ROADLESS

Title

ROADLESS
Roadless Αreas and sustainable development in Greece

Year

2019 - 2020

Funding

Measure: Innovative actions with citizens
39.831€

Coordinator

Partners

Project team

Assoc. Prof. Vassiliki Kati, scientific coordinator

Antonia Galani, project coordinator

Dr. Christina Kassara, biologist

Dr. Haritakis Papaioannou, biologist

Dr. Olga Tzortzakaki, biologist

Maria Psaralexi, biologist, PhD student (AUTH)

Maria Petridou, agronomist, PhD student (BCL/UOI)

Monika Hoffmann, forester, PhD student, Polish Academy of Sciences

Title

NATLAND
Undisturbed natural areas of Greece
(SEBI 13)

Year

2021-2022

Funding

Green Fund
Measure: Natural environment and innovative actions.
85.000€

Coordinator

Project team

Prof. Vassiliki Kati, scientific coordinator

Antonia Galani, biologist            

Dr. Christina Kassara, biologist

Dr. Haritakis Papaioannou, biologist

Dr. Olga Tzortzakaki, biologist

Maria Psaralexi, biologist, PhD student (AUTH)

Maria Petridou, agronomist, PhD student (BCL/UOI)

Dimitris Gotsis, Engineer

Stratos Papantoniou, MSc student (BCL)

 

Halt landscape fragmentation from road sprawl and the consequent biodiversity loss in natural ecosystems in Greece

  • How serious is the problem of landscape fragmentation in Greece?
  • Are any roadless areas remaining in Greece as high natural value landscapes and where?
  • How much has the Nature 2000 network contributed to halting nature fragmentation ?
  • What are the effects of roads on Balkan chamois population in Mount Tymfi?
  • What is the opinion of Greek society about roads?
  • How roadless areas can be integrated into the European and national environmental policy?

  • How could natural undisturbed areas be expanded and connected?

It is not by coincidence that the biodiversity crisis era happens at the same time with the most explosive road sprawl in human history. With the length of paved roads projected to increase at a magnitude of 60% by 2050, road sprawl is a key driver triggering or accelerating land use change, which is recognized to be the top threat for biodiversity decline globally and in the EU. On one hand, road infrastructure is known to promote economic growth and human welfare, but on the other hand it causes land use change, fragmentation, increase of artificial land, chemical pollution, hydrological disruption, soil erosion, acceleration of biological invasions, animal mortality, overexploitation of natural resources and other often irreversible negative impacts to wildlife and ecosystem functioning. Humanity is dependent on biodiversity and ecosystem services and hence threatened by their collapse. The conservation of roadless areas (RAs) is recognized as a cost-effective and efficient tool to preserve biodiversity and its benefits for humans.

According to a recent report of the European Environmental Agency, Greece is less fragmented than the rest of Europe but presents higher rates of fragmentation increase. We evaluate the fragmentation intensity of Greece in terms of RAs number and extend. RAs are those land patches over 1 km2 that are at least 1 km away from the nearest road. We work in the science-policy interface suggesting the legal conservation of large RAs and roadless islands are wilderness areas of high ecological, natural and aesthetic value that they should be preserved from degradation and fragmentation.

BCL has undertook two projects (ROADLESS, NATLAND) to deliver the national roadless map of Greece, update the SEBI 13 European indicator, and provide scientific evidence and guidelines for incorporating roadless areas in national environmental policy and planning.

ROADLESS project activities:

  • Road mapping and delineation of extended RAs (over 50 km2) using GIS
  • Spatial data analysis of roadless areas polygons vs the Natura 2000 network
  • Ecological modeling to assess the contribution RAs to the conservation of wild fauna, taking as a case study the Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) population in Tymfi mountain (species protected by the Habitats Directive 92/43/EC)
  • Synthesis of results in a final report on the use of extended RAs in the national environmental planning
  • Public awareness and result dissemination activities to the scientific community (databases, papers) and to policy makers and society (website, popular science, online questionnaire, policy brief, video spot)

 

NATLAND project activities:

  • Road mapping and delineation of all roadless areas in Greece above 1 km2
  • Identification of roadless islands of any size
  • Update of the European Indicator SEBI 13 for Greece “Fragmentation of natural and semi-natural ecosystems”, and of the relevant chapter in the national environmental state outlook
  • Synthesis of research outputs in a final report on the use of undisturbed natural areas (roadless areas and their buffer zone of 1km) in national environmental policy and planning
  • Public awareness and result dissemination activities to policy makers and society (website, popular science, policy brief, webinars)

 

Databases

Description: You can find here the database of the roadless areas of Greece  produced under the project NATLAND  funded by the Green Fund. 

 

Description: The dataset presents the roadless areas (RAs) of Greece (2/2020) in kmz format (Google Earth).  RAs are defined as those land patches of a size greater than 1 sq.km that are at least 1 km away from the nearest road. The dataset pinpoints the 1.115 RAs, accounting for 4.99% of the Greek land. The map includes high and medium confidence data. Red polygons indicate the RAs with an area ≥50 sq.km (high confidence data). They cover 0.51% of the Greek land and are located in six remote mountains: Lefka Ori, Timfi, Olympos, Taygetos, Saos, and Smolikas. The present database is the output of ROADLESS project. It is linked to the publication Kati et al (2020: Biol Cons) and it was used by the Greek government to set up the “untrodden mountain” legislation, offering protection to all large roadless areas (apart from Olympos that is protected under a recent Presidential Decree), plus a smaller roadless area (Hatzi mountain). Orange polygons indicated the RAs with an area 1-50 sq.km and are of medium confidence, because their roads are not fully digitized. This version is not used any more. It is replaced with the v2 (2022) where all data are of high confidence.

