Restoration of black pine forests on Mount Parnonas, Peloponnese
Project Summary
Black pine forests, a priority habitat at EU level, were severely damaged in 2007 by extensive forest fires in several areas of the country, including Mountain Parnonas in the Peloponnese. The LIFE+ project “Restoration of Pinus nigra forests on Mount Parnonas (GR2520006) through a structured approach” was implemented to assist nature in the restoration of the black pine forests. The project had two main objectives:
- The demonstration of the application of a structured approach to restore burnt areas of priority habitat type “(Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines” *9530.
- The restoration of 290 ha of priority habitat type 9530 “(Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines” *9530 in the Site of Community Importance (SCI) GR2520006 “Oros Parnonas (and Malevi area)”.
The project was implemented by the Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre, the Forest Service of Sparti / Decentralised Administration of Peloponnese-Western Greece & Ionian Islands, the Management Body of Mount Parnonas and Moustos Wetland and the Decentralised Administration of Macedonia-Thrace. The project was co-funded by the General Directorate for Development and Protection of Forests and Natural Environment – Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. It lasted from 2009 to 2013. The project was included in the final list of projects nominated for the Natura 2000 award in 2014.
The Role of EKBY
EKBY undertook the assessment of fire impacts to the priority habitat type *9530 “(Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pine”. The assessment provided input to the design and pilot application of the structured approach for the restoration of black pine forests that followed. The results of the application of the structured approach were the basis for the restoration plan and implementation by the Sparti Forest Service. Restoration was followed by the design and initiation of monitoring and the evaluation of restoration of black pine forests on Mount Parnonas. In addition, EKBY contributed to the communication of the project, to the organization of the international conference “New approaches for the restoration of Black pine forests” and to the creation of the film “The travelling seed” which received the OIKOPOLIS 2014 award.
Results
- The impact assessment of fire to the priority habitat type “(Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines” on Mount Parnonas.
- Development of a structured approach for the post-fire restoration of black pine forests.
- Restoration of 290 ha of the priority habitat type “(Sub-) Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines” on Parnonas.
- The successful planning facilitated the funding of restoration of another 250 ha of black pine forests by the EEA Financial Mechanism, through the project “Restoration of the forests on Mount Parnonas and conservation guidelines for Mount Taygetos in Lakonia”.
- The installation of a restoration monitoring system, subsequently extended by the EEA project: “Restoration of the forests on Mount Parnonas and conservation guidelines for Mount Taygetos in Lakonia” and supplemented by the installation of a weather station. For more details:
- The international conference “New approaches for the restoration of Black pine forests” and its proceedings.
- The film “The travelling seed”.
