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

GR4320008

1.3 Site name

NISOS KOUFONISI KAI PARAKTIA 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:	1997-04
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:	26.137500
Latitude:	34.937399

2.2 Area [ha]

839.4700

2.3 Marine area [%]

45.1300

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
GR43	Kriti

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		8.3714	0.00	P	C	C	A	B
1170			171.694	0.00	P	A	C	C	C
1210			1.06082	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
1240			25.2554	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
1310			0.18391	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
1430			0.458413	0.00	G	A	C	A	A
2110			13.5826	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
2230			0.967977	0.00	G	A	B	A	A
2260			32.1368	0.00	G	A	B	A	A
5420			340.774	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
6220	X		6.40165	0.00	G	A	C	A	B
9320			0.572406	0.00	G	C	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.

• 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		Cistanche phelypaea						P						X
P	1835	Colchicum cousturieri						P					X
P	1835	Colchicum cousturieri						P				X
P	1835	Colchicum cousturieri						P	X
P		Cynara cornigera						P						X
P		Fagonia cretica						P						X
P		Helianthemum stipulatum						P						X
P		Lygeum spartum						P						X
I	1028	Pinna nobilis						P			X
I	1028	Pinna nobilis						P					X
I	1028	Pinna nobilis						P	X
P		Zygophyllum album						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	47.99
N04	4.18
N05	1.61
N08	39.94
N09	3.75
N22	2.53
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The site includes the island Koufonisi and the small islets on its north (Strongyli, Makrouli and Marmaros) and on its south (Trachilos). Koufonisi is a small island, one of the southernmost european islands, together with Chrysi and Gavdos. Being at the south-easternmost part of Crete it has a dry and hot climate. This fact is evident in the persisting North African desert-like floristic element and in the steppe vegetation observed with the typical presence of the perennial esparto grass, Lygeum spartum, as well as of Erodium crassifolium. This vegetation type is on gypsum substrate. There are both sandy and rocky beaches. The marine part of the site is very representative and well conserved and comprises sea caves, reefs, and Posidonia beds.There are no permanent inhabitants on the island. In summer, vacationers visit the island, but tourism activities are not intense.

4.2 Quality and importance

The quality of this site has many aspects, related with its geographical location and excellent conservation status of the habitats. From the botanical view, both the flora and vegetation are interesting, as they are characterized by the persisting North African element which may have been depleted from the mainland of Crete. There are endemic plants and also plants at the margins of their northern distribution, such as Zygophyllum album and Helianthemum stipulatum, which have in these islands their only known populations in the area of Crete or of Greece. The marine habitats are very important. Besides, the monk seal also uses the island. Finally, the site combines the biological with the archaeological importance. There is an ancient theatre and archaeological value of the island is considered great, though not fully apprehended yet. OTHER IMPORTANT SPECIES WITH MOTIVATION D Plants: Colchicum cousturieri is an endemic of eastern Crete, protected by the Bern Convention and by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81). It is included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species (1993, Greece; 1988 Europe; and 1993, World) with the characterization «Vulnerable» and also included in Annex IV of the Directive 92/43/EEC. Helianthemum stipulatum is protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81). They are also included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species (1993, Greece; 1988 Europe) with the characterization «Vulnerable», «Indeterminate» and «Rare» respectively (their World status is unknown). H. stipulatum is also included in the Corine checklist of threatened plants. Zygophyllum album is protected by the Greek Law (Presidential Decree 67/81) and it is included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species (1993, Greece; 1988 Europe) with the characterization «Vulnerable», in Greece. The species Zygophyllum album, Cistanche phelypaea are near the northern limits of their distribution; the first two occur only in the Iberian peninsula in Europe and the latter one only in E. Crete. Lygeum spartum belongs to the desert-like floristic element, occurring only in steppe communities in Crete in Greece (it occurs at similar habitats in Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Italy in Europe); it is one of the very rare grasses in Greece (Damanakis & Scholz, 1990). Distribution in Europe: at similar habitats. Cynara cornigera is an east-Mediterranean species, with interesting distribution in the Aegean area, occurring in Southern Greece, in Crete and in the Aegean and out of Greece only in Cyprus; the site is one of only 100 or less sites this species occurs in the EC. Fagonia cretica is an east mediterranean region endemic.

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	51.91

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

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
GR95	Nisi Koufonisi	*	51.91

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 LASITHI, 2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICE OF LASITHI
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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SITE DISPLAY