International publications

Preserving ecosystems of high ecological integrity is a crucial target in Biodiversity Strategies, also serving the 10 % target of strict land protection in the European Union (EU). We recommend roadless mapping to delineate wilderness and monitor progress against loss in natural areas. We mapped Greece’s roadless land and assessed its ecological attributes. It accounted for 6.1 % of Greece and comprised 451 roadless sites of size over 1 km2: 389 roadless areas and 62 fully roadless islands. Roadless sites occurred in mountains and islands, were undeveloped (no artificial land), undisturbed (no major pressures, <1 % agricultural activity, low Human Influence Index), and natural (>99 % of natural and seminatural vegetation cover, 68 % of their extent in the Natura 2000 network). They also lay in a wilderness continuum of low landscape fragmentation index. Most roadless sites (302) were larger than 10 km2. Larger roadless areas occurred more in higher mountains and steeper terrains, had a lower Human Influence Index and a better Natura 2000 coverage. Roadless sites demonstrated a buffering capacity against naturalness loss and fires (2.5 times lower percentage of burnt land than the national average) but were vulnerable to Renewable Energy Sources deployment, particularly wind farms (33 % of roadless areas might be affected). In support of a roadless policy we suggest using roadless sites to delimit the strictly protected zones in the EU (and Greece), to map primary-old-growth forests, and pinpoint new candidate protected areas. We strongly recommend revisiting the REPowerEU plan to define roadless sites as non-go-to areas for relevant infrastructure deployments.

On 18 January 2022, the Greek government banned road construction in six Natura 2000 roadless mountainous areas, triggering a broader national roadless policy (1). Road sprawl is a key catalyst of land use change, which is the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide (2). For years, scientists have called for halting infrastructure expansion, including roads, to protect biodiversity (3–6), with little success. Greece’s policy should serve as a model for the EU.

Europe is the most road-fragmented continent (4). However, the EU has not passed so far legislation to protect its natural ecosystems from new road construction, as the United States did for their forests with the Roadless Area Conservation Rule of 2001 (5, 6). In 2011, the EU set a goal to eliminate new land conversion to artificial land by 2050 (known as the “no net land take” milestone) (7), but the target was not legally binding. In the years since, land conversion to artificial land, soil imperviousness, landscape fragmentation, and land use change have increased, and terrestrial biodiversity continues to decline (8). The EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy commits to legally protect a minimum of 30% of the EUs’ land area but does not address road fragmentation (9). The plan will allocate billions of Euros for planting trees and restoring degraded environments but leave natural ecosystems vulnerable to new roads and land-consuming projects. This conflict is particularly pronounced in biodiversity-rich European countries such as Spain and Greece, which are facing a rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructures in ecologically sensitive zones (10, 11).

Europe is a densely populated continent that still holds large tracts of natural unfragmented lands (12). The EU should adopt a roadless policy (5) similar to the Greek legislation. Roadless areas should be integrated into the criteria for expansion, interconnection, and strict protection of parts of the Natura 2000 network, and roadless areas should be considered proactive restoration targets (9). The Greek model could provide an efficient, straightforward, and cost-effective approach to tackle both climate change and the biodiversity crisis in the EU.

[1] Biodiversity Conservation Lab, University of Ioannina, “Roadless” (2022); https://bc.lab.uoi.gr/en/research/projects/roadless/. [2] S. Díaz et al., Science 366, eaax3100 (2019). [3]W. F. Laurance et al., Nature 513, 229 (2014). [4] P. L. Ibisch et al., Science 354, 1423 (2016).[5] V. Kati et al., Biol. Conserv. 252, 108828 (2020).[6] N. Selva et al., Environ. Manage. 48, 865 (2011). [7] European Union, “Science for environmental policy. Future brief: No net land take by 2050?” (2016); https://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/no_net_land_take_by_2050_FB14_en.pdf. [8] European Environmental Agency, “The European environment-state and outlook 2020: Knowledge for transition to a sustainable Europe” (2019); www.eea.europa.eu/soer/2020. [9] European Commission, “EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030” (2020); https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/strategy/index_en.htm. [10] D. Serrano et al., Science 370, 1282 (2020). [11] V. Kati et al., Sci. Tot. Environ. 768, 144471 (2021). [12] European Environmental Agency, “Landscape fragmentation pressure and trends in Europe” (2021); www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/mobility-and-urbanisation-pressure-on-ecosystems-2/assessment.

