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Desertification by overgrazing in Greece: the case of Lesvos island.

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Desertification by overgrazing in Greece: the case of Lesvos island.

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Lesvos Island Still Struggling to Keep Tourism Alive

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Lesvos Island Still Struggling to Keep Tourism Alive

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Lesvos Island Still Struggling to Keep Tourism Alive - GTP Headlines

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Lesvos sees overnight stays drop by 40.63%, number of visitors by 42.58%, and tourism-related revenue by 35.18% as refugees continue to flock to the island.

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The economy of Lesvos is based on its own productive resources. The primary and tertiary
sectors are the main economic activities and the gross product per capita is approximately
69,1% of the Greek relevant indicator.
The primary sector includes agriculture and more specifically the production of olive oil,
livestock, farming including the production of grain, vegetables, fruit and fishery (various fish
and shellfish). With eleven million olive trees Lesvos is considered as one of the main territories
in olive oil production. Noteworthy is also the sheep and goat farming, where mainly the
people of the central and western part of the island are occupied as there are large areas of
pasture.
The economy of the island also revolves around the processing of agricultural products, mainly
oil, cheese, cured, ouzo, wines, etc., as well as the tourist product, for which great efforts are
being made for its development. Lately emphasis is given on production of organic olive oil and
wine from organically grown fields. Lesvos is also the home of ouzo because of the extensive
involvement of residents in the distillery industry and several famous brands of ouzo come
from the island. Thus on the island of Lesvos have been developed a series of businesses
especially in the food and drink branch, quite dynamic at a national level.
Lesvos produces 1% of the national GDP and 2.1% of the total national agricultural production.
In 2001 agriculture accounted for 15% of the GDP of the island. It is the sixth largest producer
of olive oil in Greece, producing 6% of the total production.
Characteristic of the local economy is the fact that today, the Municipality of Lesvos can show a
dynamic development on several sectors of the economy. The modernization of transport and
densification of ferry and air services, combined with the reduced VAT rate and the incentives
of the laws for development make the municipality of Lesvos an area for investment
opportunities.
Equally important is the tourism sector. The increasing number of tourists in recent decades
has significantly affected the island's economy especially in the area of the Petrified Forest in
western Lesvos and significant recreational areas such as Kalloni, Eressos, Mythimna, Petra,
Vatera, Plomari. Tourism, which made its debut in the early '80s, is limited either to small family
businesses or to small hotels resulting in the prevention of the destruction of flora and fauna
and the preservation of the architectural character of the island. Currently are developed
alternative forms of tourism such as bird watching, ecotourism and Geotourism, diving tourism,
thermal tourism, gastronomy tourism, religious tourism etc.
Lesvos is now characterized as one of the most renowned gourmet destinations revival of
traditional local recipes from the Agrotouristic Women Cooperatives, a form of productive
agricultural cooperatives with major contribution to local development. Women's cooperatives
are characterized by substantial potential on the one hand and by serious drawbacks on the
other. The economic performance of the cooperatives is satisfactory, while the use of local
resources and 'know how' contribute to the development of the island.

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Perspectives of farmers and tourists on agricultural abandonmentin east Lesvos, Greece

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Perspectives of farmers and tourists on agricultural abandonmentin east Lesvos, Greece

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Lesvos is the third-largest Greek island (after Crete and Evia). Virtually unaffected by mass tourism, Lesvos is the perfect place to visit for experiencing the real Greece - and our marine field course! Its natural attractions include a diverse and largely unspoilt coastline, a petrified forest, and over a million olive trees - in combination with millennia of human history including the ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Ottomans.

The venue of the international field course will be the Marine Science Department of the University of the Aegean, in Mytilini. It offers all amenities of a university campus in a historic Mediterranean island including modern teaching laboratories and a university-owned vessel for research and teaching.

All types of typical Mediterranean inshore habitats are easily accessible: Sandy and rocky benthos / shores, cliffs, seagrasss meadows, Cystoseira climax communities, sea caves, salt marshes, and coastal lagoons.

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Lesvos is the third-largest Greek island (after Crete and Evia). Virtually unaffected by mass tourism, Lesvos is the perfect place to visit for experiencing the real Greece - and our marine field course!

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Refugees and migrants arrive on the Greek island of Lesvos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey on November 7.

Their livelihood depends on the deep blue Aegean waters they have navigated since childhood but the fishermen of Lesvos today dread what they will find in their nets.

The waters around this Greek island have become a graveyard this year for hundreds of people, including children and infants, seeking safety and a better future in Europe.

