Biodiversity in Greece�1^st epal of trikala

Biodiversity, also known as biological diversity, refers to the variety of existing life forms on the Planet: plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, the ecosystem types that they form.

Biodiversity includes marine, terrestrial and aquatic life.

Biodiversity is the basis of human existence, our well-being and economy.

Everything related to our lifestyle, our health, culture and recreational activities relies on the products and services provided by nature.

​

​

​

​

What aspects of our daily life are directly linked to biodiversity?

From fruit consumption to the function of the human body, everything is related to biodiversity. The human body has ten times more bacteria than human cells. Humans are part of biodiversity.

Biodiversity is also directly linked to the economy, since 40% of it is based on living organisms.

Nature is also an inspiration. How would you invent a new airplane, a new radar or a new submarine sonar without bats or dolphins?

We are biodiversity and we cannot live without it. The more we destroy it, the more problems we will face.

Biodiversity in Greece

• 30.22% of land,
• 19.41% of marine waters are covered by protected areas.
• 309 species and 90 habitats are protected under EU law

​

Biodiversity in Greece

Greece is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, hosting an incredible variety of ecosystems and species. The biological wealth of Greece is among the greatest in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Greece is a country with:

• valuable natural heritage and important biological diversity,
• high species density and
• an impressive mosaic of terrestrial, wetland and marine ecosystems.

Our country is endowed with a variety of different ecosystems and landscapes:

• from the semi-deserts of eastern Crete
• to the Nordic habitats of Rhodopes and
• the alpines of Olympus, Smolikas, Tymfi, Voras and other mountain ranges of Northern Greece.

​

Biodiversity in Greece

Greece is home to 17.8% of the animal species of Europe and 40% of the plant species of the Old Continent, which is remarkable in relation to the size of the country. However, when it comes to biodiversity, what matters most is not the size of a country, but its geographical location and topography - and in this respect, Greece is described as a 'special case’.

Our country is both island-like - with dozens of islands that constitute an 'isolated' environment for the development of certain plants and animals - and mountainous, as it has considerable mountain ranges, which also play an important role in shaping biodiversity.

Biodiversity in Greece

Greece is host to an estimated 36.000 species of animals and plants.

This number represents 23% of the total species described for Europe and could represent more than 2% of the species in the world.

Flora

Greece has a particularly rich and interesting flora. Without exaggeration, our country is a real botanical paradise.

​

The Greek flora has about 5.700 recorded species, of which approximately 13.2% (750 species) are endemic.

Fauna

The Greek fauna includes about 23.130 recorded species of terrestrial and freshwater animals as well as 3.500 marine species.

​

Like the flora, the Greek fauna is also notable for its high rate of endemism, as approximately 4.000 land and freshwater endemic species have been recorded up to date.

​

The richness of the Greek fauna is represented by mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates.

Endemics

​

​

​

​

​

​

Cretan spiny mouse Cretan wild goat (kri kri) Cretan pipistrelle

​

​

​

​

​

Cretan shrew Greek rock lizard Karpathos frog

​

Endemics

​

​

​

​

​

​

Cretan argus Greek goldenring Aristotle’s catfish

​

​

​

​

​

​

Chrysolina cretica Cretan spectre Potamon pelops

Endemics

​

​

​

​

​

Paranemonia vouliagmeniensis Dittany of Crete Crocus oreocreticus Horstrissea

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Cretan ebony Anchusa caespitosa Ormosolenia Guepiniopsis fulva

Biodiversity in our ecosystem means a greener environment.

This is because plant life thrives in a balanced ecosystem. This invariably affects humans as we consume plants for our survival. Also, a healthy ecosystem can help to reduce the risk of diseases and the way we respond to them.

Threats towards biodiversity

Within 40 years, wildlife populations around the world have declined by 60% and 1.000.000 species are threatened with extinction.

The main threats towards biodiversity, whether of human or natural origin, are:

• Habitat loss and degradation
• Invasive species
• Overexploitation
• Pollution
• Climate Change
• Natural disasters

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a temperature increase by 2-3 °C will result in a loss of 20-30% of biodiversity.

​

Climate Change in Greece

• Greece’s mean annual temperature has been increasing since the 1960s, and in the last two decades its rate of warming has accelerated to overtake the world average.
• Greece’s average annual temperature is projected to continue rising through the end of the century with seasonal and geographical variations.
• We will be experiencing longer periods of warm weather on a yearly basis; extreme weather phenomena will occur more often; increasingly more areas will be affected by dry spells and flooding will be more common.
• Climate change is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss.