Abstract: Land use change poses as the top threat for biodiversity decline, and road sprawl as a key driver behind it globally. According to the recent Landscape Fragmentation Indicator (LFI), Greece is less fragmented than the rest of Europe but presents higher rates of fragmentation increase. We developed the Roadless Fragmentation Indicator (RFI) to monitor fragmentation in more natural ecosystems. The RFI calculates the percentage of land that is covered by roadless areas (RAs), defined as land patches over 1 km2 that are over 1 km away from the nearest road. We produced the roadless map of Greece, concluding to 1115 RAs ranked by size (1–256 km2) and to a national RFI of less than 5%. The RFI reflected naturalness, was significantly higher in the Natura 2000 network, and was more sensitive in less fragmented zones. Six mountains (0.51% of Greek land) have remained largely roadless (RAs ≥ 50 km2) and should be protected as such. We call for a straightforward roadlessness policy under a “European Roadless Rule” that would legally protect at least 2% of European land as road-free area. We also call for no further unjustified road sprawl in more natural and least fragmented ecosystems, as a measure to be integrated in all sectors of EU policy and particularly in the spatial planning of development projects. We recommend a five-step roadlessness guideline to be implemented in the European Union, including Greece, as a measure to effectively address biodiversity decline.

Abstract: Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) is a protected species with an Inadequate-Bad (U2) conservation status in Greece. Our study explores its seasonal range use pattern, demography and habitat selection in a site of the Natura 2000 network, Timfi Mountain. To this aim, we examined 1168 observations obtained from six seasonal surveys (2002: four seasons, 2014 and 2017: autumn) and performed an ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA), using 16 environmental and human-disturbance variables. The species had an annual range of 6491 ha (25% of the study area), followed the typical range-use pattern, and presented the minimum core area during the rutting season (autumn). Timfi Mt hosted 469 individuals in 2017 (the largest population in Greece), increasing by 3.55 times since 2002. The species selected higher altitudes during summer and autumn, pinewoods over broad-leaved woods as winter grounds, and it avoided south-facing slopes. Our results supported the anthropogenic risk avoidance hypothesis; the species always selected remote areas away from roads, human settlements, and hunting grounds. In Greece, 40% of its distribution area falls within hunting ban areas (16.5% of the country). A national conservation policy is needed towards maintaining and increasing roadless areas and hunting-ban areas within Balkan chamois range nationwide. [Open access publication].

Webinars/Conferences

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.

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.

Description: 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.
video

Presentation in the third International Rupicapra Symposium. Croatia, 16-18 June 2021. Pdf open access (English). 

Policy briefs

Policy brief -2022 (in Greek) 

Kati V., Kassara C., Papaioannou H. 2022. Undisturbed natural areas of Greece and sustainable development. Project NATLAND funded by the Green Fund. University of Ioannina, Ioannina, pp 42. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31581.49122

Policy brief -2020 (in Greek) 

Kati, V., Kassara, Ch., Psaralexi, M., Tzortzakaki, O. Petridou M., Papaioannou H., Galani. A. 2020. The Roadless Areas (RAs) as a tool of environmental planning in Greece. Pindos Perivallontiki & University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece: 10 p. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33332.27526

In this section we provide: (a) an overview of the roadlessness legislation, where you can find the rationale of the new legislation, as communicated by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy in January 2022, in the frame of the project untrodden mountains, (b) the content of the legislation, describing the articles of the six Ministerial Decisions in English, and (c) the Ministerial Decisions (in Greek) followed by their respective maps (kmz files).

The following information notice was published from the press office of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy

Tuesday, 18 January 2022

Information Note

How are “Untrodden Mountains” defined?

“Untrodden Mountains” are defined as Roadless Areas (RAs) surrounded by a buffer zone of one kilometer (RAs+ radius 1 km). In these areas new roads and other artificial interventions, which alter or degrade the natural environment, are prohibited. In addition, they are subject to a strict protection regime.

Which areas will be included in the Untrodden Mountains?
  • Lefka Ori – Area: 382.06 sq.km. | Altitude: 0-2.453 m.
  • Saos – Area: 97.30 sq.km. | Altitude: 0-1.611 m.
  • Smolikas – Area: 102.89 sq.km. | Altitude: 782-2.637 m.
  • Tymfi – Area: 202.75 sq.km. | Altitude: 460-2.497 m.
  • Taygetos – Area: 143.23 sq.km. | Altitude: 432-2.407 m.
  • Hatzi – Area: 45.61 sq.km. | Altitude: 598-2.038 m.
How did we institutionalize Roadless Areas?

By Ministerial Decision, authorizing article 47 of law 4685/2020, per region:

  • Formal ban of the construction of roads accessible by motor vehicles, the extension of the existing ones regardless of category, as well as any kind of technical intervention, alteration, or deterioration of the natural environment.
  • Legally existing projects and their maintenance are not affected.
  • Marking, repairing, maintaining, and improving existing mountaineering and hiking trails is allowed, without the use of motorized means of access and provided that the interventions will be implemented with natural materials.
  • Projects for the purposes of National Defense, as defined in accordance with the provisions of current legislation, are excluded from the terms and restrictions.
  • Projects and interventions that are implemented due to emergencies (earthquakes, floods, disasters, fires, etc.) are excluded from the above prohibitions, if care is taken afterwards for the restoration of the environment, as well as projects and interventions that are deemed necessary for reasons of protection and or restoration of the natural and forest environment.
Is this initiative blocking investments?

