Kati V. 2021. Need of habitat fragmentation minimization policy in the EU for resolving road sprawl -wind farm -biodiversity loss nexus: the case of Greece. Policy Committee of the European Section of the Society for Conservation Biology. 26/1/2021. Webinar.
Invited lecture organized in the frame of a webinar organized by the Policy Committee of the European Section of the Society for Conservation Biology in 26/1/2021. Two recent papers published for Greece were used to illustrate the webinar topic (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108828 and https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144471).
The goal of the webinar was : (A) to present the road sprawl and subsequent fragmentation problem at global and European scale, as roadless areas conservation is a long-term initiative of PC SCB-Europe. (B) to present the topical nexus of biodiversity loss and land-use change stemming from Renewable Energy Sources, such as windfarm infrastructures, rapidly developing in the EU under the European Green Deal. (C) To present the relevant legislative and policy frame at global and EU scale and discuss the perspectives of integrating the webinar messages into the EU policy and legal frame. The webinar was not open to the public, but under invitation of key EU experts and policymakers. The two main messages of the webinar were: Message 1: Restrain road sprawl and land take in natural ecosystems in legally binding terms. Message 2: Better integrate biodiversity in climate policies: prioritize RES in the least ecologically valuable zones. The following points were presented as questions/ points to consider for discussion by scientists and policymakers.
Roadless areas should be integrated in the forthcoming European guideline as a criterion to set up ecological corridors expanding the network of protected areas (30% target), so as to increase the coherence of Natura 2000 and as a criterion to define and designating the strictly protected zones (10% target). [Biodiversity Strategy: EU Nature protection: key commitments by 2030]
Roadless areas should be included in the legally binding targets of ecosystem restoration in the forthcoming regulation, as It is equally important to actively restore degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems (active restoration) and to proactively maintain intact ecosystems (proactive restoration) for no need to restore in the future (cost –effective). Proactive restoration could be more beneficial for countries with large tracks of nature remained, mostly in Scandinavia, eastern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean. Member States should have the liberty to take restoration actions according to their specific needs, including road removal. [Biodiversity Strategy: EU Nature restoration plan: key commitments by 2030]
The “no net land take by 2050” milestone should be legally binding in the frame of Art. 10 92/43/EEC and the Landscape Convention should be reinforced for actual landscape protection, management and planning.
Minimum land take should be integrated in the forthcoming regulation review of land use, land use change and forestry and road sprawl monitoring and roadless areas conservation should be considered in the 8th Environment Action Programme
SEAs, EIAs, AAs, or subsidizing regulations could be better implemented to reduce the impact of land-consuming projects
Landscape Fragmentation Indicator (LFI) and Roadless Fragmentation Indicator (RFI) could serve as new tools for monitoring and policy-making in the above frame.
The EU could undertake an initiative of suggesting roadless areas as a distinct target in post-Aichi biodiversity strategy targets.
Kati, V., Kassara, Ch., Vasilakis, D.P., Papaioannou, H. 2021. The anthropogenic risk avoidance hypothesis applies to the Balkan Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica): an ecological overview from a Natura 2000 site in Greece
Presentation in the third International Rupicapra Symposium. Croatia, 16-18 June 2021. Pdf open access (English).
Kati. V., Kassara, C., Tzortzakaki. O. , Petridou, M., Psaralexi, M., Galani, A., Gotsis, D., Papantoniou, S., Papaioannou, H. 2022. Greece shows the way for a roadless policy in Europe: links with the European biodiversity strategy. 6th European Congress of Conservation Biology (ECCB) “Biodiversity crisis in a changing world”. Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. 22-26 August.
Road sprawl is a key catalyst of land-use change, the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, and its negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function are well documented. Although Europe is the most fragmented continent of the world, the reduction of fragmentation from roads and artificial land does not appear in the key commitments of the European Biodiversity Strategy. In January 2022, Greece has endorsed the first national roadless legislation in the EU. The “Untrodden Mountains” governmental project has used scientific evidence to impede road and artificial land expansion in six large mountainous roadless areas (0.74% of Greek land) aiming at fragmentation mitigation and effective biodiversity conservation. Research is ongoing, involving extensive road mapping using satellite imagery. We have identified 55 roadless areas over 10 km2 (2.42% of Greek land), whilst over 60% of the 774 smaller candidate areas (1-10 km2) and 90% of the 3642 islands evaluated are expected to be added to the national roadless map when completed. We suggest roadless policy expansion in Greece and the EU, by integrating roadless areas in the criteria of (a) defining strictly protected zones, (b) expanding and interconnecting Natura 2000 sites, (c) defining rewilding restoration targets in the European Biodiversity Strategy.
