Summer University “Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Development Management, Tourism and Local Products in Biosphere Reserves (BRs)” 8 - 15 July 2018, Parnon, Greece THE PROTECTED AREAS OF PARNON, MOUSTOS, MAINALON & MONEMVASIA THE ROLE OF THE MANAGEMENT BODY Boglis Argyris Forester-Environmentalist, MSc Coordinator of the Management Body Institution of «Management Bodies“ The MB of Parnon, Moustos, Mainalon & Monemvasia Key Dates: • 1999: framework of the management of Greece’s PAs by law 2742/1999. • 2002: establishment of management bodies by law 3044/2002. • 2010: establishment of the protected area of mount Parnon and Moustos wetland with the adoption of JMD 33999/2010. • 2010: The list of Greek Special Protection Areas (SPA) for Birds was published in Government Gazette 1495/Β/06.09.2010 as defined in Directive 79/409/EC "on the conservation of wild birds". Institution of «Management Bodies“ The MB of Parnon, Moustos, Mainalon & Monemvasia Key Dates: • 2011: The list of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) was published by law 3937/2011 «Biodiversity conservation and other provisions» as defined in Directive 92/43 / EEC “for the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora”. • 2017: Revision of the national list of sites of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000. • 2018: increase of MBs spatial jurisdiction and founding of 8 more MB by Law 4519/2018 "Management of Protected Areas and other provisions“. Institution of «Management Bodies“ The MB of Parnon, Moustos, Mainalon & Monemvasia Management Body and Protected Areas MB of mount Parnon and Moustos wetland founded in 2002 and has undertaken the protection, promotion and sustainable management of its protected areas. The protected area was established in autumn 2010, in order to legally protect an area up to 1,140 sq.km as a national natural heritage. Management Body and Protected Areas According to the Joint Ministerial Decision the protected area includes the following designated areas of Law 1650/1986: A. Strict Nature Reserves: * Highly sensitive ecosystems, biotopes or habitats of rare 1.Juniperus drupacea forest or endangered species of wild at Malevi Monastery (2.Ι) flora or wildlife, land with a decisive position in the life 2.Moustos wetland (2.ΙΙ): cycle of rare or endangered species of wild fauna. Management Body and Protected Areas Management Body and Protected Areas Management Body and Protected * In these areas only scientific research Areasand no human activity of brief or of permanent nature of intervention in the natural environment are allowed. Management Body and Protected Areas B. Nature Reserves: 1.Forests of Syrian Juniper (Juniperus * These are areas of drupacea) at Prastos (3.Ι) 2.Forests of Syrian Juniper (Juniperus ecological or biological drupacea) at Aghios Vasileios- significance, where the Platanaki (3.ΙΙ) natural environment is 3.Forests of Syrian Juniper (Juniperus drupacea) at Palaiochori (3.ΙΙΙ) protected from activities or 4.Important area of flora at mount interventions that may alter Parnon peaks (3.ΙV) or distort the natural state, 5.Important area of flora at Mazia - Kontolina (3V) composition or evolution 6.Important area of flora Agios Ioannis - Oreini Meligou (3V.I) 7.Area of Dafnona Gorge and Μonasteries of Sintza and Elona (3.VII) 8.Moustos wetland (4.I) Management Body and Protected Areas Management Body and Protected Areas Management Body and Protected * A number of existing activities having no Areasnegative effects on the protected area are permitted. Biodiversity of the Protected Areas Biodiversity: is the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity of the Protected Areas Biodiversity of the Protected Areas • 27 mammal species are recorded to the PAs (excluded bads) • Most important species is the otter (Lutra lutra) and the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus). Biodiversity of the Protected Areas Biodiversity of the Protected Areas • The protected area is of considerable ornithological interest with at least 249 species of permanent or seasonal basis, while some species are passing during migration or pass randomly from the area. Biodiversity of the Protected Areas • The ecological importance of all species of bats is enormous as it is a basic regulator of insect populations, both harmful and non-harmful. 