"We are afraid to sail out because we might find the bodies of children or run into armed traffickers," says Christos Dimos, a grizzled fisherman in his 60s who has spent all his life in the northern Lesvos village of Molyvos.

Like many other villages on the island's northeastern flank facing Turkey, Molyvos has found itself on the front line of the greatest migration crisis facing Europe since World War II.

Nearly 800,000 people have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean this year so far and more than 3,400 people have died or gone missing trying to reach Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Greece's junior interior minister for migration, Yiannis Mouzalas, on Friday said more than 100 people had died in the Aegean in the last seven months.

"There is a tragedy every day," Mouzalas said during a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, which handles an equally heavy strain of migration from Libya.

The fishermen of Lesvos say their way of life had already been dramatically affected by the economic crisis gripping Greece since 2010, which for them means higher fuel tax and falling incomes.

Now they fear that the mounds of flotsam left behind in the migration wave could impact fishing stocks.

"Petrol and debris seep into the depths of the sea and considerably pollute fishing waters," says Nikos Katakouzinos, a fisherman from the coastal village of Skala Sykamineas.

"Perhaps in a few years we will have killed all marine life and will have to seek a job elsewhere," he muses.

"Our nets are damaged by driftwood and plastic from the migrant boats that sank," says Dimos.

And if tourists are discouraged from visiting the island next year because of the migrant influx, things could get worse for the locals.

Depressed or not, the fishermen do not hesitate to plunge headlong into the rescue when migrants are in peril in the stretch of water they know inside out.

"When you see a boat sinking with children on board, you cannot help being upset...you have to act," says Dimos.

On October 30, Katakouzinos says he jumped into action when he spied a boat with 200 people on board in difficulty a short distance from his village.

"I had not sailed out that day, there were winds of 50-75 kilometers (30-46 miles) an hour blowing," he recalls. "I was walking around the port at 7 a.m. that day, and I saw this boat sinking. I rushed to it without thinking even though it was risky. We managed to get everybody ashore, safe and sound. It was a good day."

"Sadly, rescuing migrants has become routine here,' says Katakouzinos, noting that the coastguard has just two vessels stationed in the area and often turns to them for help.

Greek daily Ethnos earlier this week had a similar story from the island of Chios, where fisherman Stefanos Zannikos recently braved gale-force winds to save 80 people including 20 children.

"The men in the boat were throwing the children (over to us) like basketballs," Zannikos told the daily.

"One pregnant woman was soaked to the bone and was shivering like a fish. I covered her with a blanket but she continued to shiver, so I took off my socks and gave them to her. She had turned blue," the 49-year-old father of three said.

However, on October 28, 29 people including 14 children died off Lesvos.

"I had never seen such a tragedy before," says Katakouzinos, his voice cracking. "Winter is just beginning. A lot more people are likely to drown."

The fisherman's face darkens when he talks about the traffickers who profit from the migrants' misery, packing them into unseaworthy dinghies that cannot withstand deteriorating weather conditions in the Aegean.

"Even when the sea is raging and the waves are two meters high, they are not bothered," he says. "They send the migrants without caring about their fate. For how long will they be allowed to get away with it?"

[AFP]

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Migrant tragedies leave Lesvos fishermen fearing for the future, MARINA RAFENBERG & WILL VASSILOPOULOS | Kathimerini

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Refugees and migrants arrive on the Greek island of Lesvos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey on November 7. Their livelihood depends on the deep blue Aegean waters they have navigated since childhood but the fishermen of Lesvos today dread what they will find in their nets.

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Kainari, a Unique Greek Traditional Herbal Tea, from the Island of Lesvos: Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

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Kainari, a Unique Greek Traditional Herbal Tea, from the Island of Lesvos: Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

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Kainari, a Unique Greek Traditional Herbal Tea, from the Island of Lesvos: Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties

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The chemical composition, as well as the total phenolic content (TPC) and the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, of three Kainari-herbal tea samples from different areas of Lesvos Island (Greece) was evaluated. The rich aroma of the mixtures was studied through GC-MS, as well as through Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME)/GC-MS analyses.

