Save WILD Greece

Wilderness Committee Educational Report Vol.10 - No.06, Spring 1991

NATIONAL PARKS IN CRISIS

Greece's most important nature reserves - its 10 national parks - face many threats. The information below is based on current material published by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature in Epirus and on personal observations (1990).


PRESPA

Size: 19,470 ha

Threats: Ecological alterations resulting from agricultural and irrigation intensification, which began in 1986 on the eastern shores of Mikri Prespa Lake. Wet meadow, marshes and traditional farmland important to wildlife were destroyed. Thousands of riparian trees were cut to clear a drainage ditch system. The core boundary of the park is poorly defined and there are tenure conflicts. The outer periphery zone is intensely exploited with clear-cut logging, road expansions and potential hydroelectric development by Public Power Corporation (1989).


PINDOS

Size: 6.930 ha

Threats: Potential dam and diversion of the Arcoudorema River was planned for within the core of the park. Dam construction was stopped in the summer of 1990 due to pressure from conservationists. Road expansions within core of park have caused extensive erosion and increased poaching. Illegal logging and intensive grazing by sheep continue within park.


MT. OLYMPUS

Size: Core zone is 4,000 ha.

Peripheral zone boundary remains undefined.

Threats: Proposed tourism developments. The mature forests on the north sides of the mountain are being logged. Poisoning of wolves outside the park threatens the park area's endangered birds of prey.


VICOS-AOOS

Size: 12,600 ha.

Threats: Dam at Aoos River springs, outside the park, diverts much of the river; further river diversions planned within the boundaries of the park. Roads, expanded in 1989, entered the park; burnt-over mature forests within park boundaries were logged. New logging roads (1990) near the boundaries around the park are causing forest fragmentation and facilitate increased poaching. Inappropriate tourism developments include a new hotel near the park boundary and planned winter sports centre in the park with cable car access.


MT. ENOS, KEPHALLINIA

Size: 2,862 ha.

Threats: Roads to radio transmission installations on Enos peak are fragmenting plant communities thus threatening two endemic plant species with extirpation.


MT. ITI

Size: 7,210 ha.

Threats: Roads through core of park have altered its wild character and increased poaching. Park boundaries do not encompass threatened chamois population that exists largely outside the park.


MT. PARNASSUS

Size: Core zone: 3,513 ha.

Peripheral zone boundary remains undefined.

Threats: Tarmac roads and ski resorts cut into the heart of this mountain. Park area is severely over-grazed. Road system has recently been expanded, increasing tourism pressures such as the construction of new resort homes within the periphery. Poaching is responsible for the extirpation of chamois.


MT. PARNITHA

Size: core zone: 3,812 ha.

Peripheral zone boundary remains undefined.

Threats: Core area has suffered uncontrolled tourism developments including casino, hotel, cable cars, and large parking lots. Many tarmac roads, military installations and radio transmitter crown the peak.


SOUNION

Size: 2,750 ha.

Threats: Area degraded by extensive forest fires, expansion of road network, and illegal building. Note: This area is not included within the inventory of natural areas. It was designated a park mainly for its archeological and recreational interest. Some conservationists believe this area should not be a national park because of its relatively low ecological significance compared to the other areas.


SAMARIA GORGE

Size: 4,840 ha.

Threats: Massive tourism pressures throughout summer season; overgrazing by domestic goats and poaching of rare wildlife degrade portions of this park.