| Σχόλιο για τις αξίες |
Vouraikos gorge is of great ecological interest because of the large variation of the flora and fauna found here. Its major importance lies in the presence of many endemic plants the most important of these being: 1) Peucentanum achaicum, which is a local endemic classified as "Rare" in the WCMC Plants Database and in the European Red List of Globally Threatened Animals and Plants (UNEP, 1991). This plant is also protected by Greek legislation (Presidential Decree 67/1981); 2) Achillea umbellata subsp. monocephala, which is also a local endemic with limited presence on the northern slopes of Mt. Chelmos and in the Vouraikos gorge near the village of Kerpini; 3) Aurinia moreana, which grows on mountains of N. Peloponnisos; 4) Silene congesta subsp. moreana and Campanula topaliana subsp. cordifolia, both Peloponnesian endemics; 5) Asperula arcadiensis with scattered populations in the Vouraikos gorge and a limited distribution area in northern Peloponnisos and Sterea Ellada, and 6) the Greek endemics Stachys parolinii and Campanula rupestris classified as "Rare" in the WCMC Plants Database. This latter taxon is also protected by Greek legislation (Presidential Decree 67/1981). As concerning the species listed in section 3.3 with motivation D, the following reasons must be mentioned: 1) Centaurea spruneri is a Balkan endemic classified as "Rare" in the WCMC Plants Database. 2) Anthemis tinctoria subsp. parnassica has an interesting phytogeographical distribution in the Balkan Peninsula and Anatolia.Vouraikos gorge apart from its great ecological interest, is an area of special natural beauty due to its interesting geological formations (vertical cliffs, caves, etc.) and its rapid river, as well as its dense vegetation comprising mainly of Pinus halepensis, Abies cephalonica, Platanus orientalis and Quercus ilex forests.Of the non-bird vertebrates known to occur in this site the Otter, Lutra lutra, the tortoises Testudo hermani and T. marginata and the Leopard Snake Elaphe situla are species, which appear in Annex II of the Directive 92/43/EEC (see section 3.2). Lutra lutra is a threatened in Greece. Besides these taxa, several others have been characterized as Other Important Species on the basis of the motivation system of sections 3.3. Among them, the Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus and the Grey Hamster Cricetulus migratorius are "Endangered". Algyroides moreoticus and Podarcis peloponnesiaca are endemic to Peloponnisos (the first two lizards are also found on the islands of Ithaki, Kefalonia and Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea) (motivation B).All of the other important species with the exception of Cricetulus migratorius, are protected by the Bern Convention, and therefore justify motivation C. Moreover, the Wildcat Felis silvestris has been included in the CITES Convention (motivation C). With the exception of Ablepharus kitaibelii, Martes foina, Felis silvestris the remaining taxa have been included in the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981 and, therefore, receive motivation D. Moreover, the following taxa have been evaluated by the CORINE-Biotopes Project and so are eligible for motivation D: the toad Bufo viridis, the frogs Hyla arborea and Rana dalmatina, the lizard Ablepharus kitaibelii, the bat Plecotus auritus and the Wildcat Felis silvestris. Also, the bat Plecotus auritus receives motivation D for the additional reason of being mentioned by the UNEP list. The Balkan endemic taxa, i.e., the colubrid snake Coluber gemonensis, and the dormouse Glis g. pindicus are additionally allocated motivation D. Finally, two taxa are also marked with motivation D for the following reasons: for C. migratorius this site lies at the western limit of its distribution area; the Wildcat Felis silvestris is generally rare to very rare in Greece.The gorge of Vouraikos is an EC Important Bird Area mainly because of the occurrence of some rare birds of prey such as the accipitrids Pernis apivorus, Gyps fulvus ("Vulnerable"), Aquila chrysaetos ("Vulnerable"), and the falcons Falco tinnunculus and F. peregrinus ("Insufficiently Known").To conclude, the presence of endemic and rare animal taxa and the formation of species-rich and dense animal communities adapted to a very ecologically interesting environment, make the zoological importance of this site obvious. The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation C are protected by the Bern Convention.The invertebrate species listed in sections 3.3 with motivation D are protected by the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981. Thersamonia thersamon and Pieris krueperi are included in the list of "Threatened Rhopalocera (butterflies) of Europe". Spialia phlomidis is also included in the IUCN Red List. |
