Phoenician juniper woodlands along wild coasts on the island of Evvia.
WILD SEA COASTS AND ISLETS
1. Ionian Coast:
Scattered coastal cliffs and sea caves support birds of prey and a small population of Mediterranean monk seals. Ionian beaches are the most important known loggerhead sea turtle egg-laying sites in the Mediterranean.
Threats: Mass tourism and new road construction is destroying fragile coastal habitats. Illegal hunting of migratory birds on several islands (e.g., Strophadia and Zakinthos islands) continues.
2. North Aegean Coast:
Important breeding areas for rare sea birds and for relic Mediterranean monk seal populations.
Threats: Over-fishing, tourism developments, oil pollution, poaching.
3. South and West Aegean:
Important to rare seabirds, e.g. Auduin's gull, and threatened Mediterranean monk seal populations. Some islets have many endemic wildflowers, reptiles, land snails and other unique small fauna.
Threats: Massive tourism developments, over-fishing, destructive fishing practices, e.g. seabed dragnetters, illegal dynamite blast-fishing, and continuing monk seal persecution. Tanker oil spills are frequent and pollution from urban sources is increasing.
An abandoned Mediterranean monk seal pup being rehabilitated by the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal on Allonisos, Northern Sporades.
4. East Aegean:
One of the most important population strongholds of Mediterranean monk seals in the world; rare cliff-nesting birds including Eleonora's falcons, Cory's shearwaters, and Auduin's gull; several Asian plant and reptile species found nowhere else in Europe. Many uncommon migratory birds rest and feed on these islands. Marine life is exceptionally rich.Threats: Tourism developments including resort homes, marinas, and roads. Over-fishing, destructive illegal fishing practices, illegal monk seal persecution, and intense migratory bird hunting and trapping (e.g. bird liming on Psara and Chios islands) continue.
5. Offshore Islets and Wild Coasts of Crete:
Globally important colonies of Eleonora's falcon and seabirds, rare and endemic island plant life, rich sea life. Cretan wild goats have been reintroduced to three offshore islands.
Threats: Crete's coastline is undergoing explosive tourism development and many remnant wild areas are in immediate danger even on the offshore islands. Mediterranean monk seals and logger head turtle nesting beaches are threatened. Marine pollution and over-fishing are also prevalent problems.
