Protected Areas

Natura 2000 sites in the Ecological Park of mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland

The European Directive 92/43 "for the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora" is now one of the most important "tools" to promote the protection of the natural environment. The Habitats Directive, as it is known, aims to protect biological diversity in Europe, through the conservation of natural habitats and the wild flora and fauna.

According to the Directive, member states of the E.U. must take measures to ensure the conservation and / or restoration of natural habitats, habitat and species of wild flora and fauna listed in the Annexes of the Directive, and taking into account the specificities of each region (economic, social, cultural etc.). As part of the Directive it is provided the creation of a European ecological network of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), known as "Natura 2000". Each Member State of the E.U. proposes, based to certain benchmarks and scientific information, a list of areas which can be identified as Areas of Community Importance and declared SAC.

The list includes the Special Protection Areas (SPA) of Directive 79/409 "for the conservation of wild bird". The European Commission, based on the lists of the member states, draws-in agreement with the member states of the EU-a list of the SAC (projected completion in 2004).

In Hellas

The establishment of a national list of recommended areas for inclusion in the network "Natura 2000" took place through the program "Registration, Recognition, Assessment and Mapping of habitat types and species of flora and fauna of Greece (Directive 92/43)". The program was implemented by the Hellenic Center Biotope - Wetlands (EKBY) in collaboration with the Universities of Thessaloniki, Patras and Athens. According to the evaluation of the data of each region, in the National Science list are currently 312 areas, of which 270 are candidates for inclusion in the network.

The Protected Area occupies a large area (1,150 sq. km.) and includes four areas which are included in the Science list of which three were proposed for inclusion in the European Ecological Network "NATURA 2000" (symbolized by *)