“Untrodden Mountains” are a brake on the overexploitation of the environment by human activities, but without putting obstacles in investments, as they concern areas untouched over time.

Ecotourism can be developed in any area that is interesting in terms of biodiversity and landscape aesthetics, contributing to the maintenance or creation of incentives for the transition to green economic activity such as organic farming, promotion of traditional products, etc.

What are the benefits of “Untrodden Mountains”?
  • They contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.
  • They prevent the entry of invasive alien species.
  • They provide migration routes and intermediate stopovers to fauna species.
  • They capture carbon and reduce the effects of greenhouse gases.
  • They maintain the connectivity and integrity of ecosystems.
  • They offer recreation, education, and scientific knowledge to citizens.
  • They regulate and maintain ecosystem services: clean water supply, erosion control, healthy soil, air quality, climate regulation, crop pollination, high resistance to parasite epidemics.
How do we define “land fragmentation” and what are the consequences of this phenomenon?

Land fragmentation is the segmentation of natural ecosystems into pieces by the increase of roads and artificial surfaces.

Fragmentation has direct consequences in:

  • Loss, congregation, and isolation of the habitats of species
  • Population declines and local extinctions of species
  • Degradation of ecological processes

Greece’s fragmentation index is half than that of Europe, but it is growing faster. Specifically:

  • Greece was ranked in the first place of artificial land increase in Europe (2015)
  • Construction sites and roads consume more land in Greece than in Europe.
  • The road network of Greece has a length of more than 367,000 km, while the probability of being at a distance greater than one kilometer from any road is only 5.43%.
What is the relationship of roads with biodiversity loss?

Roads facilitate the transport of people and goods and are directly linked to enhancing economic development locally and nationally.

Despite the significant benefits of having a useful road network, roads are related to the top five causes of biodiversity loss worldwide, which are in descending order of severity:

  • Land use change
  • Direct natural resources exploitation
  • Climate change
  • Pollution
  • Invasive species

Roads are therefore considered to be one of the main causes of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation worldwide, especially when penetrating natural ecosystems and formerly undisturbed areas.

The habitats of species are shrinking, populations are isolated, wildlife mortality from vehicle collisions on the road network is increasing.

At the same time, all the ecosystem services associated with the soil, such as decomposition, or nitrogen cycle, are lost, as the soil is sealed and converted into artificial land.

Human health is indirectly affected through the increase of pollution and the facilitation of the spread of diseases.

Why are “Roadless Areas” a matter of global interest?

We live in an unprecedented time of biodiversity crisis. The sixth mass extinction of species in Earth history, attributed to anthropogenic causes, has begun, and at least 70% of the earth has been degraded, posing a serious threat to human well-being.

At the same time, we live in a time of culmination of the expansion of artificial surfaces and especially of roads.

The length of the new paved roads is expected to increase by 59% by 2050.

Top scientists consider road construction as the worst threat to the planet for the loss of biodiversity, and therefore the preservation of Roadless Areas as the key policy to halt the loss of biodiversity.

This new trend of conservation of Roadless Areas has now been embraced by global societies (SCB, IUCN, UNEP, Conservation International, Tebtebba) and the issue has taken global dimensions at the United Nations Summit on the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 11, India. and in Rio + 20, Brazil, 2012).

Is there a statute of “Untrodden Mountains” in the EU?

Greece becomes the first country in Europe to institutionalize “Untrodden Mountains”.

 The issue of natural land fragmentation was considered to be one of the greatest challenges in the EU in the vote of the European Parliament on 08/06/2021 for the new Biodiversity Strategy 2030, entitled “Return of Nature to our lives”, which took place in early June. Besides, the obligation to assign a strict protection regime to at least 10% of the territory of each country was voted.

The European Commission has put forward a proposal for legally binding EU restoration targets in 2021. The restoration of EU ecosystems will contribute to enhance biodiversity, mitigate and adapt to climate change and prevent and reduce the effects of natural disasters.

The main objective of the EU initiative is to restore degraded ecosystems, especially those with the greatest potential:

  • Carbon capture and storage.
  • Prevention and reduction of the effects of natural disasters.
  • Soil health and pollination.
  • Improving the knowledge and monitoring of ecosystems and their services.

With the institutionalization of the Untrodden Mountains, we proactively follow this restoration policy.

“Roadless Areas” conservation first began in 2001 in the United States under the title “The Roadless Rule” and is currently being studied by the European Union to be integrated into the objectives of the Green Agreement.

With what goals are “Roadless Areas” harmonized?

Roadless Areas contribute to the achievement of 12 objectives of the National Biodiversity Strategy such as:

  • Preservation of the national physical capital (objective 2.1).
  • Delineation of ecological corridors (objective 3.3).
  • Enhancement of the synergy of key sectoral policies by conserving biodiversity and establishing incentives (targets 5.1-5.8).
  • Conservation of landscape diversity (objective 6.2).
  • Dealing with invasive alien species (objective 8.2).

Furthermore, based on the recent United Nations National Assessment Report on the Sustainable Development Goals, eight national priorities were set by the General Secretariat of the Government for Agenda 2030.

