PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The LIFE project LIFE94 NAT/GR/001201 - Inventory, Identification, Evaluation and Mapping of the Habitat types and Species in Greece made a significant contribution to developing the Natura 2000 network in Greece. It helped standardise information on Greek biodiversity, notably the status of key habitats and species, and identified 296 potential sites for the Natura 2000 network.
However, in 1995, there had still not been any attempt in Greece to apply the principles and policies of environmental management contained in the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
This project was concerned with ten sites in Greece that had been identified as being of Community Importance (SCI) under the Habitats Directive. All hosted one or more priority habitat types or species listed in the annexes to the Directive as well as many endemics. Between them the sites represented most of the priority habitats occurring in Greece. The sites had either been classified as SPAs or received national protection. .
OBJECTIVES
This project was a pioneer project as it was the first attempt in Greece to apply the principles and policies of environmental management contained in the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
Specifically, it sought to ensure the conservation and wise management of ten sites of Community importance in Greece, which were to form part of the NATURA 2000 network – these sites are listed in ‘N2K sites’ below.
The planned steps to be taken to achieve the project’s objectives were:
Prepare individual management plans for the ten sites.
Develop monitoring guidelines and systems for the ten sites and Natura 2000 sites throughout Greece.
Disseminate the knowledge and results from the project in a public awareness campaign to increase support for conservation measures and the Natura 2000 network.
RESULTS
The project successfully achieved its objectives and was a major step in the advancement of conservation management and monitoring of Natura 2000 sites in Greece.
The project produced specific management plans for each of the ten target SCIs, with particular emphasis on the ecological value of each site. They provided guidelines and actions for the conservation of specific habitat types and animals listed in Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive as well as birds listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). In total, the ten plans covered 48 habitats, 23 animal species and 68 bird species listed in the relevant annexes.
The Ministries of Agriculture and the Environment approved the plans and distributed them to local authorities. The plans were deemed to be appropriately simple and practical and adequately adapted to local conditions and needs in accordance with the Habitats Directive. The project also targeted local authorities to encourage them to take part in management work.
The project developed precise monitoring proposals for the ten sites, together with more general monitoring guidelines which could be applied to all sites in the Natura 2000 network. This was the first time that monitoring was treated so comprehensively and effectively in Greece.
Finally, a successful public awareness campaign targeted the local population and the local authorities at the ten sites. Materials and methods used included posters, brochures, public meetings and conferences, scientific publications and press articles.The project successfully achieved its objectives and was a major step in the advancement of conservation management and monitoring of Natura 2000 sites in Greece.
The project produced specific management plans for each of the ten target SCIs, with particular emphasis on the ecological value of each site. They provided guidelines and actions for the conservation of specific habitat types and animals listed in Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive as well as birds listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). In total, the ten plans covered 48 habitats, 23 animal species and 68 bird species listed in the relevant annexes.
The Ministries of Agriculture and the Environment approved the plans and distributed them to local authorities. The plans were deemed to be appropriately simple and practical and adequately adapted to local conditions and needs in accordance with the Habitats Directive. The project also targeted local authorities to encourage them to take part in management work.
The project developed precise monitoring proposals for the ten sites, together with more general monitoring guidelines which could be applied to all sites in the Natura 2000 network. This was the first time that monitoring was treated so comprehensively and effectively in Greece.
Finally, a successful public awareness campaign targeted the local population and the local authorities at the ten sites. Materials and methods used included posters, brochures, public meetings and conferences, scientific publications and press articles.