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

GR4120003

1.3 Site name

SAMOS: OROS KERKETEFS - MIKRO KAI MEGALO SEITANI - DASOS KASTANIAS KAI LEKKAS, AKR. KATAVASIS - LIMENAS

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 proposed as SCI:	1997-12
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:	26.627886
Latitude:	37.747012

2.2 Area [ha]

6721.0800

2.3 Marine area [%]

14.8900

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
GR41	Voreio Aigaio

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Mediterranean

(0.00 %)

Marine 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
1120	X		112.95	0.00	P	A	C	A	B
1170			30.0754	0.00	P	A	C	A	B
1210			2.33813	0.00	G	B	C	B	B
1240			33.4108	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
2110			2.04992	0.00	G	C	C	C	C
4090			66.8047	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
5420			1003.7	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
8210			89.4025	0.00	G	A	C	A	A
8310			0	3.00
9290			73.0723	0.00	G	B	C	B	B
92C0			10.5189	0.00	G	C	C	C	C
92D0			0.431003	0.00	G	A	C	B	B
9320			0.493013	0.00	M	B	C	B	B
9540			3105.14	0.00	G	A	B	A	B

• 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	1478	Consolida samia			p				P	P	A		A	A
I	6199	Euplagia quadripunctaria			p				P	DD	B	B	A	C

• 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		Acantholimon echinus ssp. echinus						P						X
P		Alyssum samium						P				X
P		Anthemis rosea ssp. rosea						P				X
P		Arenaria guicciardii						P				X
P		Astragalus ptilodes						P						X
M	1353	Canis aureus			16		i
M	1353	Canis aureus			16		i				X
P		Centaurea xylobasis						P				X
P		Cyathophylla chlorifolia						P						X
P		Epipactis helleborine						P					X
P		Epipactis helleborine						P			X
P		Epipactis helleborine						P						X
P		Erodium sibthorpianum ssp. vetteri						P				X
P		Fritillaria bithynica						P						X
P		Galanthus elwesii						P						X
P		Genista parnassica						P				X
P		Hypericum cuisinii						P				X
M	5365	Hypsugo savii						P	X
M	5365	Hypsugo savii						P			X
M	5365	Hypsugo savii						P					X
P		Listera ovata						P						X
P		Muscari kerkis						P				X
P		Onopordum majorii						P				X
P		Papaver nigrotinctum						P						X
M	1309	Pipistrellus pipistrellus						P					X
M	1309	Pipistrellus pipistrellus						P	X
M	1309	Pipistrellus pipistrellus						P			X
P		Pteris vittata						P						X
P		Pterocephalus pinardii						P						X
P		Ranunculus thasius						P				X
P		Scutellaria rubicunda ssp. icarica						P				X
P		Sideritis sipylea						P			X
P		Silene samia						P				X
P		Thymus samius						P				X
P		Tordylium hirtocarpum						P						X
P		Verbascum ikaricum						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
N01	5.18
N04	0.21
N05	1.76
N08	26.55
N15	16.81
N16	0.39
N17	26.60
N18	10.29
N22	11.79
N23	0.42
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The island of Samos lies in the east central part of the Aegean sea very close to Asia minor, from which its eastern end is separated by a strait, at the narrowest only 1200 m wide. The climate is typical Mediterranean with mean annual rainfall exceeding 500 mm. Mount Kerkis (1434 m) is located in Western Samos and compines a summit area with oreo-mediterranean vegetation, moist valleys and forests to the north, limestone cliffs and unusually extensive areas of scree to its west side. The mountainous block of Kerkis consists mainly of schists and marbles. The site is a well forested area, characterised mainly by temperate coniferous forests (mainly Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens) and sclerophyllous scrub. The zonal vegetation of the area is divided into the following four zones. 1. Oleo-Ceratonion occupies the coastal warmer areas and reaches the 250-300 m. The formations of the evergreen, sclerophyllous shrubs, occur as unmixed or underwood vegetation of the Pinus brutia forests. 2. Quercion ilicis begins at the upper limits of Oleo-Ceratonion and reaches up to 600-700 m. It is characterised by the dominance of Quercus ilex, Fraxinus ornus and Arbutus unedo. Pinus brutia is best developed in this zone. 3. Quercetalia pubescentis extends from the 600-700 m to the 900-1000 m, where the appearance of forest vegetation stops. It is characterised by the dominance of different species of deciduous shrubs Crateogus spp., Prunus spp., Rosa spp., Quercus pubescens et al. as well as isolated individuals of Pinus pallasiana ssp. nigra. 4. Daphno-Festucetalia appears on the highest tops of Kerkis above the forest limits. The dominance of spiny shrubs with a characteristic cushion form (Astragalus spp., Genista parnassica, Acantholimon androsaceum et. al. is impressive. Except Juniperus foenicea and Juniperus oxycedrus, which also appear in lower zones, Juniperus foetidisima is found with a characteristic creeping form. In that zone we found the most endemics, such as Alyssum samium, Erodium sibthorpianum subsp vetteri, Anthemis rosea and Centaurea xylobasis. For the most part the coastline consists of rocky and craggy areas, while the sandy beaches are very limited. Mikro and Megalo Seitani is an area of sandy beaches, of great aesthetic and ecological value, located at the north part of the site. Dasos Kastanias and Lekkas are well forested areas located at the western part of the site, characterised by natural stands of Cupressus sempervirens. Grazing and farming has effected the upper parts of the mountain less than usual in the Aegean, so much natural or semi natural vegetation is still present. There are not main habituated areas within the main mountainous part of the site and due to the lack of main roads the approach to the district by car is rather difficult. The decline of agricultural activities has resulted in many cultivated areas being abandoned, especially the mountainous ones. The vineyards and olive groves are often no longer cultivated and so, step by step, they are being taken over by natural vegetation. Clearing the land for the extension of cultivation is rarely done. As a result the site’s natural vegetation is not nowadays unduly affected by agriculture; indeed, it develops undisturbed and extends wherever possible, even into cultivated areas.It must be mentioned that habitat type 9540 concerns Pinus brutia forests.

