|
 |
|
DIRECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION - SITE SELECTION PROCEDURE |
|
In the framework of the project, 296 sites were selected and studied mainly with regard to the habitat types of Annex I and the plant and animal species of Annex II (Dafis & Collaborators 1995). A significant number of other important species which occur in Hellas, not included in Annex II, i.e., endangered, rare, endemics and/or protected species under several international conventions were also identified and recorded. Out of the 255 habitat types listed in Annex I to Directive 92/43/EEC, 110, that is about 43% are present in Hellas. Furthermore, 76 animal and 39 plant species have been encountered in Hellas between those mentioned in the directive giving a percentage of 38.2% and 9% respectively. It is obvious, that as far as it regards the richness of the Hellenic flora, the directive does not reflect the biodiversity and the need for conservation of the species present in Hellas. Twenty six out of the 110 habitats are priority ones (Table A.1). Ten of the total 76 animal species are priority species and belong to the following groups: 2 mammals, 3 invertebrates, 3 fish, and 2 reptiles. Finally, 26 out of the 39 plant species encountered in Hellas are priority species (Table A.1).
| TABLE A.1. Summary table of habitat types and species in Hellas, in comparison with those listed in Annexes I and II of the Directive, respectively. |
|
Directive 92/43/EEC |
G R E E C E |
|
Total No |
No of Priority (*) |
Total No |
No of Priority (*) |
% Total |
% Priority |
| HABITAT TYPES |
255 |
91 |
110 |
26 |
43 |
28,6 |
| Coastal and halophytic habitats |
22 |
5 |
14 |
5 |
63,6 |
100 |
| Coastal sand dunes and continental dunes |
30 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
33 |
17 |
| Freshwater habitats |
19 |
2 |
11 |
1 |
58 |
50 |
| Temperate heath and scrub |
9 |
5 |
1 |
- |
11 |
- |
| Sclerophyllous scrub (matorral) |
21 |
3 |
13 |
1 |
62 |
33 |
| Natural and semi-natural grassland formations |
26 |
8 |
17 |
8 |
65 |
100 |
| Raised bogs, mires and fens |
10 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
40 |
67 |
| Rocky habitats and caves |
23 |
2 |
12 |
1 |
52 |
50 |
| Forests |
66 |
30 |
31 |
9 |
47 |
30 |
| ANIMALS (total) |
199 |
27 |
76 |
10 |
38,2 |
37 |
| Mammals |
38 |
11 |
22 |
2 |
58 |
18,2 |
| Reptiles |
19 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
53 |
67 |
| Amphibians |
19 |
3 |
4 |
- |
21 |
- |
| Fish |
62 |
5 |
28 |
3 |
45,2 |
60 |
| Invertebrates |
61 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
19,7 |
60 |
| PLANTS |
433 |
164 |
39 |
26 |
9 |
16 |
The sites studied cover the entire country: 19 are in Thrace, 25 in Eastern Macedonia, 33 in
Central Macedonia, 13 in Western Macedonia, 16 in Thessaly, 19 in Epirus, 20 in Central Hellas, 27 in Western Hellas, 15 in the Ionian islands, 26 in the Peloponnese, 9 in Attica, 10 in the North Aegean, 30 in the South Aegean and 34 in Crete. Altogether they cover 18% of the land surface of Hellas, or approximately 2,360,000 ha, excluding the entirely marine sites. The choice and delineation of the above sites was based on a combination of the following two approaches: biodiversity, according to which the boundaries followed the outline of the habitat types of Annex I, and landscape ecology, according to which the boundaries include a larger number of habitat types and mostly follow natural boundaries. The list of the studied sites for
which Standard Data Forms (S.D.F.) have been filled in is given in table A.2
T he first phase of the project was completed on 20 April 1995, when all the Standard Data Forms (SDF) were returned to EKBY. This was followed by evaluation and checking of the data in the SDF's. The assessment of the above sites was based on the criteria laid down in Annex III to Directive 92/43/EEC and on the relevant scientific information. The criteria adopted for the Annex I habitat types were representativity, relative surface, conservation status, the possibility of restoration and the global assessment of the sites with respect to habitat types. The criteria used to evaluate the sites with regard to the Annex II species were assessment of population size and
density, degree of preservation of habitat features of value to the species and the possibility of their restoration, the degree of isolation of the populations as well as the global assessment of the sites with regard to these criteria.
The sites were grouped into three categories (Table A.3) by taking into consideration the
above criteria and also the presence of certain Annex I habitat types and Annex II species at the same site, their limited extent, the bird life, the presence of other important plant and animal species (threatened, endemic, protected under international conventions, etc.) and the protection status at national and/or international level (e.g. GR codes). All these sites are considered important for the conservation and effective restoration of natural habitat types and species habitats within their natural boundaries. Sites in categories A and B are of higher priority than those in category C.
Category A includes sites hosting Annex I habitat types or Annex II species not found elsewhere, sites with great biodiversity, priority habitats or species (Annexes I and II respectively), and sites with large numbers of other important Hellenic species. Category B covers sites with significant biodiversity but without unique habitat types or species. In addition, habitat types and priority species are less well represented than in category A sites. Category B sites meet at least some of the requirements of Annex III or contain important features, and for these reasons are proposed for inclusion in the NATURA 2000 network. Category C includes sites for which there are insufficient data to justify their urgent inclusion in the NATURA 2000 Network. Table A.4 includes the sites for which supplementary inventory forms have been completed (e.g. SPA sites etc.), although they are part of larger sites listed in Table A.3.
The majority of the 296 sites included in the project are protected at national/regional or
international level. Of the 190 category A sites, half are protected at national/regional level (10 have been designated as National Parks, 11 as Natural Monuments, l0 as Aesthetic Forests, six as Game Breeding Stations, 68 as Game Reserves and six as Controlled Hunting Areas), while at international level at least 28 are protected (13 have been characterised as Ramsar sites, 12 as Biogenetic Reserves, one site has been awarded the Diploma of the Council of Europe, seven are protected under the Barcelona Convention and two have been characterised as Biosphere Reserves). Of the category B sites, 16 are protected at national/regional level (one Natural Monument, two Aesthetic Forests, 12 Game Reserves and one Controlled Hunting Area) and one is a Ramsar site, protected at international level. Of the category C sites, 14 are protected at national/regional level, as game reserves, and one at international level.
It should also be mentioned that, the proposed inventory of sites includes the habitat types
and species in Annexes I and II of Directive 92/43/EEC at least once, so as to ensure the conservation of the natural habitats and wild flora and fauna of Hellas.
A preliminary list of sites to be studied was communicated to the associated services in
September 1994 in order to take under consideration their comments and suggestions. In June 1995 an evaluated list of sites under investigation was sent to the associated services (the ministries of Environment and Agriculture) and the European Commission (DG-XI), attached to the annual technical report of the project. The preliminary delineation of the studied sites (maps in scale 1:100,000) were also included in the package. In December 1995 the final version of the database (diskettes) and the completed Standard Data Forms (paper) were promptly sent to the associated services and the EU. Following the three month extension of the project (until 31/3/1996) an updated version of the Database and maps with the final boundaries of the sites were developed.
|
|
|