​

​

​

Endangered plants

Map of endangered plants

Endangered animals

​

​

​

​

​

Wild goat Brown bear Jackal

​

​

​

​

​

​

Wolf Red deer Milos viper

Caretta Caretta

​

Endangered Aquatic Fauna

Mediterranean Monk Seal

(Monachus Monachus)

Endangered Aquatic Fauna�

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Sperm whale Dolphins

Endangered Birdlife

Himantopus Himantopus (Kalamokanas)

Coracias garrulus (Chalkokourouna)

Neophron percnopterus (Asproparis)

Endangered Birdlife

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Golden eagle Vulture eagle

Protected Flora and Fauna

Protected species and habitats

• Forests 31.46%

​

• Coastal and salt-tolerant habitat 16.85%

​

• Grasslands 11.24%

​

• Freshwater 10.11%

​

• Coastal and inland dunes 8.99%

Protected species

• Species in Greece are protected under EU law.

​

• The Habitats Directive has a total of 2.500 species on its list, the Birds Directive has a total of 500 species of wild birds protected.

Protected areas

• Many of our country's animal species have a very restricted distribution, meaning that they are found on only one island, while a total of 171 species are endangered, 39 are classified as "near threatened" and 52 are poorly known, while freshwater fish are the most threatened group.
• In Dadia forest, 36 of Europe's 38 diurnal predator species have been observed and that’s why the area is called 'Land of the Predators’.
• More than 800 small but extremely important wetlands have been recorded on 75 Greek islands and 32 of the 200 most important Mediterranean forests are located in Greece.

Protected areas

• 1249 Protected areas

​

• 30.22% of land

​

• 19.41% of marine waters

​

• 446 Natura 2000 sites

​

​

​

​

• 207 Special Protection Areas (Birds Directive) and

• 265 Sites of Community Importance (Habitat Directive)

​

• 803 sites designated under national laws.

​

9.21% of the network is protected only through national laws

​

58.22% of the network consists solely of Natura 2000 sites

​

32.57% consist of and overlap between the two

Source: The Biodiversity information system for Europe

Natura 2000 sites in Greece

• Natura 2000 sites in Greece cover 309 species and 90 habitats from the nature directives.
• The number of species and habitats protected in each site varies depending on the location of the site, the biodiversity in the region, the designation being used, and the features the site is being created to protect.

Ecosystems

• Forest ecosystems cover 42% of Greece
• 49% of the protected area network of Greece covers forest ecosystems

Forests of Greece

• Elatia Forest
• Dadia Forest
• Strofilia Forest
• Tempi Forest
• Pertouli Trikala Forest
• Nestos Forest

National Parks

• Mount Olympus
• Mount Pindos
• Mount Parnassos
• Mount Aenos
• White Mountains
• Mount Parnitha
• Vikos-Aoos
• Mount Iti
• Prespes

​

Wetlands Of Greece

• Evros Delta
• Nestos Delta
• Axios Delta
• Amvrakikos Gulf
• Kalochori Lagoon
• Volvi Lake
• Kerkini Lake
• Vistonida Lake
• Porto Lagos
• Messolonghi Lagoon

Trikala

Biodiversity in Trikala

The flora and fauna of Trikala is characterized by a high biodiversity due to the fact that the region combines a variety of climatic and geographical conditions (lowland and mountainous areas).

Three regions in the prefecture of Trikala have been integrated in Natura 2000 network:

• Aspropotamos
• Koziakas
• Meteora

There are many endemic and protected species:

bears

chamois

wolves

Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus)

​

​

​

​

Biodiversity in Trikala

In the area of Pertouli there is one of the largest fir forests in Greece.

​

​

​

​

​

On the banks of Litheos river in Trikala there are many plane trees, willow trees, eucalyptus and cherry trees.

​

​

�

​

Some changes could be encouraged to improve biodiversity in our environment.

1. Stopping penetration of invasive alien species.

2. Using sustainable agricultural methods.

3. Having protected areas for species to thrive.

Thank you!

Trigkas Konstantinos

Tzourtziotis Dimitrios

Zampakikas Nikolaos

Theodorakopoulos Panagiotis