Biodiversity Report “National Park Vikos-Aoos” Markos Sarris Supervisor: Maria Lazaridou- Dimitriadou

Introduction The Vikos –Aoos National Park (N. P.) is situated in the North-Western part of Hellas From Kasioumis & Gkatzogiannis

Introduction Photo: Experiment, 1998

Introduction The National Park of Vikos –Aoos is important because of: The great variety of plant and animal species shelter to many kinds of birds and mammals species The alpine lakes Drakolimni and Laka tou Tsoumani The great cultural inheritance The caves and the craggy cliffs of Tymfi

Flora The N.P. is a unique floristic biotope because: Refuge for several numbers of plants with North and South origin Greek and Balcanic endemic taxa protected as rare and threatened Taxa with a wider distribution Quercus coccifera (South) Abies borisii-regis (North) Callium sacrorum (Greek) Astragalus creticus (Balcanic) Saxifraga oppositifolia Taxa with a “strange” distribution Lilium candidum (Balcans and SW Asia)

Vegetation The characteristic zones of forest vegetation in the N.P. From: Hanlidou & Kokkini 1997

Fauna The importance of the N.P. fauna is evident throughout all Classes of Vertebrates: Orthrias pindus Triturus alpestris Vipera ursinii graeca FISHES AMPHIBIANS REPTILES Photo: Experiment, 1998

Fauna BIRDS Great variability of birds of pray (15 species) Symbiosis in adjacent areas of different kinds of birds Plenary biocommunities of alpine birds Visit site of birds with narrow distribution

MAMMALSFauna Special interest because of the declining populations of the N.P. mammals Ursus arctus: One of the most endangered mammals in Europe Canis lupus: Decrease of the populations of its prey Photo: Arktouros

Fauna MAMMALSRupicapra rupicapra balcanica The illegal hunting threatens the “mammal-symbol” for the region Photo: Arktouros

Cultural Inheritance Great traditional Greek architecture and religious monuments Photo: Arktouros

Human Activities – Problems Caused Ecotourist activities Development of the area Lack of respect for the environment Downgrading Hunting Reduce of some species population Forest exploitation Destruction of the forest Cattle breeding reduce Plants’ Biodevirsity Food supplies of the Herbivors Lack of water monitoring

Conclusions - Suggestions Extension of the core - zone Include Aoos ravine More constant guard of the N.P. avoid Illegal hunting and woodcutting Continuous research in the area avoid Disappearance of vulnerable populations Monitoring of the waters