For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

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1.1 Type

B

1.2 Site code

GR1270003

1.3 Site name

CHERSONISOS ATHOS

1.4 First Compilation date

1994-12

1.5 Update date

2020-07

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας
Address:
Email:

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site proposed as SCI:	1999-10
Date site confirmed as SCI:	2006-09
Date site designated as SAC:	2011-03
National legal reference of SAC designation:	Law 3937/29-3-11 (OJ 60 A)

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	24.094561
Latitude:	40.326362

2.2 Area [ha]

33426.4300

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
GR12	Kentriki Makedonia

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Mediterranean

(0.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

Annex I Habitat types						Site assessment
Code	PF	NP	Cover [ha]	Cave [number]	Data quality	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Representativity	Relative Surface	Conservation	Global
1210			34.2674	0.00	M	A	B	A	A
1410			14.0422	0.00	M	B	C	A	B
5210			0	0.00	G
5230	X		0	0.00	G
5420			1269.43	0.00	M	A	C	A	A
6170			6.28176	0.00	M	A	C	A	A
8140			80.5703	0.00	M	A	C	A	A
8210			475.03	0.00	M	A	C	A	A
9110			61.3625	0.00	M	B	C	A	B
9180	X		0	0.00	G
91E0	X		42.065	0.00	M	A	B	A	A
9260			7010.59	0.00	M	A	A	A	A
9270			679.563	0.00	M	B	C	A	B
9280			3515.47	0.00	M	A	A	A	A
92D0			0	0.00	G
9310			0	0.00	G
9340			1362.23	0.00	M	A	B	A	A
9350			0	0.00	G
9530	X		1.98722	0.00	M	A	C	A	A
9540			7441.45	0.00	M	A	B	A	A

• PF: for the habitat types that can have a non-priority as well as a priority form (6210, 7130, 9430) enter "X" in the column PF to indicate the priority form.
• NP: in case that a habitat type no longer exists in the site enter: x (optional)
• Cover: decimal values can be entered
• Caves: for habitat types 8310, 8330 (caves) enter the number of caves if estimated surface is not available.
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation)

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
P	4080	Centaurea immanuelis-loewii			p	1	1	grids5x5	P	P	C		C	A
P	1799	Centaurea peucedanifolia			p	400	600	i	R	G	A	C	A	A
I	6966	Osmoderma eremita Complex			p				R	P	C	C	C	C
P	1463	Silene orphanidis			p	60	100	i	R	G	A	A	A	A

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

Species					Population in the site				Motivation
Group	CODE	Scientific Name	S	NP	Size		Unit	Cat.	Species Annex		Other categories
					Min	Max		C|R|V|P	IV	V	A	B	C	D
P		Abies cephalonica						C				X
P		Aethionema orbiculatum						R			X
P		Aethionema orbiculatum						R				X
P		Allium chamaespathum						P						X
P		Anthemis sibthorpii						R				X
P		Arabis bryoides						P						X
P		Arctostaphylos uva-ursi						P						X
P		Asperula aristata ssp. nestia						P						X
P		Asperula aristata ssp. thessala						P				X
P		Asperula aristata ssp. thessala						P						X
P		Astragalus thracicus ssp. monochorum						R				X
P		Atropa bella-donna						R						X
P		Aubrieta erubescens						P				X
P		Aubrieta erubescens						P			X
P		Beta nana						R				X
P		Campanula lavrensis						P				X
M	1353	Canis aureus			96		i
M	1353	Canis aureus			96		i				X
P		Centaurea pannosa						P				X
P		Cephalanthera damasonium						P						X
P		Cephalanthera damasonium						P					X
P		Cephalanthera longifolia						P						X
P		Cephalanthera longifolia						P					X
P		Colchicum doerfleri						P						X
P		Convallaria majalis						P						X
P		Corydalis integra						R						X
P		Cyclamen persicum						P						X
P		Dianthus petraeus ssp. orbelicus						P						X
P		Digitalis leucophaea						R				X
M	1342	Dryomys nitedula						C	X
M	1342	Dryomys nitedula						C					X
M	1342	Dryomys nitedula						C			X
P		Erysimum drenowskii						P						X
M	1363	Felis silvestris						C					X
M	1363	Felis silvestris						C	X
M	1363	Felis silvestris						C			X
P		Fritillaria euboeica						V					X
P		Fritillaria euboeica						V			X
P		Fritillaria euboeica						V				X
P		Fritillaria graeca						P				X
P	1771	Helichrysum sibthorpii						V	X
P	1771	Helichrysum sibthorpii						V				X
P	1771	Helichrysum sibthorpii						V			X
P		Heracleum humile						P						X
P		Hypericum athoum						R				X
P		Isatis tinctoria ssp. athoa						R				X
P		Limodorum abortivum						P					X
P		Linum leucanthum						C				X
P		Linum olympicum ssp. athoum						V				X
M	1341	Muscardinus avellanarius						P			X
M	1341	Muscardinus avellanarius						P					X
M	1341	Muscardinus avellanarius						P	X
P		Neotinea maculata						P					X
P		Neottia nidus-avis						P					X
P		Neottia nidus-avis						P						X
P		Ophioglossum vulgatum						P						X
P		Osmunda regalis						P						X
P		Oxytropis purpurea						R						X
P		Platanthera bifolia						P						X
P		Platanthera chlorantha						P					X
P		Platanthera chlorantha						P						X
P		Poa thessala						C						X
P		Polygonum icaricum						R				X
P		Saxifraga juniperifolia ssp. sancta						P						X
P		Silene echinosperma						P				X
P		Silene multicaulis ssp. genistifolia						P				X
P		Sorbus chamaemespilus						R						X
P		Stachys leucoglossa						P						X
P		Thymus thracicus						P						X
P		Valeriana alliariifolia						R						X
P	1588	Viola athois						V				X
P	1588	Viola athois						V	X
P	1588	Viola athois						V			X

