Presentation of the management plan for the mountainous region of Asterousia
The Forest Directorate of Crete-Region and Heraklion Forest Service prepared the Management Plan through implementation of the LIFE 02NAT/GR/8492 European Programme entitled “Actions for the conservation of Gypaetus barbatus and biodiversity of Crete”. The Special Protected Area (SPA) of the Eastern Asterousia was selected as area of study and the plan was realised according to the executory institutional specifications for the extensive farming and the traditional cultivation for application at the mountainous region of Asterousia, south Crete. The implementation of the management plan aims to convert the current methods of local land use practices in order to make possible the preservation and protection of priority species (gypaetous, predatory birds etc) as well as their habitats. The diminished availability of food for the birds comprises a reference point due to the applied methods of contemporary agriculture and husbandry. The Plan consists of the following subject units: (a) description of the study area according to data related to the biotic and abiotic environment and also social, demographic and economic details, (b) analysis of management information (forestry-agriculture-husbandry), (c) evaluation of the conditions that prevail in the area in terms of forest-grassland factors, plant and animal production, fishery and the secondary productive sector and last, (d) proposals for the management of forest and grassland ecosystems and the water resources as well as for forest recreation, ecotouristic development and sensitization and participation of the local societies.
Proposed management measures in the protected area of Asterousia: problems and perspectives
In this research, the management measures are presented, which are proposed in the “Management Plan for the mountainous region of Asterousia”, carried out by the Heraklion Forest Service and the Crete – Region Forest Service. Its implementation aims at the preservation and protection of priority species (Gypaetus barbatus, other birds of prey) and their habitats. The present situation is being described, by providing general information about parameters such as the geographic position, property condition, as well as an analysis of the condition of the biotic, abiotic and man-made
environments. Subsequently, an evaluation of the present situation and the development perspectives is presented and the obstacles that block their implementation are mentioned. The management proposals for the whole area of eastern Asterousia and Kofinas are specified into action categories and their aims are evaluated. These measures consist the basic guidelines for the protection and development of the area, referring to: 1. Short-term and long-term actions for forest ecosystems, 2. actions for the range ecosystems, 3. development of forest recreation, ecotourism and information for the local people and 4. measures for the protection of the water resources.
Ecological site classification and management of phryganic ecosystems with a special study on the ecosystems of the medium altitudes of the White Mountains
The ecological methods of classifying natural ecosystems are based on the combination and clustering of basic ecological parameters (physiography, geomorphology, topography, soil) in a region, with sampling of those factors on the same locations. The application of this method in the phryganic ecosystems of the medium altitudes of the White Mountains resulted in 11 ecological site units, characterized by special soil and vegetation characteristics. These ecological units, describe a range of site locations, from very deep soils on abandoned terraces of the north aspects, where the ecological group of Ononis spinosa is characteristic, to the driest locations of the south aspects, with a high cover of the parent limestone rock on the surface, where the soil penetrates in the limestone crevises, in which the ecological group of Teucrium alpestre is characteristic. The classification and mapping of phryganic ecosystems with this method can incorporate a lot of ecological information and become the basis for the rational management of these ecosystems.
Impact of overgrazing and wildfires on forage production of rangelands in Psilorites mountain of Crete
In this paper, the combined effect of overgrazing and wildfires was studied. The research was carried out in the rangelands of Psilorites mountain in Crete during 1996-1998 and involved measurement of the above ground vegetation in 30 representative sites at the end of the growing season. In phryganic rangelands, overgrazing favoured phryganic species at the expense of the herbaceous vegetation. When it was combined with wildfires however both herbaceous and woody species were significantly reduced. In grasslands, on the contrary, overgrazing affected negatively both herbaceous and woody species because the latter were desirable to animals. It is concluded that
forage production is negatively affected by overgrazing in grasslands but in phryganic ecosystems negative effects are caused when overgrazing is combined with wildfires.
Sheep and goat farming systems in Crete and overgrazing
Overgrazing is a problem that face most of the mountains areas of Crete caused by human interferences on sheep and goat farming systems. This problem may be attributed to bad management practices posed on animal breeding and their living environment. As regards extensive husbandry systems an abandonment of traditional practices has been observed, neglecting the rules, which were held on pasture. The animal density is much higher than the pasture capacity, especially in some mountainous areas, which in comparison with incorrect management and erroneous nutrition schemes often by providing big amounts of supplement to the animals leads to overgrazing. On the other hand, in areas where pastures are richer the same mistakes in animal husbandry and nutrition also lead to overgrazing.
