroelectric dams, many roads, poaching.
28. Kalamas River Gorge, Filiato and Tsamanta Mts. [Thesprotia]:
Wooded and eroded mountains with several ravines near the Albanian border support eagles,
Egyptian vultures, and threatened black storks; riverside woodlands and cliffs important to rare birds.
Threats: Drainage of riverside marshes, roads, hunting, and poaching of rare species.
29. Paramithia Mountains [Thesprotia]:
Grazed mountain supporting wolves and vultures.
Threats: Roads, hunting, livestock overgrazing.
30. Aheron River Gorge [Thesprotia, Preveza]:
Steep ravine important to wildlife: eagles and eagle owls.
Threats: Roads, hunting, and poaching.
31. Mt. Zalogos [Preveza]:
Scrub-covered mountain with cliffs and vultures.
Threats: Poaching.
THESSALY
32. South Pindos [Trikala, Karditsa, Ioannina, Arta]:
Large mountain range with extensive forests, lush ravines and rocky, eroded alpine areas.
Remaining wildlife populations, including chamois and bears, depend on existing wild areas.
Threats: Road network expansions, intensive forestry, and livestock overgrazing in the highlands
have caused degenerated natural vegetation. The ongoing, large-scale hydroelectric dams and diversion of
the Acheloos River by way of tunnel to the Thessaly plain is likely to bring catastrophic changes. The widespread
flooding of the most productive valley-bottoms and forested ravines will further degrade both the ecology and
the depressed rural economy of this area.
Meteora rock pinnacles in Thessaly-sacred to Byzantine monasteries.
Endangered swamp forest on the Pinios River delta, Thessaly.
33. Antihasia Mts.- Meteora [Trikala]:
Diverse area of broadleaved forests, rural land and cliffs important to many rare birds;
largest Egyptian vulture colony in Greece; black storks.
Threats:Logging of mature oak woods and riparian plane tree forests (on Pinios river);
expansion of road network; livestock overgrazing, poaching, and tourism.
34. Olympus and Ossa Mountains (including Pinios Delta) [Piera, Larisa]:
Extensive mixed forests, majestic ravines and alpine peaks. Remarkable biodiversity; many are rare and endemic plants;
threatened wildlife: wolves, eagles, chamois, four species of vulture, seven of woodpecker; rare migrant water birds
congregate on the Pinios Delta.
Threats: Expanding road network, power-line construction, and logging are progressing on north Olympus
and Mt. Ossa. Widespread poaching, hunting and illegal wildflower collecting threaten species. The Pinios Delta
holds a magnificent riparian forest, which is illegally, but rapidly, being replaced by fields and holiday homes.
Mass tourism threatens the entire area; a ski resort is planned on Olympus.
35. Marrovouni-Pilio Mountains [Larisa, Fthiotida]:
Rich broadleaved and sclerophyll woodlands with rare plants and animals: wolves.
Threats: New road construction is destroying the last wild area on east Pilio; widespread hunting
and poaching; expansion of tourist facilities.
36. Goura Mts. [Magnissia]:
Scantly forested mountains important to birds of prey.
Threats: Roads, overgrazing, logging, hunting.
37. Northern Sporades Islands [Magnissia]:
Remote islets supporing rare species: Monk seal, Auduin's gull, Eleonora's falcon;
rare plants; rich marine life. Protected as Greece's first marine park!
Threats: Illegal fishing and tourism disturbance.
IONIAN ISLANDS
38. Mt. Enos and Mt. Kalon [Kephallinia]:
Fir forest remnants, rare plant and cliff where griffin vultures breed.
Threats: expanding road network, poaching.
CENTRAL GREECE AND THE AEGEAN ISLANDS
39. Akarnanika Mts. [Aetolo-akarnania]:
Coastal mountains with oak woods and vultures.
Threats: livestock overgrazing, roads, logging of mature oaks, intentional fires, poaching.
40. Mount Arakinthos [Aetolo-akarnania]:
Rocky mountain with steep cliffs and gorges important to vultures and eagles.
Threats: Roads, livestock overgrazing, forest fires, poaching.
41. Mt. Panetolikon-Mt. Helidona-Mt. Kaliakouda-Mt. Oxia [Aetolo-akarnania, Evritania]:
Mountain chain with large forests where wild boar and eagles survive.
Threats: Roads are rapidly expanding into previously wild areas and, as a consequence,
poaching and logging are increasing in some areas.
Oriental plane trees shade the Agraphiotis River, Agrapha Mts.
42. Agrapha Mountains and Mt. Timphristos [Evritania, Karditsa]:
Remote mountains with beautiful gorges (Agraphiotis Gorge) and rare wildlife; southernmost
distribution of brown bear in the Balkans.
Threats: Intensive road building, overgrazing, severe hunting and poaching.
Logging roads in the steep Agrapha are causing severe landslides and erosion.
