Σχόλιο για τις αξίες |
It is essential for the improvement of life quality in the urban areas to act towards the conservation of wild nature that might be neighbouring the urban areas in question. This is the case for the request for the conservation of the natural habitats and the wild nature in general of Mt.Ymittos.Despite the fact that the natural ecosystems of the mountain have more or less been affected by human pressure, a well-organised and ecologically sound management plan will certainly contribute towards the conservation and enrichment of its wild life.Although not few people regard Ymittos as an area for waste deposits or as a land to host new settlements, the wild life of the mountain still survives any type of pressure and does not stop to surprise us by a biodiversity unique for a mountain so close to a huge urban area.Many endemic taxa have been noted in its flora (some of which are protected under the greek law (Presidential Decree 67/81). The most interesting endemic of the site is Fritillaria obliqua that is included in the Bern convention (Revised Appendix I, 1992) and in Appendix IV of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC. In addition, some other taxa are of community interest as Greece is the only EU country where they can be found: Onosma graeca and Veronica glauca ssp. glauca (balkan endemics); Anthemis cretica ssp. cretica (only in Anatolia out of Greece); Dianthus serratifolius ssp. serratifolius (found only in Attki and Libya); Atraphaxis billardieri (Greece and Asia); Brassica cretica ssp. cretica (a chasmophyte found only in C. & S. Lebanon out of Greece. Carum graecum ssp. graecum is a balkan endemic. The site of Ymittos is closely related to the history of the development of botany and ecology in Greece. As a matter of fact, since as far back as the times of Orphanides and Heildreich (mid 19th century), many plant species were first collected and described from here. This is the reason why many plants of the greek flora have as second name the word "hymettia" or "hymetium". Concerning the fauna of the site, it includes many endemic taxa of invertebrates and many protected species. A specific reference must be made to Paranemonia vouliagmenensis, a stenoendemic to Limni Vouliagmeni (Vouliagmeni lake). Limni Vouliagmeni lies at the southern slopes of the mountain. It is certain that there are subterranean channels that allow the sea to communicate with the lake. The lake is quite deep and a submarine cave ends there. Also in the area of the lake a new species, Trimium atticum, has recently been found, providing evidence of the fact that the flora and fauna of Ymittos is far from being completely known. Apart from its ecological value, the site of Ymittos is of historical importance. Many monasteries are built on its slopes, dating in the 15th century. The most famous of them all is the Kaisariani monastery, which is found inside the Kaisariani aesthetic forest. In conclusion the wild life of the mountain can be ideally used for educational purposes not only by the students of the University of Athens but by students of every age of the general area of Athens. OTHER IMPORTANT SPECIES WITH MOTIVATION DPlants: Aristolochia microstoma, Campanula rupestris, Silene spinescens, Helianthemum hymettium, Centaurea attica, Scorzonera crocofolia, Fritillaria obliqua, Consolida tenuissima, and Johrenia distans are endemic species protected by the Presidential Decree 67/81. Atraphaxis billardieri is an isolated representative of an asiatic genus, a rare species on rocky macchie on limestone in Sterea Ellas (Ymittos, Euboea, Tymfristos), Kriti, Samos, Chios, Rodos. The mammal Pipistrellus pipistrellus, the amphibian Bufo viridis, the reptiles Lacerta viridis, Coluber najadum, Chalcides ocellatus, Natrix natrix, and Malpolon monspessulanus, and the invertebrates Trimium atticum, Cetonischera aeruginosa, Anthocharis grueneri, Pieris krueperi, Hipparchia aristaeus, Freyeria trochylus, Agrodiaetus admetus, Sipalia phlomidis, and Carcharodus flociferus are protected by the Presidential Decree 67/81. NOTE: The endemic species Lomelosia hymettia is included in section 3.3. by its synonym Scabiosa hymettia. |