Cadses Governet Wp2 P6

TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION INSTITUTE (Τ.Ε.Ι.) OF KAVALA COMMUNITY INITIATIVE INTERREG IIIB (2000-2006) CADSES Governance models for sustainable integrated rural development and multifunctional agriculture; networking and dissemination on the web (Subsidy contract number: 3B083) GOVERNET WP2 P6 D01 Description of study areas and of representative cases THE HALKIDIKI CASE STUDY AREA Editors: Vassiliki Kazana, Angelos Kazaklis Contributors: Ioannis Takos, Theodora Merou, Dimitrios Emmanouloudis, Nikolaos Avtzis, Martha Lazaridou, Maria Panteli, Kiriaki Georgiou, Ioannis Skrettas TEI Kavala- Technological Education Institute of Kavala- Department of Forestry & Natural Environment Managment at Drama, GREECE June, 2004 TABLE OF CONTESTS 1. Introduction 3 2. Environment and Landscape 5 3. Land use 17 4. Demography 24 5. Local economy and welfare 33 6. Cultural heritage and history 44 7. Institutions 49 8. Choice of representative case-studies for further analysis 54 9. Conclusions 55 10. References 56 2 Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1. Geography The Halkidiki Prefecture is located in the Central Macedonia Region of northern Greece and is made up by three peninsulas, Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos (Map 1.1). The last one, the most to the east, forms an entity on its own, which is also called Agio Oros (Holy Mountain). It has a border with the Prefecture of Thessaloniki to the north and has shores on the Aegean Sea to all other sides. Map 1.1 General Map of the Halkidiki Prefecture (Source: Hellenic Tourism Organization, 1992) 1.2. Main features of the area The Halkidiki Prefecture is one of the seven Prefectures of the Central Macedonia Region in Northern Greece. From the administrative point of view Halkidiki includes 14 Municipalities with 73 Settlements in total. The main towns and villages of Halkidiki are Poligiros, the capital town with 5,040 inhabitants, Arnea, Ierissos, Agia Paraskevi, Afytos, Agios Nikolaos, Galatista, Gerakini, Kallithea, Kalandra, Nea Moudania, Nea Kallikratia, Nea Roda, Nea Fokea, Ouranoupoli, Petralona, Stagira, Neos Marmaras, Vourvourou, Stratoni, Nea Potidea. 3 Halkidiki is the only typical Mediterranean area in Northern Greece in terms of climate, vegetation and landscape. Its land is characterized by two main mountain massifs, the Holomontas Mount (1,165 m above sea level.), the Mount Athos (2,027 m above sea level) and a complex system of hills ranging from 300 m and 900 m of altitude. The coastal landscapes of Halkidiki are of outstanding beauty and the tourist infrastructure, which has been mainly developed on those landscapes made Halkidiki one of the best known tourist destinations in Northern Greece. On the contrary, the mainland of the Halkidiki Prefecture, which hosts some of Greece’s best broadleaf and mixed forests, is little developed. In Halkidiki lives about 1% of the country’s population with a gradual declining growth rate, as it can be observed by the natural birth rate (births per 1000 residents), which is negative (-0.7 in 1998 and –1 in 1999) and the average rate of the primary school pupils per 1000 residents, which is also lower than the national average (54 and 61 correspondingly). The population appears increased by 16.3% between the national inventories of 1991 and 2001. The Halkidiki Prefecture contributes 5.6% to the regional (Central Macedonia) GDP and about 1% to the country GDP of which 2/3 is attributed to services, mainly hotels and restaurants at about 12% (2001 data). The average per capita GDP is about 12,500 Euros and this indicator ranks Halkidiki 12th between the country’s Prefectures. The Halkidiki residents own 13 cars per 100 (national average 31 in 2001) and 65 telephone connections per 100 (in 2000), the 5th higher in the country. In terms of the national income, Halkidiki contributes 0.8% of the income tax payers, 0.6% of the declared to the Internal Revenue Service income and 0.3% of the direct taxes in 2000. Halkidiki ranks 9th in wheat production at national level and 5th in nights spent by foreigners, 2.2 million in 2000 (NSSG, 2002). 4 Chapter 2. Environment and Landscape 2.1. Climate The climate of the Halkidiki Prefecture is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and long hot summers with a pronounced long dry season. Only a small proportion of the highest mountain areas in the central massifs of the Prefecture have less than 40 biologically dry days in the hot season. Most of the coastal areas, especially those in the Western- south central part and also most of the three peninsulas have between 2 1/2 and 3 months of biologically dry days (between 75 and 100 days). These conditions characterize more than half of the total Prefecture area. The remaining area, the lower reaches of the central mountain massifs and those of the Sithonia peninsula and Athos peninsula, have on average 40 and 75 biologically dry days per season. 