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

A

1.2 Site code

GR1420007

1.3 Site name

OROS OSSA

1.4 First Compilation date

1995-03

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 classified as SPA:	1987-10
National legal reference of SPA designation	JMD HP 37338/1807/E103/6-9-2010 (OJ 1495 B)

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	22.682766
Latitude:	39.822015

2.2 Area [ha]

23847.4100

2.3 Marine area [%]

No information provided

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
GR14	Thessalia

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

No habitat types are reported for the site

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.
B	A402	Accipiter brevipes			r				P	DD	C	A	B	B
B	A223	Aegolius funereus			p				P	DD	B	A	B	B
B	A247	Alauda arvensis			w				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A247	Alauda arvensis			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A229	Alcedo atthis			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A255	Anthus campestris			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A226	Apus apus			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A215	Bubo bubo			c				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A215	Bubo bubo			p				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A133	Burhinus oedicnemus			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A087	Buteo buteo			r				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A243	Calandrella brachydactyla			r				P	DD	C	C	C	B
B	A861	Calidris pugnax			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A224	Caprimulgus europaeus			r				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A080	Circaetus gallicus			r	2	3	p		G	C	A	C	B
B	A082	Circus cyaneus			c				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A082	Circus cyaneus			w				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A083	Circus macrourus			c				P	DD	C	B	B	B
B	A113	Coturnix coturnix			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A738	Delichon urbicum (urbica)			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A738	Delichon urbicum (urbica)			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A239	Dendrocopos leucotos			p				R	DD	C	A	B	B
B	A429	Dendrocopos syriacus			p				P	DD	C	B	B	B
B	A236	Dryocopus martius			p				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A026	Egretta garzetta			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A447	Emberiza caesia			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A379	Emberiza hortulana			r				P	DD	C	B	B	B
B	A098	Falco columbarius			w				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A100	Falco eleonorae			c				P	DD	C	B	B	B
B	A103	Falco peregrinus			p				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A097	Falco vespertinus			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A321	Ficedula albicollis			c				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A320	Ficedula parva			c				P	DD	C	B	B	B
B	A442	Ficedula semitorquata			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A131	Himantopus himantopus			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A439	Hippolais olivetorum			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A251	Hirundo rustica			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A251	Hirundo rustica			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A233	Jynx torquilla			r				P	DD	C	C	C	B
B	A338	Lanius collurio			r				P		C	B	C	B
B	A339	Lanius minor			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A433	Lanius nubicus			c				P	DD	C		B	B
B	A868	Leiopicus medius			p				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A246	Lullula arborea			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A230	Merops apiaster			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A260	Motacilla flava			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A260	Motacilla flava			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A337	Oriolus oriolus			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A094	Pandion haliaetus			c				P	DD	C	C	C	B
B	A355	Passer hispaniolensis			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A072	Pernis apivorus			r				P	DD	C	A	C	B
B	A234	Picus canus			p				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A249	Riparia riparia			r	100	100	p		G	C	C	C	B
B	A249	Riparia riparia			c				P	DD	C	C	C	B
B	A210	Streptopelia turtur			r				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A228	Tachymarptis melba			r				P	DD	C	C	C	B
B	A166	Tringa glareola			c				P	DD	C	B	C	B
B	A892	Zapornia parva			c				P	DD	C	B	B	B

• 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
B	A211	Clamator glandarius						P					X
B	A211	Clamator glandarius						P			X
B	A687	Columba palumbus palumbus						P			X
B	A687	Columba palumbus palumbus						C						X
B	A687	Columba palumbus palumbus						C			X
B	A687	Columba palumbus palumbus						P						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	12.00
N10	15.00
N16	60.00
N17	2.00
N19	7.00
N21	1.00
N23	3.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The site contains the forest complex of the north-eastern side of Ossa mountain; it starts from the sea level and goes up to the highest summit, Profitis Ilias (1980 m). The summit is bare rock and the existing vegetation belongs to the Astragalo-Daphnion. At the lower altitudes the main vegetation type is the broad-leaved evergreen woodland. Here the majority of the relevant species that grow in Greece like Acer sp., Quercus sp., Corrylus sp., Arbutus sp., Erica sp., Fraxinus sp., Phillyrea sp., Ulmus sp., Cornus sp. etc are found. At higher altitudes the human impact is distinctive since the control and grafting of Castanea sativa have lead to pure groups of the species, especially in the parts of the forest that belong to the local communities. The trees are used mainly for chestnut collection and less for their wood. Where the human impact is lighter Castanea grows together with Tilia in a typical Tilio-Castanetum at 300 - 500m (described by habitat type 9180 and characterized by Tilia tomentosa).The next vegetation level, reaching up to the 650m, is Quercetum-montanum with Quercus species, mainly Q. conferta, Q. sessiliflora and Q. pubescens. Beech forests with hungarian oak (habitat type 9280) are encountered over Quercion ilicis at the slopes that face the sea and over Ostryo-carpinion orientalis at the areas away from the sea. Quercus forests are also found at altitudes of 200 - 300 in the wet regions of Ossa.At higher altitudes (650 - 1600m) we find psychrophilous, hydrophilous vegetation. The dominant forest species is the beech; Fagus moesiaca together with F. sylvatica and F. orientalis at the higher and lower altitudes respectively. In Ossa, as well as in the rest of East Thessaly, the limit of Fagion moesiacae is not the line of summer cloud formations (as it is in Albania, for example); small formations of Fagus sp. are found in ravines even at altitudes as low as 280 m. The pure beech forest becomes mixed in the zone of 1000 - 1450 m where Fagus trees are found together with fir-trees (Abies borisii-regis). There is also Abies cephallonica forest (the endemic greek fir) covering a small part of the site (Corine code 42.18, a habitat type not included in Annex I). The Abies forest was in recess during the last years because of its exploitation, but recently it has started to reestablish itself. Above the end of the forest line is the subalpine zone with a great variety of species.On Ossa there are also found Carpinus orientalis, ravine forests of Aesculus orientalis and formations of Pteridium aquilinun and Berberis cretica. At low percentages there are also some broad-leaved species such as Acer, Sorbus, Fraxinus and riverside vegetation along the streams. NOTE ON BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGION: Ossa mountain, characterized Quercion cerris and Fagetalia, could be considered part of the sub-continental and continental biogeographic region.NOTE ON FAGUS1. Strid A. 1986. Mountain Flora of Greece, 1:51. In Greece there is Fagus sylvatica ssp. sylvatica (above 1000 m in Greek mainland southwards to Oxia and Pilion). F. sylvatica ssp. orientalis is a closely related subspecies and intermediate froms (often called F. moesiaca) occur where the two subspecies meet (e.g., Balkan peninsula). Typical F. sylvatica ssp. sylvatica is found in western and central districts above 1000 m, while intermediate forms resembling F. sylvatica ssp. orientalis occur below 1000 m.2. Med-Checklist 3:225. Three subspecies of Fagus sylvatica are recognized, ssp. sylvatica, ssp. moesiaca and ssp. orientalis, all occuring in Greece (Gr).3. Flora Europaea, 1:72. Two subsepcies of Fagus sylvatica are recognized, ssp. sylvatica and ssp. orientalis, both occuring in Greece. Fagus moesiaca is considered an intermediate form between the two subspecies.