The designation of the extended RAs and their introduction in the spatial planning of the country, is documented as a positive contribution to the achievement of three Sustainable Development Goals:

  • Responsible consumption and production (goal 12).
  • Climate action (goal 13).
  • Life on land (goal 15)

In the context of the 6th national priority under the title: “Strengthening the protection and sustainable management of natural capital as a basis for social prosperity and the transition to a low carbon economy”

Finally, Roadless Areas are in line with the European Landscape Convention, as ratified by Greece, according to which the landscape is “a key component of the European natural and cultural heritage”.

FROM THE PRESS OFFICE

Each Ministerial Decision is structured as follows:

Title

Terms and restrictions for the roadless area of the mountain [..name of the mountain]

The vice minister of Environment and Energy takes into consideration… a list of legal and other official documents is inventoried, referring also to our Roadless project as well as to the suggestions from the General Directorate of Environmental Policy of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (attached document in Ministerial Decisions section).

Article 1: Goal

The first article of all Ministerial Decisions presents the goal of the legislation, as follows:

“The purpose of the present is the effective protection of the habitat types and the flora, wild fauna and bird species and their habitats of the roadless area [name of the roadless area] through the institutionalization of special conditions and restrictions.

In particular, the following is sought:

(a) halting land-use change, which is the leading cause of biodiversity loss at global and European level;

(b) halting the expansion of artificial land and the fragmentation of natural ecosystems by roads and artificial surfaces, and their associated negative impacts on biodiversity;

(c) the conservation of the habitat types and the species of flora, wild fauna and avifauna occurring in the area;

(d) the preservation of the natural, cultural, historical, aesthetic and other values of the landscape as defined in the European Convention on Landscape;

(e) the preservation of mild traditional anthropogenic activities which do not disturb natural ecosystems and their natural evolution;

(f) the development of nature-loving, trekking, mountaineering, and ecological tourism in areas of high natural and aesthetic value compatible with the above individual objectives; and

(g) the institutionalization of conditions and restrictions to ensure the harmonious coexistence of man and nature in the context of mild and sustainable development.”

Article 2: Designation of the area that the decision applies

In the second article, the boundary of the roadless area is presented, followed by a map in Appendix 1, and by a table with the exact coordinates (Greek Grid) in Appendix 2, its area in square kilometers, and its elevation range (meters). The sites of the Natura 2000 network with their codes that overlap with the roadless area are also presented. The last paragraph stresses the importance of the area as an undisturbed natural area without roads accessible by motorized vehicles and other artificial surfaces.

Article 3: Terms and restrictions

The third article presents the restrictions and conditions in the roadless area defined in article 2 as follows:

“In the whole area of Article 2:

(1) It is prohibited the construction of roads accessible by motor vehicles, regardless of category, and any kind of technical intervention, alteration or deterioration of the natural environment.

(2) From the present, legally existing projects and their maintenance are not affected.

(3) In particular, marking, repairing, maintaining and improving existing mountaineering and hiking trails is allowed, without the use of motorized means of access and provided that the interventions will be implemented with natural materials.

(4) Projects for the purposes of National Defense, as determined in accordance with the provisions of current legislation, are exempted from the terms and restrictions of this.

(5) Exempted from the above prohibitions:

(a) projects and interventions implemented due to emergencies (earthquakes, floods, natural disasters, fires, etc.) if care is taken afterward to restore the environment.

(b) projects and interventions deemed necessary for reasons of protection and/or restoration of the natural and forest environment.”

Article 4: Control-Penalties

The article presents shortly the implementation of the Ministerial Decision as follows:

(1) The control of compliance with the provisions of this and the confirmation of any infringements for enforcement sanctions shall be made by the competent authorities on the basis of current legislation.

(2) The guarding and supervision of the area are implemented by the competent bodies.

Article 5

The article quotes “The validity of this decision starts from its publication and lasts for two (2) years.”

Appendices

The legislation includes Appendix 1 ( map of the roadless area) and Appendix 2 (coordinates of the roadless area)

For each roadless area, you can download: (a) the official ministerial decision as published in the governmental journal (FEK), (b) the suggestion signed from the General Directorate of Environmental Policy of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and (c) the map of the roadless area as a kmz file (Google Earth). All such files are available to download in this google drive “FEK_6_Roadless Areas” [It is dynamically updated with new legislation when published].

Impact of roadless legislation

Short review of the feedback of stakeholders on the Greek roadless areas legislation, including scientific societies, and NGOs.

International networks

SCB Europe Press Release: Greece gives legal protection to roadless areas.  27/1/2022. See here και here  

SCB Europe letter to the European Commission on roadless policy and fast renewable infrastructure development. 26/3/2021. See here  

NEMOR letter to the European Commission on “Need for European mountainous landscapes conservation through a roadless policy”. 12/7/2022. See here 

WILD EUROPE: Greece leads the way to roadless protection. See here

 

National announcements (in Greek) 

26/1/2022: Hellenic Ecological Society. Announcement

27/1/2022. Hellenic Zoological Society. Announcement.

