Με επίκεντρο τις εθνικές και ευρωπαϊκές προτεραιότητες της δασικής πολιτικής όπως διαμορφώνονται στο πλαίσιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Πράσινης Συμφωνίας και της Ευρωπαϊκής Στρατηγικής για τη Βιοποικιλότητα σε συνάρτηση με την Εθνική Στρατηγική για τα Δάση, διοργανώθηκε με μεγάλη επιτυχία η διαδικτυακή θεματική ημερίδα με τίτλο «Χρηματοδοτικό Πρόγραμμα LIFE και Δάση: Πραγματικότητα, Προκλήσεις και Ανάγκες στη Δασική Διαχείριση στην Ελλάδα του 21ου αιώνα». Η ημερίδα  συνδιοργανώθηκε από το Πράσινο Ταμείο, την Ελληνική Task Force για το Πρόγραμμα LIFE και το Ελληνικό Κέντρο Βιοτόπων – Υγροτόπων (ΕΚΒΥ). Πραγματοποιήθηκε  την Παρασκευή 27 Νοεμβρίου 2020, με τη συμμετοχή περισσότερων από 300 ατόμων, εκπροσώπων από τη Δασική Υπηρεσία, την περιφερειακή και τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση, περιβαλλοντικών οργανώσεων ειδικών επιστημόνων,  και φοιτητών από όλη τη χώρα.

Στόχος της ημερίδας ήταν η διάχυση και αξιοποίηση των αποτελεσμάτων των έργων LIFE από τους αρμόδιους φορείς της κεντρικής, της περιφερειακής διοίκησης και της αυτοδιοίκησης, αλλά και όλων όσοι εμπλέκονται με τη διαχείριση των δασών και τις υπηρεσίες που παρέχουν. Κατά τη διάρκειά της έγινε αναδρομή στις θεματικές δασικής διαχείρισης και διακυβέρνησης, στις οποίες έχει συνεισφέρει το Πρόγραμμα LIFE στην Ελλάδα από το 1992. Παρουσιάστηκαν επίσης έργα που υλοποιούνται, όπως το έργο ForestLife ή έχουν ολοκληρωθεί στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος LIFE και προσεγγίζουν σύγχρονες περιβαλλοντικές προκλήσεις, όπως η κλιματική αλλαγή, οι πυρκαγιές, οι φωτιές, οι πλημμύρες και θέματα διαχείρισης – προστασίας – ανασύστασης, γενετικής παρακολούθησης, αλλά και διακυβέρνησης του τομέα των δασών.

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Forestlife project manager speaks at August 14, 2019 at the main news of ERT1 (Channel 1 of the Greek Public Television) for the impacts of the forest fire of Central Evia which erupted at August 12, 2019. Watch the interview at the 33th minute.

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More information (in Greek) for: Participation, Programme

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The needs assessment identified the situation of the Forest Community (FC), as regards their knowledge and skills in undertaking forest management, and as regards available and desired tools and information. This assessment was based on the analysis of 268 questionnaires (forest managers and other stakeholders). Complementary to this quantitative research, to help assess the baseline situation, 43 semi-structured interviews and 14 focus groups have been performed (qualitative research) among the members of the FC. The findings provided input, among others, to the design of the Collaboration Platform for Forests (CPF) and the Communication Strategy which have been also released.

The content development for: a) the CPF, b) the electronic application for smartphones and tablets (e-App) and c) the training seminars, is an on-going activity. The project team constantly gathers, organises and elaborates data (such as policy documents, guidelines, technical reports, scientific publications, geospatial data, maps, photographs, projects etc.). Regarding the production of both the CPF and the e-App (e-book “The Forests of Greece” included), a joint call for tenders is going to be published soon. In what concerns capacity building actions, the organisation of the training seminars on the five project topics is going to start in 2018.

The call for tenders for the monitoring of the project’s socio-economic impact has been published at the project’s website.

Regarding dissemination actions, the project website has been launched at the beginning of the project and has already received more than 24.000 visits from about 9.000 unique visitors. Also, seven newsletters (Gr and En) comprising news of the project and other information material have been sent to some 600 recipients each. The project has its own Facebook page, Twitter and ResearchGate account and the project’s Communication Team is continuously updating and uploading website and social media content. LIFE ForestLife has a steady presence on Mass Media (articles in press and on the web, press releases), it has participated in 15 meetings/events in Greece and abroad, and has exchanged information with relevant projects and organisations in the framework of networking activities. The production of the project printed material by the Directorate General for Forests and Forest Environment is underway.