4.2 Quality and importance

The aesthetic forest of Ossa is a real botanical garden. The favorable environmental and climatic conditions of the area and namely the high percentage of rainfall, a result of the eastern winds, have lead to the remarkable forest complex of Ossa. The landscape and the geomorphology of the site are interesting since they create locally numerous special habitats that lead to high biodiversity in the vegetation types, in the flora and in the fauna. The complex presents an exceptional variety of habitats and plant species. It has an alternating landscape with extensive closed forests of beech and fir on the eastern side and small fields on the plateau, while the summit is bare rock. The Ossa complex is mainly composed of pure and mixed woodland of broad-leaved trees as well as broad-leaved and coniferous trees. The soil is very good for forestry. Its productivity is considered poor and unsuitable for agricultural or cattle-raising exploitation. Besides its botanical interest based on the presence of endemic and/or rare species and the variety of vascular and lower plants, the site is protected as a Special Protected Area (SPA) and characterized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and harbours a great number of birds. For some of them, Ossa is one of the 5 most important sites in the region or one of only 100 or less sites in the EC. OTHER IMPORTANT SPECIES WITH MOTIVATION D Plants: Aesculus hippocastanum is a mediterranean endemic species native only in the Balkan peninsula in Europe (Greece, former Jugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria). There are only few local trees in the area and planting young ones is needed in order for the species to survive. Androsace villosa is a species scattered on the mountains of C and S Europe between 1800 - 2200 m on stabilized screes and limestone rocks. The endemic species Astragalus lacteus is protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81) and is also included in the IUCN Red Data List (1993) in the category of threatened species and in the European Red List of Globally Threatened Species characterised as rare. Astragalus mayeri, Crocus veluchensis, Silene radicosa ssp. radicosa, Crocus cvijicii, Sideritis scardica, Dianthus integer ssp. minutiflorus, Colchicum doerfleri, are balkan endemics. Marrubium thessalum is endemic to N. & C. Greece and S. Albania.

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)

1)Handrinos, G. & Akriotis, T., (2004), Recapture of ringed birds (1985-2004), Hellenic Bird Ringing Centre, ISBN: 96088507032)Georgiev, K. & Iankov, P., (2009), Species Action Plan for the semi-collared flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata in the European Union, Birdlife International3)Vlachos Ch., Chatzinikos E., Kiousis D., Dimou P., Bontzorlos V., Dedousopoulou E., Braziotis S., Xenos A., Stefanou L. Birtsas P., Vlachaki D. and Kontos K. (version Coordinators) 2015. Updated version of the descriptive database of the Natura 2000 network of the Study 9 «Monitoring and Evaluation of Bird Species Conservation Status in Greece» Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Athens, Partnership Consulting Firms" "F.FASOULAS-N.MANTZIOS" EU - RODOULA GEORGE KONSTANTINIDOU - "ATH.TZAKOPOULOS AND Co." EU ", Thessaloniki.4)NATURA 2000 Network descriptive & geographical database (2012). http://www.ypeka.gr/Default.aspxtabid=432&language=el-GR

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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

Code	Cover [%]
GR12	67.21
GR23	73.80

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

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
GR23	Ossa Larisas	*	73.80
GR12	Koilada Tempon Larisas	*	0.97
GR12	Dasika symplegma Ossas Larisas	*	66.24

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:	FOREST DIRECTORATE OF LARISA
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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