Biodiversity Report“National Park Vikos-Aoos”

Markos Sarris

Supervisor: Maria Lazaridou- Dimitriadou

IntroductioIntroductionn

The Vikos –Aoos National Park (N. P.)

is situated in the North-Western part

of Hellas

From Kasioumis & Gkatzogiannis

IntroductioIntroductionn

Photo: Experiment, 1998

IntroductioIntroductionnThe 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

FloraFlora

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)

VegetationVegetation

The characteristic zones of forest vegetation in the N.P.

From: Hanlidou & Kokkini 1997

FauFaunanaThe 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

FauFaunana

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

MAMMALS

FauFaunana

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

FauFaunana

MAMMALS

Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica

The illegal hunting threatensthe “mammal-symbol” for the region

Photo: Arktouros

Cultural InheritanceCultural Inheritance

Great traditional Greek architecture and religious

monuments

Photo: Arktouros

Human Activities – Problems Human Activities – Problems CausedCaused

•Ecotourist activitiesDevelopment of the area

Lack of respect for the environment Downgrading

•Hunting Reduce of some species population

•Forest exploitation Destruction of the forest

•Cattle breeding reducePlants’ Biodevirsity

Food supplies of the Herbivors

•Lack of water monitoring

Conclusions - SuggestionsConclusions - Suggestions

Extension of the core - zone Include Aoos ravine

More constant guard of the N.P.avoidIllegal hunting

and woodcutting

Continuous research in the areaavoid Disappearance of

vulnerable populations

Monitoring of the waters