Κατή Β., Πετρίδου Μ., Τζωρτζακάκη Ο., Παπαντωνίου Ε., Γαλάνη Α., Ψαραλέξη Μ., Γκότσης Δ., Παπαϊωάννου Χ. & Χ. Κασσάρα. 2023. Οι περιοχές χωρίς δρόμους της Ελλάδας ως προτεραιότητα για την προστασία της άγριας φύσης και του τοπίου: σύνδεση με το δίκτυο Natura 2000 και το χωροταξικό σχεδιασμό. 11ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Οικολογίας. Πάτρα, 4-7 Οκτωβρίου 2023.
Η διατήρηση οικοσυστημάτων υψηλής οικολογικής ακεραιότητας αποτελεί στόχο της Παγκόσμιας Στρατηγικής για τη Βιοποικιλότητα, συνάδοντας με το στόχο της αυστηρής προστασίας του 10% του εδάφους στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση.
Παρουσιάζουμε τον εθνικό χάρτη των Αδιατάρακτων Φυσικών Περιοχών χωρίς δρόμους (ΑΦΠ) της Ελλάδας (https://bc.lab.uoi.gr/el/research/projects/roadless/). Καλύπτουν το 6.1% της Ελλάδας (451 περιοχές) και βρίσκονται κυρίως στα βουνά και τα νησιά: 256 στην ηπειρωτική Ελλάδα, 133 στα νησιά, και 62 είναι νησιά εξολοκλήρου άνευ δρόμων (ΝΑΦΠ). Οι περισσότερες νησίδες έκτασης μικρότερης του ενός τ.χλμ δεν έχουν δρόμους (96%: 3456 νησίδες).
Οι ΑΦΠ/ΝΑΦΠ δεν έχουν τεχνητές εκτάσεις, είναι αδιατάρακτες (γεωργική δραστηριότητα 99% της έκτασής τους καλύπτεται από δάση και ημιφυσικές εκτάσεις). Το 68% και 86% της έκτασης των ΑΦΠ και ΝΑΦΠ αντίστοιχα εμπίπτει στο δίκτυο Natura 2000. Aπαντώνται επίσης σε τοπία με χαμηλό δείκτη κατακερματισμού. Είναι ανθεκτικές στην απώλεια της φυσικότητας και στις πυρκαγιές. Οι πυρκαγιές έκαψαν το 1.6% της έκτασης των δασών και ημιφυσικών εκτάσεών τους την περίοδο 2008-2022, αλλά το ποσοστό ήταν 2.7 φορές μεγαλύτερο στα αντίστοιχα οικοσυστήματα με δρόμους της Ελλάδας (4.3%). Οι περισσότερες περιοχές (302) έχουν έκταση άνω των 10 τ.χλμ και ικανοποιούν τα κριτήρια θεώρησής τους ως άγριες φυσικές περιοχές (wilderness). Η διείσδυση των ΑΠΕ απειλεί τις μισές ΑΦΠ (48%) και το ένα τρίτο των ΝΑΦΠ (33%).
Υποστηρίζουμε τη χρήση των ΑΦΠ/ΝΑΦΠ (α) στην οριοθέτηση των αυστηρά προστατευόμενων ζωνών του δικτύου Natura, (β) στον εντοπισμό, χαρτογράφηση και προστασία των πρωτογενών-παλαιών δασών, (γ) στην επέκταση του δικτύου προστατευόμενων περιοχών, (δ) στην προστασία των φυσικών τοπίων, και (ε) στην οριοθέτηση ζωνών αποκλεισμού νέων υποδομών και αναπτυξιακών έργων στα χωροταξικά σχέδια. Προτείνουμε μια οριζόντια εθνική νομοθεσία προστασίας του τοπίου, με επίκεντρο τις 302 άγριες φυσικές περιοχές της Ελλάδας.