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Land-use evolution and degradation in Lesvos (Greece): A historical approach

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Land-use evolution and degradation in Lesvos (Greece): A historical approach

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240331116_Land-use_evolution_and_degradation_in_Lesvos_Greece_A_historical_approach

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The Island of Lesvos in Greece has more wildbirds than anywhere in Europe and people folck here in the spring to see the birds and the wildflowers,Lesvos, wild birds, birding, birdwatching, birdwatching in Lesvos, Wildbirding in Lesvos, Birding in Lesvos, Richard Brooks, Greek, Greece, birdwatching in Greece, birds of Greece, birds of Lesvos

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Persian Squirrel, Sciunus anomalus, Lesvos Island, Greece, endemic, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , lesbos

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Persian Squirrel, Sciunus anomalus, Lesvos Island, Greece, endemic, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , lesbos

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Stock Photo - Persian Squirrel, Sciunus anomalus, Lesvos Island, Greece, endemic, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , lesbos

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Download this stock image: Persian Squirrel, Sciunus anomalus, Lesvos Island, Greece, endemic, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , lesbos - K0EF6W from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

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ttps://www.researchgate.net/figure/Wind-Potential-Map-of-Lesvos-Island-Greece_fig1_228627850

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https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/157277/5068046
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/153534/135156882
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/44710554/44830029
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164123/63307717

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https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Fire-history-map-of-Lesvos-Island-for-the-years-1970-2012_fig2_263546761

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The environmental impacts of the refugees' settlements at Lesvos Island

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The environmental impacts of the refugees' settlements at Lesvos Island

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Greece hosts some 6,600 taxa of vascular plants with the highest number of endemics in Europe (approximately 1,450 taxa, which are 22% of the total indigenous flora).

The fauna comprises 115 mammal species, 12 of which are marine, 446 bird, 22 amphibian and 64 reptile species. Moreover, 162 freshwater and 476 marine fish species are hosted in Greece's waters. Some 30,000-50,000 invertebrates are also present, exhibiting a very high degree of endemism, exceeding 50% in some groups.

At present, the Natura 2000 network consists of 425 sites, covering around 4,200,000 hectares, which represent 27.2% of the total land and 6.1% of the total marine area of the country.

There are seven IUCN Members in Greece: the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN), the Hellenic Botanical Soicety, the Elliniki Etairia for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm), WWF Greece, the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climatic Change, and the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP).

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Greece hosts some 6,600 taxa of vascular plants with the highest number of endemics in Europe (approximately 1,450 taxa, which are 22% of the total indigenous flora). The fauna comprises 115 mammal species, 12 of which are marine, 446 bird, 22 amphibian and 64 reptile species.

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Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας Απολιθωμένου Δάσους Λέσβου / Main page

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Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest

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The main feature of the forest flora of Lesvos is the close association of various vegetation
types with the island’s geological structure.The geological makeup of Lesvos divides the island to the following regions with their
corresponding vegetation: a) Lime region (eastern Lesvos, Chamali, Pigi, Ippeios,Karini), where olive trees represent the dominant species (Olea europaea, b) Schist
region (southeastern Lesvos, Agiassos, Gera, Plomari) with oak (Quercus sp.) andchestnut trees (Castanea sativa), c) Ophiolithic region (central Lesvos, west of
Olympos) with Mediterranean pines (Pinusbrutia) and d) Volcanic region (central,
northern and western Lesvos) with oak(Quercus pubescens, Quercus aegilops), yellow azalea (Rododendron luteum), black pines (Pinus nigra) and Sarcopoterium spinosum
and Centaurea spinosa shrubs.
The Herbaceous vegetation of the island is also impressive. Two anemone species (Anemone
coronaria & A. pavonina) and daisy species (Anthemis chia & A. arvensis), red (Papaver rhoeas)
and orange poppies (P.Levigatum), as well as asphodels (Asphodelus microcarpus), the typical
plants of the Elysian Fields of ancient Greeks, bloom over extensive areas and create a
multicolor display. The Lesbian Alyssum (Alyssum lesbiacum) seems to be the only endemic
species on the island, while Phododendron luteum (yellow azalea) and Haplophyllum
megalanthum (orchid species) are plants of the Orient, which, in the Greek territory, glow only
on Lesvos. Other species, such as Royal fern (Osmunda regalis), False hemp (Datisca
cannabina), Komper’s orchid (Comperia comperiana), small carnation (Dianthus anatolicus),chickweed (Elatine aslinastrum), Corydalis integra, a type of buttercup (Raunculus isthmicus) and a type of campion (Silene urvillei), are very rare in other parts of Greece. It is worth mentioning Colchicum Automnale, a bulbous plant that flowers with the first autumn breeze, on the island. Its flower is perfect; it has both male reproductive organs, six stamens and female ones, three carpels. All parts of the plant are poisonous’ they contain an active
poison called colchicines. According to mythology, Medea daughter of the king of Colchis,
kelled her own children with its poison, and so gave it its name.
Finally, dozens of rare and quite elusive orchid species are a fascinating part of Lesbian flora,
while there is a vast variety of toadstools and mushrooms, mainly in the district of Achladeri.