9/2/2022. Hellenic Ornithological Society. Announcement 

9/2/2022. Announcement of 11 Greek NGOS: ΑΝΙΜΑ, Arcturos, Elliniki Etairia-Society for the Environment and Cultura Heritage,  Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Callisto, Ecological Recycling Society, Greenpeace, MEDASSET, Mom, WWF

Science for society

Video: Prime Minister event on Untrodden Mountains (in Greek)

A meeting was held on 21/1/2022 in Maximou, where Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis introduces the first roadlessness legislation in the EU under the project “Untrodden Mountains” and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy G. Amyras presents the six Ministerial Decrees for roadless areas, suggesting the extension of the project to cover 50 more roadless areas. Mr. G. Rokas (Astraka refuge manager & ecoguide), Mrs M. Ganoti (ANIMA NGO) and Prof. V. Kati (University of Ioannina, Department of Biological Applications and Technology) are invited and provide opinions on the initiative of Untrodden Mountains. Ministers G. Gerapetritis, A. Skertsos, I. Oikonomou attended the meeting. The new roadlessness legislation was founded on the ROADLESS project of BCL and the relevant scientific publication in Biological Conservation (2020). 

Video spot for Roadless Areas of Greece (English, Greek)

Video spot for the conservation of the last roadless areas of Greece, as the last wilderness landscapes of high naturalness and high ecological value. CC BY-NC-ND: Biodiversity Conservation Lab (University of Ioannina) & Pindos Perivallontiki (English  & Greek subtitles).

video
video

OIKOTOPIA-Popular science article

Kati V. 2020. Towards a new European and national policy of road restriction. Oikotopia. Date: 27/12/2020. [In Greek]

HELECOS-Popular science article

Tymphi roadless area (@H. Papaioannou)

Kati V. 2022. New wind in Untrodden Mountains. Hellenic Ecological Society Newsletter (13).  Date: 1/2/2022. [In Greek].

How many more “Untrodden Mountains”?

The output of our research  is available as an open map in Google Earth (see research outputs – databases -v2) and suggestions on the use of the national roadless map of Greece in national environmental policy and legislation are included in the policy brief-2022 (Research outputs-Policy briefs). Here we show only the large undisturbed natural areas over 10 sqm for visualization reasons.  

The below inventory includes 55 roadless areas of Greece over 10 sqkm. The natural undisturbed areas without roads (AFP) are presented, i.e. the roadless areas (RAs) with their buffer zone of one km, with decreasing order in terms of AFP size. Their overlap with Natura 2000 is noted (%) and whether the area is in the mainland (H) or in an island (N) or/and an island completely without roads N-NAFP. The areas that have already been protected through Ministerial Decisions as roadless areas are noted and, in this case, the protected area (sqkm) is presented.  

 

Η/Ν

Name RA-AFP

Area (sqkm)

Natura (%)

Protected

Ν

Mount Lefka ori

382,06

96,93

Yes

Η

Mount Tymfi

202,75

96,55

Yes

Η

Mount Olympos

169,9

78,0

 

Η

Mount Taygetos

143,23

100,00

Yes

Η

Aetorachi-Nestos

107,34

100,00

 

Η

Mount Smolikas

102,89

99,27

Yes

Ν

Mount Saos

97,30

99,89

Yes

Η

Mount Chionovouni

95,73

37,13

 

Η

Mount Menoikio

70,5

100,0

 

Ν

Mount Dikti

69,3

100,0

 

Η

Mount Parnassos

66,7

100,0

 

Η

Mount Phalakro

66,6

90,1

 

Η

Arkoudorema-Flega-Avgo

56,88

94,45

 

Η

Kompsatos river-Thrakika Meteora

54,25

63,73

 

Ν

Mount Pelinaio

53,99

100,00

 

Η

Mount Erymanthos

53,84

100,00

 

Η

Dytika Agrafa

53,64

100,00

 

Η

Mount Grammos

52,33

100,00

 

Η

Parnonas (southeastern side)

51,57

88,15

 

Ν

Mount Pyksarias

51,38

100,00

 

Η

Mount Chelmos

50,49

100,00

 

Η

Ktenias-Nestani

47,21

19,34

 

Η

Mount Gkiona

46,68

99,40

 

Η

Mount Chatzi

45,61

98,40

Yes

Η

Mount Mainalo

44,98

100,00

 

Η

Frakto-Achladorema

44,78

100,00

 

Η

Thrakika Meteora-Lykotopos

44,07

69,37

 

Η

Polydroso-koryfi Psari-Kosmas

43,81

100,00

 

Η

Mount Chelidona

42,98

0,00

 

Η

Mount Papikio

42,87

40,59

 

Ν

Mount Psiloreitis

42,61

100,00

 

Ν

Kastri-Imerovigli

39,91

0,00

 

Η

Mount Achladovouni

39,46

0,00

 

Η

Rodopi-Koula

37,93

66,09

 

Η

Mount Kaliakouda

37,41

0,00

 

Η

Gyftissa-Tampouri

37,41

0,42

 

Η

Mount Athos

36,41

100,00

 

Ν

Mount Kochylas

35,53

95,00

 

Ν

Amorgos (northeastern side)

34,64

72,66

 

Η

Nedonas river (wider region)

33,58

17,55

 

Η

Mount Voras

33,51

100,00

 

Η

Mount Orvilos

32,69

57,81

 

Η

Mount Panaitoliko

31,55

96,66

 

Η

Mount Pinovo

30,21

100,00

 

Ν

Mount Kantili

28,45

100,00

 