The project has contributed significantly, through its representatives from both beneficiaries, in the two very important instruments for policy making in the fields of forest conservation and management, namely the Working Groups for the drafting of: a) the National Strategy for Forests and b) the New Standards on drafting Forest Management Plans.

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Description

The habitat type includes riverine gallery forests dominated by species of poplar and willow. It does not include other riverine forest types such as alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa, riparian forests with hardwood species of the genera Quercus, Ulmus and Fraxinus, forests of Platanus orientalis, thermophilous scrub with Tamarix spp. or non-riparian forests with Populus tremula [2,5].

Figure 1. Riparian gallery forests of the habitat type 92A0 at Nestos river (NE Greece). ΕΚΒΥ Photoarchive/L. Logothetis

Other classifications

EUNIS G1.31 Mediterranean riparian Populus forests

European forest types < 6.12.3 Mediterranean and Macaronesian riparian forest

Palearctic Habitat Classification 44.141 Mediterranean white willow galleries, 44.162 Pontic willow galleries και 44.6 Mediterraneo-Turanian riverine forests

Copernicus Riparian Zones 3.1.1.1 Riparian and fluvial broadleaved forest

Ramsar Xf — Freshwater, tree-dominated wetland

Distribution

The forests of the habitat type 92A0 are distributed in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and Central Eurasia. In Greece, they occur along rivers and in their estuaries in Northern, Central and Western Greece, with a few isolated occurrences in Western Peloponnese and the Aegean islands. The habitat type is present in 40 Natura 2000 sites, with a total surface area of 4,000 hectares [1,2,3,8].

Distribution and range map of the habitat type 92A0 in Greece [12].

Physiognomy

These forests show a multilevel structure, which, in concert with the presence of climbing vines, gives a characteristic form of a gallery or tunnel. Species of poplar or willow, that usually dominate, reach a height of 6-8 m and more rarely 20 m. The tree layer is usually stratified in two heights. The overstorey is dominated by poplar species and the understorey by species of willow. The surface area of shrub and herbaceous layers varies, depending on the light conditions inside the forests [2].

Floristic composition

Salix alba, S. fragilis, Populus alba, S. eleagnos, S. purpurea, Ulmus spp., Fraxinus spp., Alnus glutinosa, Clematis vitalba, Vitis vinifera, Cynanchum acutum, Periploca graeca, Hedera helix, Smilax aspera, Humulus lupulus, Solanum dulcamara, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera [2,11].

Ecology

It is a riparian habitat type usually distributed along rivers and in their floodplains. Its presence depends on the underground water level, while occasional inundations are vital for its conservation. The soils are usually sandy clay formed from alluvial deposits, enriching them in nutrients. The inclination is very small to zero and the elevation can vary from 0 to 1200 m, but rarely exceeds 600 m. The characteristic presence of many climbing plant species forms a complex ecological environment [2,3,8,9].

Figure 2. Multilayered structure of the habitat type 92A0. ΕΚΒΥ Photoarchive/L. Logothetis.

Economic value

The high protective value of these forests in concert with the sensitivity of the riparian ecosystems in which they occur, have led to the abandonment of logging. These forests offer a variety of ecosystem services, such as the stabilization of river banks, the filtering of pollutants before the water enters water bodies and the creation of suitable microhabitats for the river and stream fauna through shading, provision of dead organic material etc. Also, they form “ecological corridors” for wildlife, interconnecting natural areas in the often fragmented landscape of the plains. They also offer a high aesthetic value, attracting many visitors [3,8].

Management

The management of riparian forests is focused on protection, restoration and promotion of its values. Often, a multidisciplinary approach and synergies with competent authorities are vital, such as in the case of the determination of environmental flow of the rivers, regulating and providing the water flow needed in order to ensure the necessary influx of water and nutrients for the conservation of these forests [3,13].

Conservation status

The conservation status of the habitat type has been evaluated as inadequate (U1), according to the 3^rd national report on the implementation of Article 17 of Directive 92/43/EEC (reporting period 2007-2012), and its trend has been estimated as stable (=) [11].

