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

GR4210011

1.3 Site name

VRACHONISIA NOTIOU AIGAIOU: VELOPOULA, FALKONERA, ANANES, CHRISTIANA, PACHEIA, FTENO, MAKRA, ASTAKIDONISIA, SYRNA - GYRO NISIA KAI THALASSIA ZONI

1.4 First Compilation date

1995-04

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:	1996-08
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:	26.676041
Latitude:	36.344496

2.2 Area [ha]

4582.2600

2.3 Marine area [%]

57.7300

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
GR42	Notio 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		3.1979	0.00	P	C	C	A	B
1170			242.583	0.00	P	A	B	A	A
1240			201.679	0.00	G	C	B	A	B
1430			187.5	0.00	G	C	A	A	B
3290			0	0.00	G
5210			640.994	0.00	G	B	C	B	B
5330			90.2237	0.00	G	B	C	B	B
5420			657.882	0.00	G	B	C	A	B
8140			0	0.00	G
8210			43.8794	0.00	G	B	C	A	B
8330			4.56843	0.00	P	A	C	A	B
9320			54.2318	0.00	G	B	C	B	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	1459	Silene holzmannii			p	6334	7988	i	C	M	A	A	C	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		Achillea cretica						R						X
P		Anthemis ammanthus ssp. ammanthus						P				X
P		Anthemis scopulorum						P				X
P		Arenaria aegaea						P				X
P		Atriplex recurva						P				X
P		Centaurea raphanina ssp. mixta						P				X
P		Fibigia lunarioides						R				X
P		Limonium frederici						P				X
P		Onosma graeca						P						X
P		Origanum tournefortii						R				X
I	1028	Pinna nobilis						P	X
I	1028	Pinna nobilis						P					X
I	1028	Pinna nobilis						P			X
P		Salsola aegaea						P				X
P		Scorzonera eximia						P				X
P		Staehelina fruticosa						P				X
P		Teucrium brevifolium						P						X
P		Trigonella rechingeri						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	57.41
N05	18.65
N06	0.11
N08	18.16
N15	0.30
N18	2.38
N22	2.99
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

This site comprises a complicated area with more than 25 small islets of the Aegean situated between the Cyclades and Crete. The two westernmost islets, Velopoula and Falkonera, are situated in the Myrtoon Sea, while all the others are situated on the south of the Cyclades and Astypalaia, north of Crete and northwest of Karpathos. The sum of the area of all the islands does not exceed a few square kilometres. The largest is the island of Syrna with an area of 7.8 km2, while the area of the smallest does not exceed a few square metres. They are very remote since almost all of them are found away from any large land mass and also they are surrounded by very deep sea the depth of which in most cases exceeds 1000 m.All the islets can be clustered in two groups according to their geologic history. One group consists of volcanic origin islets (Ananes and Christiana groups) while the second includes islets mainly of sedimentary origin (all the other islets). The limestones belong to the zones of Gavrovo - Tripoli and/or Paxoi. In general the islets are rocky places. Their height ranges from 50 to 200m. The influence of strong winds and rough sea, which act on the islets the whole year round, is obvious at first sight. The general appearence of the islets is the result of the combination of substrate and of climatic factors. On small islands two there are two distinct vegetation zones: a littoral zone inhabited by true halophytes and a sublitoral zone, which is not washed by sea water even at stormy weather. In this zone the vegetation is phrygana with Centaurea raphanina ssp. mixta, Sarcopoterium spinosum, Euphorbia sp., Thymus capitatus, etc. on most islets. On some islets the phrygana vegetation is lacking or represented by very few species and instead there is a special sublittoral vegetation, with species confined to small islands or that are rarely found on shores of larger islands. On the eastern islets there are some patches of maquis vegetation with Juniperus phoenicea and Pistacia lentiscus. On the larger one, Syrna islet, the vegetation is mainly maquis, Juniperus phoenicea being the predominant plant. On some islets there are remains of terraces that people used to cultivate, and also remnants of lighthouses and shepherds’ houses. Today the islets are uninhabited; except for Syrna. Vertical seacliffs are present on all islets, even at the ones with the lowest altitudes; rarely is there a beach, and if there is one it is usually with pebbles. The only exception is on one islet of Tria Nisia group, south of Syrna, where there are extensive sand dunes on its northeast side. The vegetation of the cliffs is mostly composed by Aegean endemics, many of which are obligate chasmophytes. The sea that surrounds the islets is very deep. There is a very small area with shallow waters. This is very important for the marine ecosystems, especially for the oligitrophic systems of the east Mediterranean.

4.2 Quality and importance

The scientific knoweledge (published data) for the area is very poor. The importance of the islets is great for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. They can be considered as a unique "oasis" of terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the Aegean, even in the whole eastern Mediterranean Sea. The shallow waters that surround them, even though they cover a small area, are essentially important for the marine ecosystems, especially for the oligotrophic systems of the east Mediterranean; marine organisms breed and they also seek shelter in these areas. The rocky substrate of the sea bottom is covered by Cystoseira sp. In addition, these islets are the only peaks of land in a large area of a deep sea. The terrestrial ecosystems are remnants of the old Aegaeis and this is reflected in their flora and fauna. Also these ecosytems, though tiny, are very important for migrating birds as well as for breeding seabirds. Their whole fauna and flora, which contain rare and endemic species, is in disequilibrium, constantly changing, due to the constantly changing enviroment. The flora is characterized by the presence of vicariant species (or islet specialists). The Bern Convention (appendix II) and the Greek law (Presidential Decree 67/1981) protect the species Posidonian beds are found around Astakida islet, Syrna and Tria Nisia. Silene holzmanii (included in Annex II of the Directive 92/43/EEC) is found on Mikro Zofrano, Karavonisia, Tria Nisia, Avgo and Astakida. S. holzmanii is a vulnerable Aegean endemic (IUCN 1993) protected by the Bern Convention and by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81). It is a vicariant chasmophyte found on circa 15 locations in the Aegean. Other important plant species are: Asperula tournefortii, a rare endemic species (IUCN 1993) of limestone cliffs is found on Zafora islets and Astakida. Arenaria aegaea (=A. serpyllifolia ssp. aegaea), an Aegean endemic, is found on Fteno, Makra, Zafora islets, Chamili, Avgo and Divounia (Ounianisia). Anthemis scopulorum, an Aegean endemic, is found on Ananes, Zafora and Astakida. Atriplex recurva, an endemic aegean species, is found on Zafora islets. Trigonella rechingeri is a rare (IUCN 1993) endemic species is found on Zafora islets. It is protected by the Greek law (Presidential Decree 67/1981). Convolvulus pentapetaloides, found on Christiana, Syrna, Tria Nisia. Zonites astakidae is cited as Critically Endangered; this species is known only from Astakida and Astakidopoula islets.

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 [%]
GR95	4.20

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

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
GR95	Nisides Chondros, Marmaras, Gialesinos kai Kouloundros tis Symis.... klp.	*	4.20

5.3 Site designation (optional)

No information provided

6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

No information provided

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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SITE DISPLAY