Ν

Kyra Panagia

19,67

100,00

 

Ν

Saria

19,55

100,00

 

Ν

Psilo Petali

18,68

88,17

 

Ν-NAFP

Gyaros

17,51

100,00

 

Ν

Polyaigos

17,15

100,00

 

Ν-NAFP

Keros

15,18

100,00

 

Ν-NAFP

Peristera

14,13

100,00

 

Ν

Ydra (eastern side)

13,80

0,00

 

Ν

Dokos

12,95

0,00

 

Ν-NAFP

Gioura

11,05

100,00

 

Red polygons indicate very large natural undisturbed areas over 97 sqkm (PAD category >50 sqkm). Orange polygons indicate large natural undisturbed areas from 11 to 96 skqkm (PAD 10-50 sqkm)

Media

This section lists articles of the international or national/ local press referring to the scientific findings of our research. The articles are indicative and are quoted without necessarily reflecting the opinion of BCL. 

Συνεντεύξεις & άρθρα από το Εργαστήριο BCL (Interviews & artciles by BCL)

21/2/2022. Β. ΚΑΤΗ. Η εφημερίδα των Συντακτών. Διάλογος για τα Απάτητα Βουνά. [Το άρθρο συνιστά απάντηση σε τοποθέτηση του κ. Γ. ΜΠΑΛΙΑ από 13/2/2022 με τίτλο: Τα “Απάτητα Βουνά” και οι ταπεινωμένες κορυφές. Ένθετο  Νησίδες της εφημερίδας των Συντακτών]

12/2/2022. BCL dasarxeio.com Απάτητα Βουνά: Διαφάνεια και διάχυση της επιστημονικής γνώσης.

6/2/2022. Θ. ΑΡΑΜΠΑΤΖΗΣ. Ελευθερία [Λάρισα]. Έτσι θα μείνει ανέγγιχτος ο φυσικός πλούτος της Ελλάδας [Συνέντευξη Β. Κατή/ BCL]

3/2/2022. Γ. ΓΚΟΝΤΖΟΣ. Δημοτικό ραδιόφωνο Ιωαννίνων. Συνέντευξη για τις Περιοχές Άνευ Δρόμων. [ηχητικό αρχείο]

20/1/2022. E. ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΙΔΟΥ. Εκπομπή Ο3 -ΕΡΤ. Τα έξι “απάτητα βουνά” της Ελλάδας σε καθεστώς προστασίας. [Συνέντευξη  Χ. Κασσάρα/BCL (you tube)].

17/3/2021. Πράσινες Ιστορίες – ΕΡΤ. Περιοχές Άνευ Δρόμων. Ντοκυμαντέρ με συνέντευξη της Β. Κατή. Σκηνοθεσία Β. Ευθυμίου. [βίντεο ertflix].

Διεθνή ΜΜΕ (International Media)

10/2/2022: DNR- Dachverband der deutschen Natur-, Tier- und Umweltschutzorganisationen. Mit gutem Beispiel voran: Griechenland beschließt “straßenlose Zone” [German]

28/1/2022:  Paweł Wernicki. Nauka W Polsce. Grecja chroni swoje bezdroża [Polish]

Εθνικά ΜΜΕ (National Media)

24/2/2022. Τ. ΣΑΡΑΝΤΗΣ. Η εφημερίδα των Συντακτών. “Απάτητα Βουνά” μόλις το 1% των ορεινών εκτάσεων.

6/2/2022. Η εποχή. Έξι απάτητα βουνά, τα άλλα καταπατημένα

21/1/2022. CNN Greece. «Απάτητα Βουνά»: Σύσκεψη υπό τον Μητσοτάκη για την περιβαλλοντική θωράκισή τους

21/1/2022. Ελεύθερος Τύπος. Μητσοτάκης: Εξι «Απάτητα Βουνά» χωρίς ανεμογεννήτριες – Η άλλη όψη του αναπτυξιακού μας προγράμματος

21/1/2022. Έθνος. Έξι βουνά της χώρας σε καθεστώς πολύ αυξημένης περιβαλλοντικής θωράκισης – Τι είπε ο Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης

21/1/2022. Καθημερινή.  «Απάτητα βουνά»: Παρουσιάστηκε το σχέδιο.

21/1/2022. Πρώτο ΘΕΜΑ. Μητσοτάκης για «Απάτητα Βουνά»: Μπαίνουν σε καθεστώς αυξημένης περιβαλλοντικής θωράκισης

21/1/2022. Το Βήμα. Μητσοτάκης: Το project «απάτητα βουνά» είναι η άλλη όψη του αναπτυξιακού μας προγράμματος

20/1/2022. Β. ΕΥΘΥΜΙΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ. Liberal. Μια πρωτοβουλία μοναδικής σημασίας

20/1/2022. Ριζοσπάτης. Προσπάθεια απόκρυψης της ληστρικής εκμετάλλευσης και καταστροφής των ορεινών όγκων

19/1/2022. CAPITAL. Για ποια αιολικά πρότζεκτ θα παραμείνουν “απάτητα τα βουνά”

19/1/2022. Α. ΧΑΤΖΗΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ. Η εφημερίδα των Συντακτών. Τα απάτητα βουνά και η περιφέρεια του Κ. Σκρέκα