Pressures and threats

Among the main pressures identified for the habitat type are cultivation, mowing of grassland, grazing, forest planting on open ground, forest exploitation, mining and quarrying, the presence of roads, structures and urbanised areas, soil pollution and solid waste and discharges, outdoor sports and leisure activities, human induced changes in hydraulic conditions, storms and cyclones and forest and plantation management. Potential threats for the future, except the above-mentioned pressures, include the construction of sports and leisure structures, as well as human intrusion with its associated impacts [2,11].

General literature

1.Arvela, M., J. Bailly Maitre, D. Evans, Mac Sharry & M. Aronsson. 2013. Pre-scoping Document for the Natura 2000 Seminar at the Mediterranean Region.http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/knowledge_base/135_mediterranean_region_en.htm#NBP.

2. Ntafis, S., Eva Papastergiadou, Efthalia Lazaridou & Maria Tsiafouli (). 2001. Technical manual for identification, description and mapping of habitat types of Greece Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (ΕΚΒΥ). Thermi. 393 p. [in Greek]

3. Ntafis, S. 2010. The forests of Greece. The Goulandris Museum of Natural History. Thermi. 192 [in Greek]

4. Devillers, Pierre & Jean Devillers-Terschuren. A classification of Palearctic habitats. Council of Europe, Strasbourg: Nature and environment, No 78.

5. European Commission. 2013. Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats -EUR28.

6. EEA. 2006.  European forest types – Categories and types for sustainable forest management reporting and policy. EEA Technical report No 9/2006. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark.

7. European Environmental Agency. Habitat types search. http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/habitats.jsp.

8. San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, Daniele, Caudullo, Giovanni, Houston Durant, Tracy, Mauri, Achille. Eds. 2016. European Atlas of Forest Tree Species. (Eds.) Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. ISBN: 978-92-79-36740-3. DOI: 10.2788/038466.

Specific literature

9. Zogaris, S., V. Chatzivarsanis, A.N. Ikonomou, G. Chatzinikolaou, Sofia Giakoumi & P. Dimopoulos. Riparian zones in Greece. Protecting riparian oases of life. Special publication HCMR. Interreg IIIC Sud. 95 p. [in Greek].

10. GAF 2013. CS-3/17 Nomenclature Guideline, Issue 3.0 Copernicus Riparian Zones.

11. Report on the main results of the surveillance under article 17 for annex I habitat types (Annex D). Code 92A0. Name Salix alba and Populus alba http://biodiversity-info.gr/images/DOCUM/3rd_Art17_Report/Habitat_types/terrestrial/92A0.pdf.

12. Distribution and range map of the habitat type http://www.biodiversity-info.gr/images/DOCUM/3rd_Art17_Report/Habitat_types/terrestrial/maps/92A0_map.pdf.Chatzicharalambous Elena, Maria Dimaki, D. Zervas, E. Koutrakis, G. Poulis, A. Sapounidis & E. Chatziiordanou. 2015. Detailed identification of the ecological requirements in water of the habitat types and the target-species that depend on water in the areas of Axios Delta, Aliakmon Delta and Kitros Lagoon. Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY) Thermi. 71 p. + 7 maps + geospatial files. [in Greek]

You can download this factsheet in pdf format.

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From the documentary Still Once Upon a Tree

At the same time, the project is presented in the exhibition «Greek Forests, Green Destinations», organized in collaboration with Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. The exhibition (March 6-July 9, 2017) presents to travelers the forests of Greece, creating exciting tours of Greek nature. During the exhibition, and on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of LIFE programme, the Goulandris Natural History Museum-EKBY organized guided tours. The first tour was held on May 8, 2017, with the participation of pupils and teachers of the 1st High School of Sparta.

From the student visit at the exhibition Greek Forests, Green Destinations

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Photo of the exhibition Greek Forests, Green Destinations. ΕΚΒΥ Photo Archive

The exhibition Greek Forests, Green Destinations is being hosted in the venue “Art & Environment”, in the Departures section of Athens International Airport, from 6th March until 9th July 2017.