Zografou K, Anagnostellis K, Brokaki M, Dimaki M. 2023. MEIOSIS: Museum specimens shed light in biodiversity shrinkage, Helecos 11th National Ecological Conference, 4-7 October 2023, Patra, Greece. Poster.
Nanopoulou I., Yiotis C., Fotiadis G., Kati V., Profitis S., Adamidis G.C. (2024). Plants of mountain grasslands and ecosystem functioning along a gradient of grazing intensity and aridity. 18th Panhellenic Scientific Conference of the Hellenic Botanical Society, 2-5 October, Thessaloniki, Greece. Poster presentation.
Abstract: Mediterranean mountainous grassland ecosystems are under increased pressure due to the combined impact of human activities and climate change. Specifically, unsustainable livestock grazing, combined with increasing aridity, may negatively affect biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the ecosystem services they provide. The LIVEMOUNT project studies the nexus grazing-biodiversity-climate change, while this study investigates variation of functional traits of dominant plant species, their leaf damage by herbivores and pathogens, as well as the assessment of their photosynthetic rate and stress levels imposed along a dual gradient of grazing intensity and aridity. This research was conducted in 32 sampling areas of the Natura 2000 network in the mountains of Parnassos, Oiti, Tymfristos, Tzoumerka, Lakmos, Mitsikeli, Tymfi, and Smolikas. The measurement of plant functional traits was conducted in two representative 5x5m plots in each study area. In each plot, leaf area, leaf length, leaf width, leaf thickness, leaf dry leaf mass, and specific leaf area of dominant species with a combined coverage >60-80% were measured. Chlorophyll fluorescence-based methods and porometry were used to measure the gas exchange capacity, photosynthetic efficiency and stress levels of the same species, when possible. Herbivore and pathogen leaf damage was recorded in four sampling plots per study area. Part of the samples was stored for future analysis of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon concentrations, while in the next sampling period, the floral traits of the dominant species (flower color and size and nectar volume and concentration) will be measured. The assessment of the combined impact of grazing intensity and aridity on mountainous grassland ecosystems’ functioning will lead to the development of improved management and conservation policies.
Kati V., Fotiadis G., Adamidis G.C., Giotis C., Vrachnakis M., Kazoglou Y., Gougoulias N., Kassara C., Petridou M., Zografou K., Tzortzakaki O., Nasiou K., Nanopoulou I., Stefanidis A., Profitis S., Papaioannou H., Staratzis E., Andreou I. (2024). LIVEMOUNT: Research for sustainable grazing in high mountains under climate change. 1st Panhellenic Agroforestry Congress, 17-19 October, Karpenisi, Greece. Oral presentation.
Abstract: LIVEMOUNT tackles the nexus grazing-biodiversity-climate change, focusing on the mountainous grasslands of Greece. In full compliance with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the project will contribute to sustainable livestock farming in conditions of increasing aridity, through the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem function.
Kati V., Nasiou K., Kassara C., Petridou M., Stefanidis A. and Zografou K. (2025). Sustainable livestock grazing in Mediterranean mountains for insect conservation. International Mountain Conference, September 14-18, Innsbruck, Austria. Oral presentation.
Abstract: Sustainable livestock grazing is challenging in Mediterranean mountainous grasslands, under the increasing aridity stress, stemming from global warming. We aimed to define the optimal range of stocking rate for insect diversity conservation in mountainous grasslands (1,470-1,850 m) in Pindos Mountain Range in Greece (nine mountains, including protected areas of the Natura 2000 network). We sampled 32 sites along a gradient of pasture quality (LAI-Leaf Area Index) and humidity (NDII-mean Normalized Difference Infrared Moisture Index). For three butterfly seasons (June-July-August 2024), we recorded 104 butterfly species across one transect (300 x 5 m) per site, and 14 microhabitat parameters across four plots (5 x 5 m) per site. During August, we recorded 47 Orthoptera species in the same plots. We produced the Time-Weighted Grazing Index (TWGI) (96 values: 32 sites X 3 seasons), by multiplying the Livestock Units/ha (data collected from interviews with 55 livestock farmers) with the number of grazing days/ overall days of the vegetation growth season, implying the butterfly flight period window. Pasture quality (LAI), humidity (NDII), vegetation height and cover, and flowerheads significantly decreased from June to August, and TWGI and litter cover increased. Models showed that TWGI negatively affected vegetation height, vegetation cover and flowerhead abundance, and positively litter cover. Models also showed that vegetation heights of 15–20 cm ensured the highest butterfly species richness and abundance (and a litter cover of 25-30% only for butterfly species richness). Orthoptera species richness peaked at 1,650–1,750 m elevation and 20–50% vegetation cover, with their abundance positively related to vegetation height and negatively to stone cover. Preliminary findings suggest a stocking rate of up to 0.108 LVU/ha in arid pastures (NDII2000) to maintain adequate vegetation height and cover for butterfly and orthoptera conservation in the high mountains. These results underline the need to define sustainable grazing management plans in the mountainous pastures accounting for both livestock farming sector sustainability and biodiversity conservation, under climate change. This study was funded by H.F.R.I. (LIVEMOUNT project).