4.2 Quality and importance

The quality and importance of the site result mainly from the great number of endemic and very rare plants and invertebrates existing in the area. This high degree of endemism derives mainly from the geographical location of Samos island (very close to Asia Minor) as well as from the high altitudes and the fair variety of biotopes existing within the proposed site. It is worth noting that the plant species Alyssum samium, Anthemis rosea ssp. rosea, Centaurea xylobasis, Muscari kerkis, Consolida samia and Erodium sibthorpianum ssp. vetteri are local endemics. It must be mentioned, as well, that due to the isolation from the main tourist areas of Samos island and the limited human activities within the site, the Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens forests are at a very good conservation status. The area has more birds of prey than many other islands due to the vicinity the Turkish mainland. It is also a very important staging post for bird migration on the Turkish coast flyway and it is characterized as one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Europe. The area of Mikro and Megalo Seitani, an area of great aesthetic and ecological value, is important to both Caretta caretta and Monachus monachus.OTHER IMPORTANT SPECIES WITH MOTIVATION D Plants: The following species are protected by the CITES Convention: Epipactis helleborine, Listera ovata, Orchis tridentata (Annex C);. Acantholimon echinus ssp. echinus, S is species with distribution in Greece and Anatolia. Sideritis sipylea is a species of W. and C. Anatolia extending to the East Aegean Islands (Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria). The following species are included in the IUCN Red Data List in the category of threatened plants: Astragalus ptilodes, Pterocephalus pinardii, Papaver nigrotinctum (=Papaver argemone ssp. Nigrotinctum). These species are also protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81). Pteris vittata (rare), Cyathophylla chlorifolia (vulnerable) are included in the IUCN Red Data List (1993) in the category of threatened plants. Tordylium hirtocarpum is protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81).Notes: 1) The IUCN characterizations given concern the plant’s status in Greece; 2) Scutellaria rubicunda ssp. Icarica (=Scutellaria brevibracteata ssp. Icarica) is endemic to Samos and Ikaria. The species Papilio alexanor, is protected by the Greek law 67/1981.

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 [%]
GR01	13.81
GR07	58.11

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

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
GR07	Oros Kerkis stin Samo	*	58.11
GR01	Mikro kai Megalo Seitani Samou (Periochi A2)	+	10.02
GR01	Mikro kai Megalo Seitani Samou (Periochi A1-pyrinas)	+	3.79

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 SAMOS
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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