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The research was carried out by EKBY with the support of the Directorate General for the Development and Protection of Forests and the Rural Environment. The research was based on data collected through a quantitative method (online questionnaire) and qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The replies of the questionnaire taken into account were given between the end of January 2016 and the end of June 2016. In total 268 replies were received with most of them (152 or 56.6%) coming from Greek Forest Service staff . The rest were sent by researchers and consultants (65 or 24.25%) , from the staff of Protected Areas Management Bodies (24 or 8.96%) and the rest of the Greek forest community. The qualitative research was conducted from March to September 2016. In total 43 interviews and 14 focus groups were conducted, in 29 localities spanning all over Greece, from Evros Region in the North to the island of Crete in the South, with 125 people participating.

Photos from the interviews of the Greek forest community to the Project Team. EKBY Photo Archive

The response to the questionnaire and to the interviews/focus groups was more than adequate and the quality of the answers was high. Thus the data, which will be used for the planning of the following actions of the project are considered reliable. The assessments of needs and skills was based on the following axes:

• The assessment of the current level of knowledge and experience of the Greek forest community regarding the management of the forests within the Natura 2000 network, taking into account European and national legal and policy framework.
• Document the skills of the Greek forest community in information, communication and exchange of knowledge on issues regarding forest management within the Natura 2000 network.
• Detection of the appropriate means and the development of the relevant skills in order to eliminate the knowledge and experience gaps related to forest management within the Natura 2000 network.

From the results, it becomes evident that the communication, information exchange and cooperation of those who are involved in the protection and the management of forests, is a matter of individual motivation and initiative and is based on personal contact to the information source. Use of web-based collective services, such as forums and special tools for web search is limited. On the contrary, the most popular mean of communication is the participation at events such as conferences, workshops etc.

The development of CPF managed by the Directorate General for the Development and Protection of Forests and the Rural Environment, is met with positive reactions, under the condition that the information presented will be characterized by credibility and timeliness. The provision of fast and reliable access to geospatial data is of particular interest. The research documented that the individual branches of the Forest Service should be formally and regularly informed on decisions and initiatives of the authorities responsible for the implementation of European and national legislation related to biodiversity. It also revealed the need of all organisations and staff related with the protection and the management of forests within Natura 2000 sites to be fully and in depth informed about the obligations and opportunities that Natura 2000 brings. The seminars that will be organised by Project ForestLife also gathered the attention of the respondents.

Regarding the interactive services, the research shows that use of modern web-based services for in-person communication and exchange of information and best practices prevail.

In total, the research shows the presence of the necessary abilities and will to fulfill the needs and exploit the opportunities that Natura 2000 brings to the forests that fall within its network. Nevertheless, a substantial improvement of services that collect and exchange knowledge and information, along with the allocation of the personnel who will handle them are necessary.

See the full report here (In Greek with English summary).

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The needs assessment identified the situation of the forest community, as regards their knowledge and skills in undertaking forest management, and as regards available and desired tools and information. This assessment was based on the analysis of 268 questionnaires filled in by an equal number of individuals (forest managers and other stakeholders). Complementary this quantitative research, to help assess the baseline situation, 43 semi-structured interviews (with 62 participants) and 14 focus groups (with 63 participants in total) (qualitative research) among the members of the forest community, have been performed.

Currently, content development, drafting of specifications and market research are carried out, regarding: a) the Collaboration Platform for Forests, b) the e-application for smartphones and tablets and c) the training seminars. The project team gathers, organises and elaborates data (such as policy documents, guidelines, technical reports, scientific publications, geospatial data and maps, photographs etc.).

Regarding dissemination actions, the project website (http://forestlife.gr/) has already received nearly 14.000 visits. Also, three (3) newsletters (each in Gr and En) comprising news of the project and other information material have been sent to some 600 recipients. The project has its own Facebook page, Twitter and ResearchGate account. ForestLife has a steady presence on Mass Media (articles in press and on the web, press releases), it has participated in five (5) meetings / events in Greece and abroad, and has exchanged information with relevant projects and organisations in the framework of networking activities.

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The logo of KinderDocs

Organanized by Kouzi Productions in collaboration with the Benaki Museum and the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art. With the support of idfa, the biggest documentary festival in the world, in Amsterdam and doxs!, the oldest and most important German documentary festival for children and young people.

More information and the full programme of KinderDocs festival in www.kinderdocs.com.

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