43. Giona, Vardousia, Parnassus Mountains [Fokida, Voiotia]:
Magnificent high mountains with spectacular cliffs, gorges, and alpine peaks with several rare wildflowers; the southern distribution limit for chamois and wolf in the Balkans; an important area for rare eagles, vultures and other birds of prey.
Threats: Open-pit bauxite mining, roads, intense poaching, logging, and tourism developments: ski centres, resort homes.44. Mt. Iti [Fthiotida]:
Beautiful fir forests, alpine meadows, gorges where chamois survive. A national park has succeeded in
protecting the area's forests.
Threats: Dense road network allows poaching which threatens wildlife.
45. Mt. Parnitha [Attiki]:
Diverse forested mountain with many rare plants and animals: Jackals, red deer.
Threats: Roads, tourist facility expansion: roads, hotel-casino; recreational disturbance, and poaching.
46. Mt. Ohi and Cavo d'Oro Coast [Evvia]:
Diverse mountain with scattered woodland, rare flowers and varied birdlife: Bonelli's eagle, eagle owl;
Mediterranean monk seals on coast.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats; roads, fires, hunting, poaching and illegal fishing.
47. Dirfis Mountains [Evvia]:
Lush mixed forests and coastland with many rare wildflowers and eagles, vultures, wildcat and Mediterranean monk seal.
Threats: Forestry roads, logging, increasing tourism developments and poaching. Illegal and legal poisoning of
foxes threaten resident birds of prey with local extinction.
48. Mt. Kandilli and Kireas ravine [Evvia]:
Coniferous mountain forests with rare wildflowers, eagles and lush mixed forests in river valley.
Threats: Logging, roads, mining are minor problems.
Old oriental plane and holm oak forest on island of Evvia.
49. Likhada-Telethrio-Xiro Hills [Evvia]:
Varied semi-natural habitats important to endemic and rare plants.
Threats: Overgrazing, roads, intentional fires, and poaching.
50. South Skyros Island [Evvia]:
Southern parts of the island are important to rare cliff plants and monk seals.
Threats: Roads, fires, overgrazing, and persecution of seals.
51. Wild areas on Kikladhes Islands [Kikladhes]:
Wild areas on several islands support rare and endemic reptiles: Lebentine viper, Milos wall lizard and
Agama lizard; inaccessible coastal cliffs, gorges and peaks important to many endemic cliff wildflowers
(chasmophytes); areas important to migratory birds and monk seals.
Threats: Overgrazing, roads, poaching, hunting and tourism pressure.
52. Olymbos area, Lesvos [Lesvos]:
Mixed pine, chestnut forests and old olive groves with many rare plants: Asiatic fritillaries and orchids;
important to rare birds: black storks, Kruper's nuthatch; Persian squirrel populations.
Threats: Expansion of road system, forestry, poaching, military road building and tourism development on the coast.
53. West Lesvos hills [Lesvos]:
Diverse area of natural scrub, forest and rural land. Important to rare Asian fauna and flora: Cinereous bunting,
yellow rhododendron.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats, intentional fires, roads and over-hunting.
54. North Chios Mts. [Chios]:
Mountains with scattered forests important to migratory birds.
Threats: fires to improve pasture, overgrazing, and intense hunting.
55. South Ikaria Island [Samos]:
Cliffs, pine forests and scrub supporting a remarkable number of rare endemic plants.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats and intentional fires to create pasture; expansion of road network.
56. Wild areas on Samos Island [Samos]:
Diverse mountains and coastlands with lush forests, including mature stands, which hold an astonishing variety of
Asiatic wildflowers; rare transient birds: Kruper's nuthatch, chameleons, Ottoman viper.
Threats: Immediate danger by expanding road network, intentional forest fires, livestock grazing, over-hunting,
poaching and tourism development.
57. East Kos [Dhodhekanisa]:
Rocky mountain, with scattered woodland and steep sea cliffs; important to rare migratory birds of prey.
Threats: overgrazing, fires, roads, holiday homes on coast, and over-hunting.
58. Central Rhodos [Dhodhekanisa]:
Diverse area with remnants of pine and cypress forests; important to an astounding variety of rare and endemic wildflowers;
great variety of migratory birds and near-extinct fallow deer.
Threats: Fires recently destroyed much natural forest. Also, overgrazing by goats, road expansion, hunting,
and intense poaching. Expanding tourism threatens coastal areas.
59. Central and North Karpathos and Saria Island [Dhodhekanisa]:
Wild mountains with scattered woodland and sea cliffs; important to sea bird colonies and Luschan's salamander.
Threats: Large forest fires have destroyed most pine forests; expanding road system.
The Eurasian black vulture; only about two dozen pairs survive in the whole of southeast Europe, almost all of them found in Greece.
PELOPONNISOS
60. Strofilia Area [Achaia, Ileia]:
An important lowland area with rare coastal umbrella pine forest and several small wetlands exceptionally
rich in breeding birdlife.