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, Fu = Fungi, I = Invertebrates, L = Lichens, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• CODE: for Birds, Annex IV and V species the code as provided in the reference portal should be used in addition to the scientific name
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting, (see reference portal)
• Cat.: Abundance categories: C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present
• Motivation categories: IV, V: Annex Species (Habitats Directive), A: National Red List data; B: Endemics; C: International Conventions; D: other reasons

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N08	29.70
N11	2.08
N16	24.38
N17	10.03
N18	20.42
N21	6.25
N22	4.76
N23	2.38
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

Athos peninsula is located on the south-east part of Chalkidiki. It is an area self –governed by the Holy Community and access has been under control since the 9th century AD, because of the monasteries. The peninsula is a large area of forest, mostly broadleaved (mainly Castanea sativa, Quercus sp., Fagus sp.), but some coniferous forests also exist (Pinus halepensis, P. nigra and Abies pseudocilicica), along with mixed forests, maquis and alluvial forests along streams. The top of the mountain is with many bare and rocky ridges and peaks. The quality of chestnut wood has made it a favourite species to the monastic community for over a thousand years. Maquis extends its dominance over a wide area on the northern part of the peninsula providing habitat for species. It includes at least a dozen of evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs with varying degrees of dominance and importance, which may occur in many combinations but which invariably form low, dense thickets. The most important and prevailing species are Erica manipuliflora and Quercus coccifera.

4.2 Quality and importance

Athos peninsula contains well preserved forests, home to one the most ancient monastic communities of the world, which carefully manages the forest by implementing all rules of sustainable forestry and management of natural resources. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Atropa bella - donna, Cephalanthera damasonium, Convallaria majalis, Dianthus petraeus ssp. orbelicus, Platanthera bifolia, Platanthera chlorantha, Poa thessala, Sorbus chamaemespilus (motivation D) are protected by the Greek Presidential Decree (67/1981). Heracleum humile, Saxifraga juniperifolia ssp. sancta, Ophioglossum vulgatum (motivation D) are rare in Greece and/or reach their extreme distribution limits in Northern Greece. Thymus thracicus finds its main distribution area in the Balkan Peninsula extending also to Turkey. The host plant of Zerynthia polyxena (new addition) is mainly found in southwestern part of the site, but further investigation is needed in the northern part of Athos Peninsula. Its presence is recorded on the basis of bibliography.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

No information provided

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):

Code	Cover [%]
IN05	100.00

5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
GR07	Perioches prostasias tis fysis ZPFP1 kai ZPFP2 Dimou Stageirou Akanthou	*	0.05

5.3 Site designation (optional)

No information provided

6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

Organisation:	1. FOREST DIRECTORATE OF CHALKIDIKI, 2. THE HOLY COMMUNITY OF MOUNT ATHOS
Address:
Email:

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

	Yes
	No, but in preparation
X	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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