Natural Conservation - Convention on Biological Diversity

In Greece 5500 species of flora and 900 species of fauna have been recognised. Action programme "Management and Protection of Biodiversity" of the Operational Environmental Programme aims at providing the knowledge and the facilities for monitoring, protecting and managing the flora and fauna species. The overall budget of this action programme is 3 MECU.

 
Specific Actions:

  • Completion of national lists of flora and fauna species in danger
  • Development of specific programmes for the protection of endangered flora and fauna species
  • Definition of special management measures for selected fauna species, including the definition of the hunting code
  • Inventory of fish stocks in ecologically sensitive areas
  • Management schemes for fish stocks
  • The compilation of a first stage inventory of Greek biodiversity is already under way, as well as the preparation of a National Policy on this issue
  • A group of specialists on issues of coastal and sea biodiversity has been formed, due to the particular characteristics of Greece, in order to examine possible strategies and policies and implement pilot projects
  • The creation of a network of natural conservation areas has been planned and is gradually implemented, where special measures are taken for the sustainable use and monitoring of the the biodiversity and the natural resources. This network is also part of Greece's contribution to the NATURA 2000 Network of the European Union, the European Environmental Network and the Specially Protected Areas of the Mediterranean. It is almost 15% of the land area of the country and 5% of the total coastal area.

Greece is represented in the "European Topic Centre on Nature Conservation" by the Greek Biotope Wetland Centre, which has been designated National Focal Point of Nature Conservation for Greece and Southeast Mediterranean.


The Greek Biotope Wetland Centre carried out the following:

  • Compilation of the Greek legislation on the conservation of natural environment
  • Preliminary evaluation of the Greek ecosystems
  • Pilot projects in the Mediterranean area (Southeast and Greece)