Natura 2000 in Hellas

Site Code:     GR4210003	Type:      B
Longtitude:     27o 12 06	Latitude:     37o 31 01
Administrative Region:     Notio Aigaio	Prefecture:     Dodekanisos
Altitude (m):     350	Area (ha):     8791

Description:

The site includes the northern part of Karpathos (delimited by the villages Olympos and Diafani to the south) and the island Saria, situated at the northern tip of Karpathos. The islands are separated by a narrow channel, whose width does not exceed 80 metres. The marine part covers 1% of the site. The largest part of northern Karpathos is mountainous (highest altitude 589 m), characterized by steep cliffs and screes with phrygana as the dominant vegetation. The shores are mostly steep and rocky, typical of the area. Thickets of pines are found at the eastern coasts. Tristomo gulf, at the northern part of the island, is considered as the most important marine area of Karpathos. It is a closed gulf, forming a natural harbour, its natural entrance being on the west, flanked by two huge rocks. Inside the bay the seabed is soft and muddy while outside it is hard. The highest summit of Saria island (9 x 6 km) is Pachy Vouno (631 m), with steep cliffs and screes. The shores are steep and rocky, too. Phrygana consist the dominant vegetation throughout the island. There are also a few parts of abandoned arable land. At the northern tip of the island, near Palatia cove, there is an area of special archaeological interest.

Habitat Types:

Posidonia beds, Large shallow inlets and bays, Vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts (with endemic Limonium spp.), Mediterranean temporary ponds, Intermittently flowing Mediterranean rivers, Juniperus phoenicea arborescent matorral, Aegean phrygana (Sarcopoterium spinosum), Balkan screes, Aegean calcareous cliffs, Pioneer vegetation of rock surfaces, Caves not open to the public, Submerged or partly submerged sea caves, Oriental plane woods (Platanion orientalis), Thermo-Mediterranean riparian galleries (Nerio-Tamariceteae) and south-west Iberian Peninsula riparian galleries (Securinegion tinctoriae), Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines.

Plant Species:

There is no information about plant species of this region.

Animal Species:

Monachus monachus, Mertensiella luschani.

Other important species:

-Flora: 24B, 2C, 8D -Fauna: 1A, 8B, 5C, 1D

Impacts/Activities:

-Positive: - -Neutral: 100, 120, 130, 171, 220, 403, 430, 501, 502, 520 (IN) -Negative: 110, 140, 210, 230, 421, 900, 948 (IN)

Protection Status:

-National and Regional level: Game refuge -International level: IBA

Significance:

The quality and importance of the site result from the following elements: 1) The island of Saria is very important for the avifauna of Greece. It is one of the Important Bird Areas, according to the Directive 79/409/EEC. Moreover, it is of great aesthetic and archaeological value. 2) The site