5 Map 1.2 Mean annual precipitation. For the Halkidiki Prefecture it is low, ranging from less than 400 mm to over 800mm. 7 With the exception of the highest elevations on the Prefecture’s mountains, that is, those higher than approximately 700 m, most of the Halkidiki area receives between 400 and 600 mm of annual precipitation. This is very low, but typical of eastern mainland Greece, and it is mostly due to the physiography of the land and the prevailing winds. For Halkidiki the wide valleys of the Axios and Strymonikos rivers allow for heavy dry northern winds during the main rain season for Greece (winter). Similar areas in western Greece would probably have more than 1000 mm of annual precipitation. Relative atmospheric humidity ranges between 60% (summer) and over 80% (winter). High temperatures in the winter range from mid to low tens (Centigrades). In the hottest months of June and August they range between 30o and 36o C. Map 1.3 presents mean lowest temperatures of the coldest winter months. Most of the Halkidiki area is characterized by mild winters and hot summers. 8 Map 1.3 Climate zones in Halkidiki, based on bioclimatic formation, and average minimum temperature of the coldest winter months. 9 2.2 Topography and geology The highest mountain in the Halkidiki Prefecture is Mount Athos at 2,030 m above sea level (asl). The total area in Halkidiki that exceeds 1,000 m though, is rather limited around this peak. The second highest peak in this range is only 1,042 m high. Mt. Itamos (or Mt. Sithonia) is centrally situated in the middle peninsula, rising up to 817 m, with most peaks in its neighborhood ranging from 670 m to 806 m. Further southeast the peaks are gradually decreasing (ranging from 300 to 550 m). Mount Kassandra in the westernmost peninsula only rises up to 307 m with its highest peak closer to the peninsular tip, (similar to the Mt. Athos peninsula). In the mainland Mount Holomontas is the major mountain massif of Halkidiki, rising up to 1,163 m, but with most other peaks in the 700 m to 950 m range. Mount Holomontas, as all other mountains in Halkidiki, are a continuation of the ranges coming down in a southeast direction from the northern national borders. The watershed divide formed by the Hortiatis, Holomontas and Stratonikion mountains, drains the northeastern corner of the Prefecture into the Volvi and Koronia lakes of the Thessaloniki Prefecture. All other areas drain to the sea, through a complex system of streams, most of which dry up in the summer. The relief of all Halkidiki is very well dissected. The eastern two-thirds of the Halkidiki Prefecture are made up of a mosaic of igneous rocks, interspersed with semi-metamorphic or metamorphic rocks, with limited occurrences of marbles (Map1.4). This is a continuation of the range extended northward, and is characteristic of north central Greece. Limestone is almost completely absent, while the metamorphic rocks are covered by a weathering mantle. The westernmost third of Halkidiki is covered by sediments, mostly orogenic, but also some quaternary. This substrate type causes landslide problems for the urban centres around. Mount Kassandra, where also extensive tourist resort development has taken place in the last 2-3 decades. Problems are also caused by numerous tectonic faults crossing the area, but recently the epicentres of all major earthquakes have been clustering outside of the Prefecture borders. The substrate is rich in a number of minerals and the area has a substantial tradition of mining. Most recent is an investment in gold mining from Canadian interests, which conflicts heavily with environmental issues and tourism in northeastern Halkidiki. 10 Map 1.4 Geologic substrate of Halkidiki Prefecture and Central Macedonia. 11 2.3 Hydrology The Prefecture of Halkidiki as it has been described in section 2.1 is characterized by a low annual precipitation, which makes the water a scarce resource in the area. On the other hand increased quantities of water are required for most of the agricultural crops and for tourism development. The hydrographical network of Halkidiki is directly related to the tectonic evolution of the area. In the mainland, the watershed divide of the two main mountain massifs of Hortiatis and Holomontas borders two large watersheds, one north draining to Lagada and Volvi lakes and one south draining to Thermaikos, Kassandra, Toroneos and Ierissos Gulfs. The areas under water declined significantly (25.1%) over the last 40 years mainly through drying out of small wetland areas at the deltas of the Prefecture’s larger streams. A usual practice of finding water for the agricultural crops in the area is drilling. Only in the Mount Holomontas area, which forms a small part of the Halkidiki Prefecture, 855 drilling permits were granted during 1983 –1997 (Malamidis, et.al.

Load more