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GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF PERSIAN SQUIRREL (SCIURUS ANOMALUS) IN THE GREEK ISLAND OF LESBOS

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GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF PERSIAN SQUIRREL (SCIURUS ANOMALUS) IN THE GREEK ISLAND OF LESBOS

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Diversity of agricultural plants on Lesvos Island (Northeast Aegean, Greece)with emphasis on fruit trees

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Diversity of agricultural plants on Lesvos Island (Northeast Aegean, Greece)with emphasis on fruit trees

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JavaScript is disabled on your browser. Please enable JavaScript to use all the features on this page.

Highlights

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A detailed inventory of crop species landraces took place in Lesvos Island, Greece.

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Information concern their composition, traits and conservation status.

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Numerous landraces, 36 annual or biennial and 15 perennial crop species recorded.

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An effective conservation strategy should combine in situ and ex situ activities.

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Synergies of different stakeholders could promote local landraces products.

Abstract

Historical evidence concerning the island of Lesvos has revealed the cultivation of cereals, olive trees, vines, figs and vegetables. Although the island's agricultural economy has been based almost exclusively on olive tree cultivation since the 18th century (ce.), wide diversity of other crops has significantly contributed to the growth of the local economy. Two consecutive inventories and collection expeditions of crop landraces on the island of Lesvos were conducted in 2011 and 2012. The first expedition focused mainly on annual species, while the second one focused exclusively on fruit trees and grapevine landraces. Both expeditions included visits to nearly 50 villages and contacts with amateur and professional farmers, directly related to landraces. During the first expedition a total of 63 donors contributed 309 accessions of 37 annual crop species and genera, mainly vegetables followed by pulses and cereals. A large variation of fruit trees and grapevine landraces has been recorded during both expeditions, including 143 landraces' names of 13 different species, with the greatest variability observed in pears, figs, apples and cherries as well as in grapevine. Results of the study revealed the substantial plant genetic wealth of cultivated species on the island of Lesvos. The urgent need to collect, conserve and promote this biodiversity is highlighted, since it constitutes invaluable plant material both for scientific purposes as well as for the economic sustainable development of the island.

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Diversity of agricultural plants on Lesvos Island (Northeast Aegean, Greece) with emphasis on fruit trees

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JavaScript is disabled on your browser. Please enable JavaScript to use all the features on this page. * A detailed inventory of crop species landraces took place in Lesvos Island, Greece. * Information concern their composition, traits and conservation status. * Numerous landraces, 36 annual or biennial and 15 perennial crop species recorded.

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Local knowledge of selected wild plant species collected in Agiassos, on Lesvos, Greece

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Local knowledge of selected wild plant species collected in Agiassos, on Lesvos, Greece

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The article reports a study of the collection of 20 plant species for agricultural, medicinal, cosmetic, nutritional, technological,and veterinary uses, which are traditionally harvested on Mount Olympus on Lesvos, Greece. The aims of the study were:(1) to summarize the uses of the selected species; (2) to describe the proﬁles of collectors and their collection practices; and (3) to describe the manner in which traditional ecological knowledge is transmitted. Knowledge of plant uses provided by local collectors during a series of observations and interviews carried out with the use of a semi-structured questionnaire in 2012 was compared with descriptions of the same plant uses in the literature. The results revealed that there were a large number of uses for the plants, more than half of them for nutritional purposes. The greatest number of diﬀerent uses were for camomile (Matricaria chamomilla), followed by stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Working farmers tended to mention more uses on average than other collectors. The authors conclude that traditional knowledge of plant collection has been preserved in the rural society on Lesvos and is mainly transmitted by women to people who are active in land management.

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The Late Pliocene vertebrate fauna of Vatera (Lesvos Island, Greece)

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The Late Pliocene vertebrate fauna of Vatera (Lesvos Island, Greece)

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Taphonomic evidence of a Paleogene mammalian predator–prey interaction

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Taphonomic evidence of a Paleogene mammalian predator–prey interaction