19/1/2022. Ναυτεμπορική. «Απάτητα» 6 βουνά της χώρας: Ποια project ανανεώσιμων πηγών παγώνουν

19/1/2022. Καθημερινή. Ποια είναι τα ελληνικά «Απάτητα Βουνά»

19/1/2022. ΤΑ ΝΕΑ. Το νέο καθεστώς για έξι βουνά

16/12/2021. Energia.gr. Γιώργος Αμυράς στην Βουλή για “Απάτητα Βουνά” και Προστατευόμενες Περιοχές Νatura

24/11/2021: Γ. ΛΙΑΛΙΟΣ. Καθημερινή. “Απάτητα βουνά μακριά από δρόμους και τσιμέντο. Ο Γ. Αμυράς μιλάει στην Κ

22/12/2020: Γ. ΛΙΑΛΙΟΣ. Καθημερινή. «Οι πολλοί δρόμοι βλάπτουν τη φύση»

1/11/2021. Ομιλία του Πρωθυπουργού Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη στη διάσκεψη των Ηνωμένων Εθνών για την κλιματική αλλαγή COP26 (Ανακοίνωση των Απάτητων Βουνών). Primeminister.gr

Τοπικά ΜΜΕ (Local)

6/2/2022. Ελευθερία [Λάρισα]. Έτσι θα μείνει ανέγγιχτος ο φυσικός πλούτος της Ελλάδας

6/2/2022. Ρέθεμνος. [Κρήτη]. Αγία Ρουμέλη: Γιατί ζητά να εξαιρεθεί από τον θεσμό «Απάτητα Βουνά»

4/2/2022: Ευρυτανικός παλμός. [Ευρυτανία]. Θα γίνουν… ‘Απάτητα’ τα βουνά της Ευρυτανίας;

4/2/2022. Χ. ΜΕΓΑΣ. Μαχητής. [Άρτα]. Τα απάτητα και τα «σπαρμένα» με… ικριώματα βουνά μας

3/2/2022. The Best [Πάτρα]. Τα έξι “απάτητα” βουνά της Ελλάδας σε καθεστώς προστασίας

28/1/2022. Γ. ΧΑΛΑΤΣΗ. Ηπειρωτικός Αγών. [Ιωάννινα].  Άλλοθι για την αντιπεριβαλλοντική πολιτική τα «Απάτητα Βουνά»

19/1/2022. TheNewspaper.gr. Ποια είναι τα ελληνικά «Απάτητα Βουνά» – Φρένο σε επενδύσεις ΑΠΕ

22/1/2022 .Epiruspost.gr. [Ήπειρος] «Απάτητα Βουνά» με βάση την μελέτη της Κικής Κατή

19/12/2021. Β. ΑΓΓΕΛΗ. typos-i. [Ιωάννινα]. Στα «Απάτητα Βουνά» της Τύμφης και του Σμόλικα (κι όχι μόνο)

25/12/2020: Ρέθεμνος. [Κρήτη] «Απειλή για το περιβάλλον η διάνοιξη δρόμων στα Λευκά Όρη» 

24/12/2020: Ηπειρωτικός Αγών. [Ιωάννινα] «Αντιστέκονται Τύμφη και Σμόλικας στην κατάτμηση από δρόμους» 

23/12/2020. Epirustvnews. [Ήπειρος]  «Κ.Αρσένης: Υπό Εξέταση Η Προστασία 6 Βουνών Της Ελλάδας Από Άναρχα Αιολικά Λόγω Της Σημασίας Τους Για Την Βιοποικιλότητα» 

Roadless news

Ανοιχτό σεμινάριο για εκπαιδευτικούς “Αγριες Φυσικές Περιοχές και άγρια πανίδα-σύγχρονες εξελίξεις” με τη συμμετοχή του BCL

February 7, 2024

Την Τετάρτη 7 Φεβρουαρίου 2024 και ώρα 18.00 το Εργαστήριό μας θα συμμετάσχει σε σεμινάριο με τίτλο “Αγριες Φυσικές Περιοχές και άγρια πανίδα-σύγχρονες εξελίξεις“. Διοργανωτής

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Επιστολή στην πολιτική ηγεσία για την ορθή χωροθέτηση των Αιολικών Σταθμών Παραγωγής Ηλεκτρικής Ενέργειας για την αντιμετώπιση της κλιματικής και οικολογικής κρίσης

December 30, 2023

Με την εκπνοή του 2023, και ολοκληρώνοντας στο Εργαστήριό μας ένα μεγάλο και επίπονο κύκλο ερευνητικών εργασιών στη θεματική της ορθής χωροθέτησης των αιολικών σταθμών

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NATLAND Project

November 18, 2021

NATLAND project entitled “Undisturbed natural areas of Greece (SEBI 13)” was part of the funding of the axis “Natural Environment & Innovative actions” of the

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Video for roadless Areas of Greece

January 31, 2021

Βίντεο με Ελληνικούς υπότιτλους για τις σοβαρές επιπτώσεις των δρόμων στη φύση και τη σημασία της διατήρησης των τελευταίων περιοχών χωρίς δρόμους της Ελλάδας, ως

Read More »

University
of Ioannina