Bridge of Konitsa

Kyriazis Nikolaos
Forest technologist, MSc
 Northern Pindos National Park (Brief History)

1. The Management Agency was established in 2002 (Law no. 3044/02)

2. The N. Pindos National Park was established in 2005 (Common Ministerial Decision 23069/2005)
3. Extends in an area of 2000 km2

Mission: Conservation, Protection, Management of rare habitats and species of flora and
fauna, in combination with human-made environment.

Vikos gorge Aoos Canyon

 MANAGEMENT AGENCY

 Administrated by an eleven-member Administrative Board

 Working staff: Twenty-two employees
 Operates 5 Information Centers & 1 soon…
Asprageli Papigo Metsovo

Mavranaioi Vovousa Kleidonia….

 SITES WITH SPECIAL LEGISLATION REGIME

The following sites are included within the limits of Pindos National Park :
Two National Woodland Parks:
1. Pindos National Forest (Valia Calda) (Declaration Year 1966)
Fagus silvatica

2. Vikos- Aoos National Forest (Declaration Year 1973)

Asplenium trichomanes
 SITES WITH SPECIAL LEGISLATION REGIME

11 Wildlife refuges (Law No. 86/1969)

 SITES WITH SPECIAL LEGISLATION REGIME

1 Biogenetic reserve (Core area of Valia Calda) (European Network of Biogenetic Reserves, 1976)
Pinus nigra palassiana

Buxus sempervirens
 SITES WITH SPECIAL LEGISLATION REGIME

1 Geopark (Vikos-Aoos, listed in the European Network of Geoparks – UNESCO, 1976)

Megas Lakos
 ACTIONS OF N. PINDOS MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Implements Scientific Monitoring Programs

Monitoring of the Balkan Chamois Rupicapra rupicapta

balcanica

Salmo sp.

Lutra lutra
 ACTIONS OF N. PINDOS MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Park protection / Patrolling

Poaching Illegal fishing Illegal logging

Poison of animals

Illegal Collection of rare

Prevent/Control small forest fires species Illegal sand & gravel extraction
Illegal collection of spontaneous / aromatic vegetation

Sage (Salvia officinalis) source: greekflora.gr Mountain tea (Sideritis syriaca) source: greekflora.gr

Black elder (Sambucus nigra) source: greekflora.gr …….carrying the aromatic plants by mules (Konitsa)
 ACTIONS OF N. PINDOS MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Provide Environmental info / awareness to schools / universities / local community / other groups
 ACTIONS OF N. PINDOS MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Arrange daily guided tours / field-trips / nature exhibitions

 Special Features of the Natural Environment

• More than 2000 plant species: (Veronica bornmuelleri, Mentha longifolia, Salvia officinalis, Sideritis raeseri, Gallium ophiolithicum,
Cerastium smolicanum, Centaurea ptarmicaefolia, Centaurea tymphaea, Sedum tymphaeum, Bornmuellera tymphaea, Silene pindicola,
Saxifraga biflora - epirotica)
• 113 endemic to Pindos Range, 16 local endemic (to National Park)
• 33 Habitat Types: (7 Priority Habitats)
6210* Semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates
(important orchid sites, endemic species)
6230* Species-rich Nardus grasslands (siliceous substrates)
7220* Spings with icing formation (bryophytes)
9180* Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines
91E0* Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (unique in Greece)
9530* (Sub-)Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines (reached the ultimate /final plant community)
9560* Endemic forests with Juniperus spp.
• 60 mammal sp.: (Ursus arctos, Canis lupus, Felis sylvestris, Lutra lutra, Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica, Capreolus capreolus, Sus
scrofa, Vulpes vulpes, Meles meles, Lepus capenis, Erinaceus concolor, Sciurus vulgari, Martes foina, Martes martes and many bat species)

• 147 bird sp.: (Neophron percnopterus, Aguila chrysaetos, Dryocopus martius, Alectoris graeca, Ciconia nigra)
• 30 reptile sp.: (16 lizzards, 10 snakes, 4 turtles): (Algyroides nigropunctatus, Elaphe quatrolineata, Testudo marginata)
• 14 amphibians: (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus alpestris)
• 22 fish sp: (Oxynoemachelus pindus, Pachychilon pictum, Salmo pelagonicus, Barbus peloponnesius)
 Endangered and Local Endemic Species of National Park

16 local endemics (Centaurea tymphaea, C. epirota, C. pindicola, Cerastium smolicanum, Alkanna pindicola,
Onosma epirotica, Silene pindicola, Sedum tymphaeum, Alyssum smolicanum R, Bornmuellera tymphaea,
Thlaspi tymphaeum, Scabiosa taygeta, Rinanthus pindicus, Valeriana epirotica R, Soldanella pindicola,
Saxifraga biflora - epirotica)

Valeriana epirotica

Alyssum smolicanum
 Veronica bornmuelleri

…….one of the Most Rare

• Unique locality in Europe for the asiatic species
 Ramonda serbica

• Ramonda the serbian (IV, V =, 6000 ~ plants in our area)

• Mitsikeli Mountain, Vikos-Aoos Gorge, Tymph mountain – (On rocky, shady ravines, 100 - 2400 m.)
 Other important species (Mushrooms)

Morchella conica Lactarius deliciosus Macrolepiota procera

Amanita caesarea Amanita muscaria – Poisonous

 Other important species (Mammals)

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) Gray wolf (Canis lupus)

Wild-boar (Sus scrofa) Brown bear (Ursus arctos)

 Other important species (Birds)
The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) The rock bunting (Emberiza cia)

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

 Other important species (Amphibians & Reptiles)

European tree-frog (Hyla arborea) Alpine triton (Triturus alpestris) Greek Meadow Viper (Vipera graeca)

Balkan green lizzard (Lacerta trilineata) Blue-throated lizard (Algyroides nigropunctatus) Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes)
 Other important species (Incects & Bats)
Zerynthia polyxena source: insects.org
Peripodisma tymphii (Lemonier & Christian Darcemon, 2014)

Parnassius mnemosynae source: insects.org Nyctalus noctula source: warrenphotographic.com