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A taphonomic study has been undertaken on an assemblage of bones and teeth of Isoptychus sp. and Thalerimys fordi (extinct rodent family Theridomyidae) from a single bed in a coastal plain setting, in the Late Eocene (Priabonian) Osborne Member, Headon Hill Formation (Hampshire Basin, UK). The vertebrate fossils show good preservation and do not bear the marks of obvious long distance transport. The two theridomyid species show similar patterns of mortality, element representation and surface modifications, which indicate similar mechanisms of accumulation. There is high mortality of juvenile and old individuals indicating accumulation of the assemblage by the action of attritional not catastrophic agents. The postcranial elements show fragmentary states and very low relative abundances. The vast majority of elongate bones (limb bones, phalanges and metapodials) are broken and exhibit a spiral irregular type of fracture with rounded fracture edges indicating that the bones were broken when they were fresh and have subsequently undergone additional modification. The enamel of most of the cheek teeth and incisors shows localized etching to various degrees and most of the bones show etching. By elimination of other modifying agents the observed etching is attributed to digestive corrosion. Collectively, these data indicate that the majority of the theridomyid individuals were eaten and digested by an animal that could cause high fragmentation during ingestion and with stomach juices of relatively high acidity. Both these features characterize mammalian carnivores. The presence of puncture marks on bones of both theridomyid species and comparisons with sizes of bite marks caused by extant mammalian carnivores suggest predation by a small mammalian carnivore about the size of an arctic fox. The extinct amphicyonid carnivoran Cynodictis cf. lacustris occurs in the same bed and the sizes of some of its teeth match well with the sizes of the puncture marks on the theridomyid bones. A predator–prey interaction is, therefore, deduced for the amphicyonid and the two theridomyid species, thereby reconstructing a small part of the continental Paleogene food chain

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JavaScript is disabled on your browser. Please enable JavaScript to use all the features on this page.

Abstract

A taphonomic study has been undertaken on an assemblage of bones and teeth of Isoptychus sp. and Thalerimys fordi (extinct rodent family Theridomyidae) from a single bed in a coastal plain setting, in the Late Eocene (Priabonian) Osborne Member, Headon Hill Formation (Hampshire Basin, UK). The vertebrate fossils show good preservation and do not bear the marks of obvious long distance transport. The two theridomyid species show similar patterns of mortality, element representation and surface modifications, which indicate similar mechanisms of accumulation. There is high mortality of juvenile and old individuals indicating accumulation of the assemblage by the action of attritional not catastrophic agents. The postcranial elements show fragmentary states and very low relative abundances. The vast majority of elongate bones (limb bones, phalanges and metapodials) are broken and exhibit a spiral irregular type of fracture with rounded fracture edges indicating that the bones were broken when they were fresh and have subsequently undergone additional modification. The enamel of most of the cheek teeth and incisors shows localized etching to various degrees and most of the bones show etching. By elimination of other modifying agents the observed etching is attributed to digestive corrosion. Collectively, these data indicate that the majority of the theridomyid individuals were eaten and digested by an animal that could cause high fragmentation during ingestion and with stomach juices of relatively high acidity. Both these features characterize mammalian carnivores. The presence of puncture marks on bones of both theridomyid species and comparisons with sizes of bite marks caused by extant mammalian carnivores suggest predation by a small mammalian carnivore about the size of an arctic fox. The extinct amphicyonid carnivoran Cynodictis cf. lacustris occurs in the same bed and the sizes of some of its teeth match well with the sizes of the puncture marks on the theridomyid bones. A predator-prey interaction is, therefore, deduced for the amphicyonid and the two theridomyid species, thereby reconstructing a small part of the continental Paleogene food chain.

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Taphonomic evidence of a Paleogene mammalian predator-prey interaction

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JavaScript is disabled on your browser. Please enable JavaScript to use all the features on this page. A taphonomic study has been undertaken on an assemblage of bones and teeth of Isoptychus sp. and Thalerimys fordi (extinct rodent family Theridomyidae) from a single bed in a coastal plain setting, in the Late Eocene (Priabonian) Osborne Member, Headon Hill Formation (Hampshire Basin, UK).

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New record of Tarentola mauritanica (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) fromLesvos island, Greece

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New record of Tarentola mauritanica (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) fromLesvos island, Greece

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Reptiles and amphibians on the Greek Island of Lesbos