22 species of bats have been recorded to the PAs (65% of Greek species) Biodiversity of the Protected Areas Biodiversity of the Protected Areas Biodiversity of the Protected Areas • At Moustos Lagoon have been recorded 12 fish species. • At the PAs have been recorded 13 reptiles species and 8 amphibians. Management Body and Protected Areas Recently, by the enactment of Law 4519/2018 (GG/A25/20.02.2018) "Management of Protected Areas and other provisions", the Management Body of Mount Parnon and Moustos wetland was renamed to Parnon, Moustou, Mainalon & Monemvasia. Its spatial jurisdiction is significantly increased, including the existing area of responsibility and fourteen (14) Natura 2000 sites. Management Body and Protected Areas 1. SAC-SPA - Lake Stymfalia (code: GR 2530002) (1,308 ha). 2. SAC- Mount Oligyrtos (code: GR 2530004) (8,630 ha). 3. SAC- Mount Mainalon (code: GR 2520001) (22,673 ha). 4. SPA- Mounts of Artemisio and Lyrkeio (code: GR 2510004) (11,477 ha). 5. SAC- Lake Taka (code: GR 2520002) (1,033 ha). 6. SAC- Akronafplia and Palamidi (code: GR 2510003) (366 ha). 7. SAC- Moustos lagoon (code: GR 2520003) (368 ha). 8. SAC- Mount Parnon summits and area of ​​Malevi Monastery (code: GR 2520006) (55,767 ha). Management Body and Protected Areas 9. SAC- Monastery of Elona and the Leonidio gorge - Cave Mana and Blue Lake (code: GR 2520005) (8,293 ha). 10. SAC- Mounts Gidovouni, Chionovouni, Gaidourovouni, Korakia, Kalogerovouni, Koulouchera and Monemvasia, Solomou's Cave, Trypa and Aghios Stephanos Tower & sea zone to Cape Kamili (code: GR 2540001) (38,869 ha). 11. SPA- East Lakonia Mts (code: GR 2540007) (37,566 ha). 12. SAC- Evrotas estuary, Vrontamas area and marine area of ​​Lakonikos Gulf (code: GR 2540003) (10,632 ha). 13. SPA - Wetlands of Evrotas (code: GR 2540006) (2,172 ha). 14. SAC - Neapolis area and Elafonisos island (code: GR 2540002) (5,493 ha). Management Body’s Action Plan The Management Body's Action Plan primarily aims to : •The protection of the habitats of flora and fauna. •The protection against any kind of interventions that degrade the ecosystem. •Provide environmental sensitization by disseminating research information about the management & biodiversity of the PA. •Managing the impacts of human activities to maintain ecosystem conservation, cultural heritage use & community values. •Carry out biodiversity monitoring & resource protection programmes. •The surveillance & guarding of the area. •Educate, inform & make the public more aware by providing information about the PAs and promote volunteering. LINE OF ACTIONS Within the management of the protected areas, four Line of Actions have been established: 1. Recording and monitoring of the biodiversity of the protected area 2. Surveillance/Guarding of the PAs by the Management Body 3. Information/Awareness Raising–Communication Strategy 4. Research and protection actions Recording and monitoring of the biodiversity of the protected area Actions related to recording and monitoring the biotic parameters, conducted by the personnel of the MB, in conjunction with collaborating external partners. Recording, monitoring and sustainable management of the Flora, Mammals, Birds, Habitat Types, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fungi, Invertebrates, Bats & Fishes of the PA of mount Parnon and Moustos wetland were carried out. Recording and monitoring of the biodiversity of the protected area Recording and monitoring of the biodiversity of the protected area • Recording of fauna with automatic cameras. • Recording of Cave fauna • Marking the area of endangered sea lilies (Pancratium maritimum). • Seed collection of Juniperus drupacea, in order to investigate the vegetative and inherent proliferation of the species by the TEI of Kavala. • Tissue collection of deceased jackals (Canis aureus) in order to conduct genetic studies of the demographic structure of the jackal population in the wetland of Moustos. Surveillance/Guarding of the PAs by the Management Body The effective Surveillance/ Guarding of the protected area is assured by the drawing out and implementation of an action plan, which defines the daily presence of staff members in the Protected Area. What Surveillance/Guarding staff do: • keeps records of illegal activities within the PA, • maintains the recreational infrastructures of the forest, • informs the public, • provides guided tours and • offers any kind of assistance to the visitors of the PAs. Surveillance/Guarding of the PAs by the Management Body Surveillance/Guarding of the PAs by the Management Body What Surveillance/Guarding staff CANNOT do: • conduct checks or arrest offenders. In order to surpass the legal imperfection, the surveillance is in fact restricted: • to observations, • to issuing of verbal warnings and • to immediate notification of the proper authorities (e.g. Forestry Service, Fire Department, Vice-Regional Governor etc.) Information/Awareness Raising – Communication Strategy The Line of Actions includes: • informing and raising awareness among the locals, the pupils of primary and secondary