Examples of integrated forest management in Greece

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1 Examples of integrated forest management in Greece Dr Petros Kakouros Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process Workshop on Mediterranean forest management and Natura May 2016, Parc naturel régional du Luberon, France

2 About Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY) EKBY has its roots in The Goulandris Natural History Museum (Athens). Is located in Thessaloniki, Greece. Is the leading organisation in the establishment of Natura 2000 in Greece. EKBY is involved in forest management/restoration in > 16 Natura 2000 sites.

3 Content of the presentation Key figures of Greek forests in relation to Natura Presentation of projects on: ) Integration of logging and grazing for the conservation of Juniper forests (JunEx) Enhancement of connectivity in a riparian forest (Nestos) Use of connectivity in the restoration of a burnt Black pine forest (PINUS) Highlights from past experience Our future work for forests and Natura (ForestLife project )

4 Greek Forests and Natura 2000 Key figures Forests and forested areas cover about 50% of the terrestrial area of Greece ( km2). High forests cover 30% of the area ( ha in 2010).

5 Greek Forests and Natura 2000 Key figures 43% of terrestrial SCI s in Greece are covered by forest habitat types. Focus forest habitat types for Mediterranean BA cover 9% of Natura 2000 SCI s: Castanea sativa woods (9260) Salix alba and Populus alba galleries (92A0) Southern riparian galleries and thickets (92D0) Olea and Ceratonia forests (9320) Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia (9340) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines (9540)

6 Greek Forests and Natura 2000 Forest management and biodiversity conservation About 65 % of Greek forests are owned by the state, with the rest owned by municipalities, the church and other private owners. Forest management is supervised by the Greek Forest Service (GFS). With minor differences, all forests are managed under the principles of natural forestry. Non-state owned forests may use coppice management more intensively. Biodiversity is not in the core of management planning; within Natura 2000 sites (SCI & SPA) some measures may be applied: (e.g. more mature trees are retained, no logging around nest trees of birds of prey etc).

7 Project areas: Prespa

8 Conservation of Prespa s Juniper forests A unique forest habitat type: *9562 Grecian Juniper Woods LIFE Project Junex ( Data from Douaihy et al (2011), Browicz (1982), Boratynski et al (1992), Farjon (2005) and Strid & Tan (1977) Data from Strid & Tan (1977)

9 Conservation of Prespa s Juniper forests The problem High competitive broadleaved species suppress junipers and prevent natural regeneration. Increased risk of crown fires due to high amounts of biomass and very dense stands. Reduction of available habitats of rare, endemic and threatened plant species. Loss of a key element of Prespa s identity.

10 Conservation of Prespa s Juniper forests Where the forest should be

11 Conservation of Prespa s Juniper forests Which is the specific management target: Remove understorey broadleaved trees and regulate canopy closure to 70% in order to: allow suppressed juniper trees to grow, keep re-vegetation dynamic of broadleaved as low as possible, lower the risk of crown fire and increase available space for rare, endemic and threatened plant species

12 Conservation of Prespa s Juniper forests Is this enough? No, a sustainable, low cost and efficient mechanism must be established to control the broadleaved species in the long term and this is

13 Project areas: Nestos delta

14 Restoration of Nestos delta riparian forest From a vast riparian forest to agricultural land and poplar plantations : The forest has an area of about ha. 2005: less than 150 ha in scattered patches of the ancient forest remained after clearing for agriculture and poplar plantations.

15 Restoration of Nestos delta riparian forest connectivity enhancement : Restoration of more than 280 ha after funding from EEA Grants of former poplar plantations with native species considering connectivity. Before After restoration: distance between old growth remnants: and m areas with native species: 308 m and 830 m.

16 Project areas: Parnonas

17 Restoration of burnt Black pine forests During summer of 2007 Greece suffered from mega forest fires which affected large areas of the habitat types *9530 and Black pine forests (priority habitat type 9530) are particularly vulnerable to wild fires because they are not serotinous and during the summer their seeds are immature. Through LIFE and EEA grants more than 500 ha, an area greater than 50% of the burnt forest of Mount Parnonas was restored.

18 Restoration of burnt Black pine forests incorporating connectivity in restoration planning The restoration was planned with a structured approach for the restoration of burnt Black pine forests, which was developed by LIFE project PINUS ( Criterion F of the ranking of patches prospective for restoration regards reestablishing of forest connectivity (2: node, 1: connection, 0: no connection)

19 Advantages and shortcomings Committed forest authorities backed up with expertise and experience; Strong and lasting partnerships between public administration and scientific institutes resulting to clear benefits; Consideration of low maintenance needs after interventions Very slow integration of results into official guidance; Weak exchange of experience and good practices between GFS units; Lack of funding

20 Greek Forests and Natura 2000: way ahead LIFE ForestLife Building cooperation, developing skills and sharing knowledge for Natura 2000 forests in Greece EKBY and the Greek Forest Service are implementing the Governance and Information LIFE project ForestLife ( which: Is a child of the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process, since its idea is based on the conclusions of the first meeting for the Mediterranean region in Thessaloniki, in Will support the exchange of best practice and the development of skills of forest managers and other personnel working in forests within Natura 2000 sites in Greece. It targets on the Greek forest community (GFS employees, management bodies of protected areas, non-state forest owners, forest cooperatives, forest recreation firms etc.)

21 Projects on this presentation LIFE PINUS LIFE14/GIE/GR/ ForestLife Building cooperation, developing skills and sharing knowledge for Natura 2000 forests in Greece ( co-funded by LIFE LIFE12 NAT/GR/000539) JunEx Restoration and conservation of priority habitat type 9562 *Grecian Juniper Woods (Juniperetum excelsae) in Prespa National Park ( co-funded by LIFE LIFE07 NAT/GR/ PINUS Restoration of Pinus nigra forests on Mount Parnonas (GR ) through a structured approach ( co-funded by LIFE Riparian forests restoration and environmental interpretation ( co-funded by EEA Grants This presentation was supported by LIFE JunEx and LIFE ForestLife, implemented with the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union.

22 Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process Networking and Best Practices for Mediterranean Grassland Habitat Types May 2015, Prespa, Greece Thank you Dr Petros Kakouros