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The island’s fauna is just as rich as its flora combining animal species of both the Orient and the West. Among the carnivores encountered in the olive groves are the fox (Vulpes vulpres), the ferret (Martes foina) and the weasel (Mustela nivalis). The most important m ammal of Lesvos is the squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) or galia as the natives call it, which lives in the Asia Minor shores and nowhere else in Europe but on Lesvos. Other species present on the island include
the otter, the hedgehod (erinaceus concolor) and the hare (Lepus capensis). On Lesvos, we also
encounter the amphibian Greek March frog, the Euro pean tree frog, the Eastern spadefoot and
the green toad. Many reptiles also live on the island, the Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) Balkan terrapin (Mauremys revulata) , European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis), Agama stelio, Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata), Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis taureca) armoured glass snake (Phiosaurus apodus), Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), Caspian
Whipsnake (Coluber jugularis), Balkan whip snake (Coluber gemonensis), Dahl’s Whipesnake
(Coluber najadum), coastal viper (Viperea xanthina), dice snake (Natrix tesselata), European
ratsnake (Elaphe situla), four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata), caat snake (Telescopus fallax), sand boa (Eryx jaculus), worm snake (Typhlops Vermicularis), Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus).
An ideal place for bird watching, Lesvos is the island with the richest avifauna in the Aegean. Due to the wide variety of habitats and its location half way in the migration routes of Eastern Mediterranean, more than 300 species of birds pass, winter or nest on the island. Importantregions for bird watching are Olympos, Kalloni, the Bay of Gera, Prinovouni, Akrasia, around
Vatera, Lepetymnos, Agiassos, Sigri, Eressos, Petra, Skala in Polychnitos, Agra, Potamia et. al. Sitta Krueperi is one of the rarest species, which has chosen to live only in the pinewoods of the regions of Olympos, Achladeri and Akrasio in the whole of Europe. Cinereous Bunting (Emberiza
cineracea) can be traced in Eressos, Olympos and Agra. Other rare species nesting on the island
are Ruppell’s Warbler, the olive-tree Warbler, the Olivaceous Warbler, the Pied Wheatear, the Rufous Bush Robin, the Masked Shrike, the Sombre 🤬, the Rock Nuthatch, the Cretzschmar’s Bunting, the Long-legged Buzzard, the Accipiter, the Alectoris chukar. The Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) is rare in Greece and nests in the area of Achladeri. Also on the island we
find a few pairs of Black Storks (Ciconia nigra). In Lesvos there are also White Storks (Ciconia ciconia). Rare aquatic birds nest in the Bay of Kalloni, such as the Black-winged Stilt, the pied avocet, the Stone Curlew, the Little Bittern, the king fisher, the Collared Pratincole, the Marsh harrier, the Common Tern, the Little Tern, etc. As for more ordinary birds, Lesvos hosts blackbirds, thrushes and starlings in the olive groves, as well as robins, Chaffinches, skylarks, wrens, woodpeckers, Blackcaps and, in the summer, Wheatears. More rarely one might encounter the Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melonocerhala) exclusively in the olive groves, the
Sylvia olivetorum and in recent years the wren. The Hoopoe nest in olive trees cavities, while in dry branches we come across the small Dunnock (Prunellamodularis). During the winter the wood 🤬 and two species of thrush, the Fieldfare and the Redwing, visit the island, whereas the Eurasian Eagle Owl is giving way to the Long-eared Owl.
An impressive group of insects with a diverse variety of species that inhabit Lesvos are the dragonflies (order Odanata). The research is still in progress but 45 different species have already been spotted on the island. These dragonflies seem to be members of the prehistoric
family of giant dragonflies, the first insects to become avian. Finally, it is worth mentioning that more than 530 species of bees live on Lesvos. The list is constantly growing as research progresses. This impressive variety of bees is, of course, related to the huge range of plant and habitat variety of the island.

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Come up with possible reasons for the decision to reintroduce grey wolves into the National Park. From the three options below, select the reason you find most likely.
1. The wolves were brought into the National Park because people, thanks to the extensive awareness campaign, were not afraid of them anymore.

2.     The wolves were brought in because they were the most exciting creatures for the visitors of the Park to see.

3.     The wolves were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood.
ANSWER
The correct answer refers to the 3rd statement. They were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood.
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wolf-reintroduction-changes-ecosystem
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170516-when-wolves-return-to-the-wild-everything-changes

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Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) on windowsill, Lesbos, Lesvos, Greece

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Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) on windowsill, Lesbos, Lesvos, Greece

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Surface area, physical and human geography characteristics

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Surface area, physical and human geography characteristics

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The island of Lesvos is located in the NE Aegean Sea. It is situated close to the coast of Asia Minor with an area of 1.636 km2 and 370 km of coastline and a population of 90.463 inhabitants. The sea enters  eeply into the southern portion of the island and forms two enchanting bays with narrow entrances, namely the Kalloni and Gera gulfs. Small coves and fishing harbors ornament its shores and the headlands that are formed along the coast are most picturesque. Olive and pine trees cover mountains and plains on the central and eastern part of the island while a wide variety of aromatic and medical herbs are also present. 11 million olive trees produce more than 20.000 tons of olives per year.Mytilini is the capital town of the island and the administrative center of Lesvos Municipality and the Region of North Aegean, the seat of the General Secretary of the Aegean & Naval Policy and of the University of the Aegean. It is the commercial and cultural center of the island and has a population of 37,881 inhabitants (2001 census). Mytilini is largely built on the ancient town. It spreads amphitheatrically around the harbour with extension to the north and west highs.

