In Central Greece’s mountainous regions, numerous ecosystems have been altered by human activities and changes in land use. Such activities have led to the endangerment and in some cases extinction of local species and the degradation of their habitats. In the areas of Mt. Oiti National Park and Oros Kallidromo (two Natura 2000 sites), intensive grazing paired with the prohibition of grazing in other areas, waste dumping, off-roading activities, wildfires and the lack of or inadequate forest management are several examples of human-driven activities that have resulted in ecosystem degradation.
In the context of the European LIFE+ programme, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) introduced and coordinated the LIFE For Open Forests project, in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, HAO DEMETER (Institute for the Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems), the Region of Sterea Ellada and the NGO ARCTUROS. Starting in 2012 and completed in November 2019, the project aimed at regenerating and protecting the rich biodiversity in the high-altitude meadows of Mt. Oiti National Park and Oros Kallidromo.
LIFE For Open Forests aimed to protect, maintain and enhance forest openings, restore and protect Mediterranean temporary ponds and Juniperus foetidissima stands (a local juniper tree). It furthermore aimed to improve the population numbers and habitat of Veronica oetaea (a highly localised endemic plant which is a priority target for conservation), brown bears and five bird species. The project began by identifying the key action areas in order to restore and conserve the local ecosystems properly, followed by a series of restoration activities, each focusing on a different element of the mountainous ecosystems.
The abandonment of traditional farming practices in the highlands of the two mountains had led to reduced grazing. Without grazing, fir forests were able to expand unchecked over the years, reducing the area of mountain grasslands, thus impacting the species that such open forests host and the critical ecosystem services they provide. As part of the LIFE for Open Forests project, healthy grazing management regimes were reintroduced, and their implementation has in turn led to the restoration of vegetation composition and ultimately of the habitats’ quality.
Fir forest expansion also suppresses Juniperus foetidissima, a local juniper tree whose forests are listed as a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive. HSPN and other project partners implemented fir forests suppression activities and reintroduced and planted Juniperus foetidissima saplings to increase the size of this priority habitat. Since wildfires are an ever-present and growing threat to forests in Greece, new fire protection infrastructure was set in place, and designated camping and recreation sites were created to reduce the danger of accidental fires by visitors.
Also present in Mt. Oiti National Park and Oros Kallidromo were Mediterranean temporary ponds, a rare habitat type considered a priority for conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. Temporary ponds on both mountains were highly impacted by forest expansion and human activities including illegal waste disposal, off-road driving and trampling by humans and grazing animals that caused soil compaction, pollution, an increase of nitrates and hydrological cycle disruptions. In order to protect these rare habitats, fences were put in place to prevent trampling and pollution around the ponds and HSPN and the project partners reintroduced keystone ecosystem species and removed some of their direct competitors. Moreover, the project established a seed bank of such keystone species and developed methods for their propagation and survival to ensure the possibility of reintroduction in case of local extinction.
