Species diversity in Mount Falakro subalpine grasslands (Natura 2000 network)
Mount Falakro, was proposed to be included in the “Natura 2000” network because of its high species diversity. During the summer of 1999, samples of flora species were gathered in the subalpine grasslands. The size of the sampling area was 5mx5m. 37 sampling areas were dispersed in the whole subalpine grassland. From the data analysis the following 3 habitat types were recorded: alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands, alpine and boreal heaths and semi-natural dry grasslands. A significant number of species was recorded in all 3 habitat types as well as a high number of protected species. All three habitat types were dominated by perennials. Finally, the 3 ecotypes were compared to their flora similarity by the Jaccard index.
Contribution of the pseudoalpine rangelands of mounts Voras, Pinovo and Tzena to the conservation of fauna
The grasslands of the pseudoalpine zone offer many goods and services, such as production of water, forage for herbivores, important habitats for wild fauna (mammals and birds), outdoor recreation, stock of rare species of flora and fauna etc. The areas of mounts Voras, Pinovo and Tzena in northern Greece were studied during the ENVIREG project, which has financed by the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, for inclusion in the European Union network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs), in accordance with article 4 of the Directive 79/409/EEC for the protection of the wild fauna. In the rangelands there is a variety of plant species of the Balkan Peninsula. The pseudoalpine rangeands on mount Voras cover 12.100 ha or 23% of its total area, while on mounts Pinovo and Tzena they cover 4.000 ha or the 30% of their total area. The vegetation structure in the pseudoalpine zone, the existence of intense geomorphologic formations, the vegetation of the timberline zone and the designation of three permanent Wildlife Refuges, have resulted in the preservation of an important number of wild fauna species which found there food and protection. Among the most important species found in the pseudoalpine rangelands are the deer (Capreolus capreolus), the wild goat (Rupicapra rupicapra) and the bear (Ursus arctos). Furthermore, the rangelands of mount Voras comprise the habitat of 40 wild fauna species, while 38 species are found in the rangelands of mounts Pinovo and Tzena.
Economic development of mountainous areas through sport activities and recreation
More than 40 million people on earth live or work at altitudes above 3.000m. Even more people visit medium and height altitudes for tourism, business, scientific and/or military purposes. The mountains and especially the alpine and subalpine grasslands consist the natural environment for winter sports and a place for training, exercise and recreation but during the snowing period. Nowadays, many sport activities take place in mountainous areas year- round and with increasing tendency, especially family sport tourism, which finds there its best expression. Characteristic of this tendency is that the ski resorts in the European countries, are more crowded in summer than in winter. The international modern tendencies in tourism, are toward many parallel, alternative actions, such as, recreation, mountain sports, environmental education e.t.c. The subalpine grasslands in Greece consist a friendly natural environment for human, with impressive landscapes, ideal climate conditions for sports, training and recreation. The development of the mountainous areas of our country for tourism has great potential.
Aesthetic and environmental adaptation of roads in pseudoalpine grasslands
Τhe uplands and especially the pseudoalpine grasslands constitute the main areas for grazing for livestock and wild animals, areas for production of valuable animal products, and at the same time they employ a substantial environmental, cultural, aesthetic, touristic importance and value. They are areas with remarkable biodiversity and a refuge for rare endemic species. However the mountainous ecosystems are especially sensitive to disturbances due to their low Visual Absorption Capability. In order to cover the requirements of livestock husbandry (transfer of animals and products) and other uses and services but also to reduce the risk of diminution of sensitive areas, the annoyance of wild fauna etc. the dispersion in space of people and animals is necessary, which means opening new roads or expanding the existing ones. Opening new roads in the mountainous grassland landscapes amounts to damages and perturbations to the environment and aesthetic decay of the landscape. In this paper, proper guidelines are proposed in order to minimize these problems. To achieve better aesthetic adjustment of the roads, the Visual Absorption Capability of the landscape is examined, as well as the ability to restore the disturbances by taking into account the difficulties due to the limited choices in species that can be used in these disfavor climate and soil conditions where the growing period is short.
The avifauna in the pseudoalpine grasslands of Tzena – Pinovo Μountains (Greece) and conservation actions
At least 170 bird species were recorded during breeding and migration period at Tzena and Pinovo Mountains (Pella Prefecture, Macedonia, Greece). At the pseudoalpine grasslands, that cover the top of these two mountains (1800-2200 m. a.s.l.), at least 56 bird species were recorded (33% of the total bird species recorded in wider mountainous area). From these, 17 species are raptors (Accipitriformes) whose pseudoalpine grasslands are important as feeding area. The rest are passerines, certain species of which breed exclusively at the alpine rangelands. The presence of scavenging species like Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Aegyptian Vulture (Neoprhron percnopterus) and Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is related to the pastoral livestock farming that take place in pseudoalpine grasslands. The decline in the number of cattle (from 80.000 in 1950s to 20.000 nowadays) is considered the main reason for the decline of the population of certain scavenging species of high conservation priority in the European Union. The promotion of traditional grazing systems, such as transportation and mobility, in combination with actions like additional food supplying by the establishment of a special feeding station is considered crucial for the maintenance of the scavengers’ population in the area.