On the north of Mytilini the Venetian castle crowns a magnificent pine wood which reaches down to the shore. It is one of the largest mediaeval castles in the Eastern Mediterranean. Places of special interest are the Ancient Theatre with marvellous acoustics,  the Archaeological Museum, the Byzantine Museum, Theophilos Museum, Teriade Museum of modern art and some of the monumental churches, having both impressive architectural features and ecclesiastical articles.On the Northern edge of the island stands the Mythimna Municipal Unit (2,375 inhabitants) which is the centre of the tourist development. Its capital is the picturesque town of Mythimna (Molyvos) which has been declared a settlement subject to preservation. Its castle crowns it from Byzantine times and makes it even more charming.Other Municipal Units of the Island are Kalloni with 8,073 inhabitants, Polichnitos with 5,163 inhabitants, Plomari with 6,385 inhabitants, Agiasos with 2,581inhabitants, Agia Paraskevi with 2,454 inhabitants, Petra with 3,721 inhabitants, Mantamados with 3,024 inhabitants, Loutropoli Thermis 3,481 inhabitants, Evergetoulas with 3,242 inhabitants, Gera with 6,945 inhabitants. On the extreme Western edge of the island lies the Eressos-Antissa Municipal Unit with 5,111inhabitants (2001 census). The villages of this area are of incomparable wild beauty, where appear large accumulations of fossilised tree trunks comprising the well known «Petrified Forest of Lesvos». The Natural History Museum of Lesvos' Petrified Forest is located in Sigri village since 1994, in order to undertake scientific research on the natural monument, as well as the preservation and promotion of the Petrified Forest.The local economy is based on the agricultural production with an emphasis on olive oil production (of exceptionally high quality), cattle-raising (mainly dairy products) and fishing. Distillery is developed and its main product is the world famous ouzo. Many of the island’s inhabitants are professionally engaged in agricultural tourism.The climate is mild Mediterranean, the mean annual temperature is 18 °C (64°F), and the mean annual rainfall is 750 mm (29 in). Its exceptional sunshine makes it one of the sunniest islands in the Aegean. Snow is extremely rare as are temperatures below freezing.

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The island of Lesvos is a richly endowed land. Its natural beauties, its climate and its fertile soil
have given birth to people with a profound sense of beauty and harmony, from the depths of
antiquity right up to the present. It is not by chance that even during mythological times Lesvos was known for its flourishing arts.
Lesvos island can be divided into four main physiographical provinces:
a. The south -eastern part where the Olympus mountain range, reaching a maximum height of 967 m, dominates.
b. The Kalloni Gulf grabben.
c. The central mountainous region, including the chain of the main
volcanic centres; this region starts west of Kalloni Gulf and extends to the northern shores ofthe island, hosting also the highest peak of the island, Lepetymnos (968 m).
d. The hilly western
part which is composed of pyroclastic rocks, and is characterised by irregular peaks that reachheights of 600 m.
The East coast of Lesvos Isl. is separated from the West coast of Asia Minor by the Mytilini strait. Olive and pine trees cover mountains and plains on the central and eastern part of the island while a wide variety of aromatic and medical herbs are also present. Forests of pine and
some oak occupy 20%, and the remainder is scrub, grassland andurban.

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Polichnitos hot springs, one of the warmesthot springs in Europe

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Polichnitos hot springs, one of the warmesthot springs in Europe