Nasiou K., Zografou K., Radović A., Stefanidis A. and Kati V. (2025). Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity patterns of butterflies in Northern Pindos National Park (Greece). 6th International Symposium on Future of Butterflies & Moths, 3-5 April, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Poster presentation.
Abstract: We explored the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity patterns of mountainous butterfly communities (80 species) in N. Greece. We conducted 300 m transects (3 repetitions, from June to September 2022) in grasslands and forest clearings (1,250 to 1,940 m) within the Natura 2000 sites of Smolikas and Tymfi mountains (11 sites each) and collected 20 environmental parameters. We considered 11 functional traits covering body size, feeding mode, mobility and phenology facets, and a phylogenetic tree to compute seven functional and three phylogenetic diversity indices. The RLQ ordination method explained 37 percent of trait inertia and the fourth corner method identified 25 percent of environmental and trait relationships as important and three as statistically significant. Species level responses reflected that 50 of 80 species had unique abundance patterns shaped by trait and environment interactions. Generalized linear models for butterfly communities indicated that elevation predicts negatively abundance and phylogenetic diversity, slope predicts negatively species richness, mean herb height predicts positively species richness, abundance and phylogenetic diversity, and flowerhead abundance predicts positively species and functional richness. Respective models for SPEC butterflies indicated that elevation, mean herb height and flowerhead abundance predict positively abundance. Seasonal differences of the Community Temperature Index indicated advanced spring appearance for the cold adapted species. Our results highlight the importance of maintaining adequate food resources (flowerheads) and optimal herb height (mean 11 cm) in mountainous grasslands through sustainable livestock grazing and the importance of considering all three diversity aspects in conservation. Data analysis was funded by H.F.R.I. (LIVEMOUNT project).
Nasiou K., Zografou K., Kassara C., Petridou M., Tzortzakaki O. and Kati V. (2025). LIVEMOUNT project: Butterfly community responses in montane grasslands under grazing and aridity stresses (Greece). 6th International Symposium on Future of Butterflies & Moths, 3-5 April, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Poster presentation.
Abstract: The LIVEMOUNT project explores the interplay between biodiversity, grazing, and climate change, aiming to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services while supporting sustainable livestock farming under global warming. The project focuses on montane grasslands in the Pindos Mountain range, spanning nine mountains (11 Natura 2000 sites). We selected 32 sites above tree line (from 1,470 up to 1,850 m) without tree cover, maximizing the gradient range of pasture quality (Leaf Area Index difference) and humidity (mean Normalized Difference Infrared (Moisture) Index) accounting for the past five years. We defined the stocking density (in terms of Livestock Units per ha) per site through targeted interviews with livestock farmers. Butterflies were selected as one of three biodiversity taxa studied due to their sensitivity to microclimatic changes and grazing intensity. With transect surveys (300 x 5 m), we recorded 104 butterfly species, including 4 listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive and with quadrats (5 x 5 m) we measured 14 environmental parameters. Field sampling was conducted during the grazing season (from June to August 2024) with three seasonal visits per site. Our next step is to study the turnover of the butterfly community patterns across the grazing and aridity stress gradient and explore the impact of grazing and climate change on species diversity. Funding was received by Hellenic Foundation for Research & Innovation.