GREECE

NATURE ART

About Greek Forests

Forests comprise 25.4% of the total area of Greece, making it the fourth largest country in Europe with respect to forest resources. The majority of the Greek forests are natural and not technical. They are characterized as Mediterranean. These are ecosystems that have adapted to dry, hot summers and cold winters. Oak trees have developed in the Mediterranean and Circum Mediterranean zone, while acorns grow in the Thessaly plain where the soil is more fertile. We will also come across types of trees that have spread throughout Europe, such as the pine (Pinus silvestris), the spruce (Picea abies), and the beech (Fagus sylvatica). It is estimated that, in terms of biological variety, the natural flora of Greece is second only to that of the Iberian peninsula in Europe.

 The country's wildlife also enjoys an enviable position, both the mammals and, primarily, the birds, whether indigenous to the Greek Forests or migrating to them.

The fauna in the Greek forests are characterized by high biodiversity.
Other than the numerous kinds of birds, reptiles and insects, there is also a remarkable variety of mammals which live in the Greek forests, with the most notable being the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the wildcat (Felis silvestris), the jackal (Canis aureus), the wolf (Canis lupus) and the badger (Meles meles).

A net-work of protected forests has been founded, in which the national forest parks of Parnitha, Sounion, Parnassos, Ainos, Iti, Prespes, Samaria, Vikos-Aoos, Olympos occupy a prominent place. In addition to their protective role, these constitute poles of attraction for visitors with varied interests. The picturesque forests of Greece (the palm forest at Vai in Crete, the woods on the island of Skiathos, the straits of the river Nestos, etc.), the virgin forests (Rodopi), as well as the scheduled monuments of nature (the Haidou Forest of Xanthi, the wood of dendroid broad-leafed evergreens on the island of Sapientza, etc.) play their part in the conservation of the natural environment. The network of protected regions is completed by those earmarked to play a specialized role in the conservation and development of the natural environment of Greece. These include the Dadia Forest on the banks of the Evros, where a large number of rare and nowadays endangered birds of prey (imperial eagle, osprey, black vulture, etc.)