Threats: Tourism developments, roads, and illegal hunting. Intentional fires threaten forest.
61. Selinous Gorge-Mt. Barbas-Mt. Klokos [Achaia]:
Mostly bare mountains around Selinous Gorge; important for birds of prey: last known breeding area for vultures in the
Pelopnnisos.
Threats: Roads, hunting, and poaching.
62. Helmos - Ziria Mountains [Achaia, Korinthia]:
One of the last wild areas with important forests and untouched valley such as the sacred Styx ravine.
Many rare and endangered plants survive. Eagles still breed on inaccessible cliffs.
Threats: Severe overgrazing by domestic goats on Ziria; roads, intense hunting, and poaching.
63. Mt. Erymanthos [Achaia]:
A large mountain with extensive forests and spectacular waterfalls; critical for golden eagles.
Threats: Goat overgrazing, logging, road expansion, and poaching.
64. Mt. Foloi area [Achaia, Ileia]:
Diverse low mountains with mixed woods important to varied birdlife.
Threats: Logging, goat grazing, fires, and poaching.
65. Taygetos Mountain and Mani Peninsula [Messinia, Lakonia]:
A long, isolated high mountain range with a remarkably large number of rare and endemic plants.
Fir forests and eagles still survive; rugged coastline with magnificent caves; important area for Mediterranean monk
seals and a great variety of migratory birds.
Threats: Overgrazing by goats, fires, logging, expanding road network; tourism developments and
disturbance increasing on coast.
66. Aritas Cape and Sapienza-Skhiza Islets [Messinia]:
Important stop-over for migratory birds. Sapienza Island has a protected
relic sclerophyll forest.
Threats: Hunting and poaching of endangered birds. Migrant imperial eagles are still shot; tourism disturbance increasing.
67. Cape Maleas area [Lakonia]:
Important migratory stop-over for large numbers of birds; rare wildflowers present.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats, roads.
68. Ghidovouni, Gaidourovouni, Korakia Mts. And Monemvasia area [Lakonia]:
Wild scrub-covered mountains. Mediterranean monk seals survive on coast.Threats: Overgrazing by goats, forest fires, roads, and poaching.
69. Mt. Parnon [Arkadia, Lakonia]:
Forested mountain important to many rare and endemic plants. Important populations of golden jackal survive
in lower elevations.
Threats: Many forestry roads, fires, and overgrazing by domestic goats.
70. Wild parts of Kythira Island [Piraieus]:
Scrublands and coast important to rare plants and migrant birds. Very few Mediterranean monk seal survive on coast.
Threats: Roads, poaching of rare transient birds; large oil spill fouled coast in summer of 1990.
The Vicos Canyon in Vico-Aoos National Park, Epirus.
KRITI
71. Northeast coast Kriti [Lasithi]:
Important to endemic plants: largest surviving Cretan palm grove.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats, fires, tourism development.
72. Thriptis and Sitia Mts. [Lasthi]:
Scrub-covered mountains with some pine forests; important to rare vultures.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats, roads, poaching, and fires.
73. Dikti mts. and surrounding area [Iraklio, Lasithi]:
Diverse mountain area extremely important to rare birds of prey and endemic plant life; small pine forests also exist.
Threats: Forests fires, overgrazing by domestic goats, roads, over-hunting, poaching, and tourism development.
74. Asterousia Mts. and South Coast [Iraklio]:
Very dry mountain important to birds of prey and rare plant life.
Threats: Roads, poaching, overgrazing, and tourism development.
75. Mt Idi [Rethymno, Iraklio]:
Large mountain with cliffs and caves. Area shelters mature sclerophyll forest relics and rare birds of prey.
Threats: Forest fires, overgrazing by domestic goats, roads and poaching.
76. South Rethymno area [Rethymno]:
Mountainous coast, with deep gorges where rare eagles and vultures breed.
Threats: Roads, overgrazing by domestic goats, poaching, and tourism developments and disturbance.
77. Lefka Ori (White mountains) [Chania]:
Huge mountain massif with many wild gorges including the deep Samaria gorge; pockets of pine, cypress and
plane forests survive; last refuge for Cretan wild goat on Crete; extremely important area for endangered birds of prey:
bearded vulture, golden eagle, Bonelli's eagle. This is one of the richest areas for rare endemic plants in Europe.
Threats:Threatened by overgrazing by domestic goats, roads, widespread poaching, hunting and mass tourism.
78. Southwest Kriti [Chania]:
Diverse area with beaches, scrub-covered hills and chestnut woods; important to rare plant life and varied bird life.
Threats: Tourism developments, poaching and overgrazing by domestic goats.
79. Gramvousa and Rodopou Peninsulas [Chania]:
Wild uninhabited penensulas with sea cliffs; important to rare migrant birds and rare cliff plant life.
Threats: Overgrazing by domestic goats, roads, poaching and tourism disturbance.