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Geological changes endowed Lesvos with numerous hot springs, which influenced life on the island. The first settlements in prehistoric times were created near such “miraculous” waters,
which provide today’s traveler with a unique therapeutic experience.
The Hot Springs of Thermi are not only therapeutic, but they boast a brilliant history. They are worth a visit, even if you are not interested in a therapeutic bath, just so that you can explore the region’s past. The area flourished during the Hellenistic period, and the Romans used the
baths in their daily lives. Places like ancient temples, parts of which were used in later
constructions, domed buildings, created under the Ottoman rule by pashas who adored Lesvos, Sarlitza Palace Hotel, designed by French architects and the pl ace Venizelos stayed at, all whisper secrets of History! Modern spa facilities housed in a renovated building with individual
baths; are located right next to Sarlitza Palace. The water temperature is 49.9 o C, and the
spring is characterized as a ferrous hot spring.
The Gulf of Gera Hot Springs are just a few kilometers form Mytilene. In the past, carts and
boats used to wait at the calm waters’ jetty and bring over people from the capital for their hot baths. The temperature of the water is 39.7o C and the spring is characterized as rich in sodium chloride. The common bath with its view of the sea, as well as the stone and marble faucets are also impressive. Eftalou hot springs are situated on the northern coast of Lesvos, very close to Mythimna. The sesprings, well up through andesitic tuffs and conglomerates. The temperature of the water is
46.5o C and, the radiation lever 14.7 MACHE; this
makes Eftalou hot springs the most radioactive
springs on Lesvos. The building where the baths are situated was built in the 17th century and with its curved dome and small sky light windows provides a magical experience. The four baths in the
renovated building situated next to this one
constitute a more modern version of a health spa.
Polichnitos hot springs are some of the warmest hot
springs in Europe, with temperatures ranging
between 62o C and 86o C. They are located 1km
southeast form the town of Polichnitos and offer
two swimming pools and modern facilities. The
waters are good for the treatment of rheumatism
and arthropathies.
Lisvori hot springs, hidden inside olive groves, spout
up through volcanic conglomerates and volcanic tuffs. The water temperature is 69o C and itschemical components are similar to those of
Policnitos hot springs. There are two swimming pools, one of which has been in use since the
Ottoman times.

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Lesvos Biodiversity Observatory - Greece

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Lesvos Biodiversity Observatory - Greece

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Lesvos Biodiversity Observatory - Greece | DEIMS-SDR

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The island of Lesvos constitutes an ideal place to carry out biodiversity and ecology studies. This is proved by the wealth of studies carried out the last few decades, to a big extent by the staff of the University of the Aegean that established here the most nature-related of its Departments: those of the Environment, of Geography, and of Marine Sciences.

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Listing and description of geological sites within the proposed Lesvos Geopark

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Listing and description of geological sites within the proposed Lesvos Geopark

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These are ideal locations for watching and photographing birds and they attract more and more enthusiasts from around the world. In the wetland of Kalloni Bay the sea has no waves or spoondrift. Sea water is trapped in salt pans. This environment swarming with life is chosen by birds, and bird watchers can not but follow in spring and autumn months, the coexistence of man and beast has reached the point where flamingos with their long legs and impressive pink plumage are not bothered by human presence. The wetland has been included in Natura 2000 network, and includes, besides the bay marine habitat, a large number of terrestrial wetlands: the saltpans of Kalloni and Polichnitos, the stream beds of Tsiknias, Vouvari, Mylopotamos, Ennia Kamares, Potamia, the lagoon of Messa, etc.
In the eastern part of the island, at the junction of Mytilini -Kalloni and Mytilini-Gera roads, the
river Evergetoulas and the marsh of Dipio create another impressive wetland called Dipio -Larso. Wild geese and ducks, herons and other birds searching for food en d up in the mouths of the
rivers Almyropotamos and Vourkos in the wetland of Vatera. The clay soil and the shallow waters of the area foster the development of various plant and animal species close to the shore.

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"The ancient trees of Lesvos were submerged in a sea of volcanic material in an eruption in the Northern Aegean 20 million years ago"

The Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark, former Lesvos Petrified Forest Geopark, is a founding member of the Geoparks Network that brings visitors to an ancient forest preserved by a massive volcanic eruption 20 million years ago.

Lesvos with an area of 1.636 km ² and 370 km of coastline is the third largest Greek island, and the seventh largest in the Mediterranean. Lesvos is located in the NE Aegean Sea close to the coast of Asia Minor. The island has two major gulfs those of Gera and Kalloni. Its highest mountains are Lepetymnos and Olympus and the largest part of the eastern and central part of the island belongs to Natura 2000 Network.

Lesvos belongs to the Pelagonian geotectonic zone of Greece which represents fragments of the Cimmerian Continent. Τhe geological structure of Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark is composed of the Metamorphic basement, the nappe of the ophiolitic sequence, the Miocene postalpine volcanics, the Neogene marine and lacustrine deposits.

The Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark features rare and impressive fossilised tree-trunks. Formed some 15 to 20 million years ago, due to intense volcanic activity, the trees were covered by lava, ashes and other materials that were spewed into the atmosphere. Heavy rainfalls soon followed and saturated the ashes, thus creating huge mudflows of pyroclastic material. These flows moved from east to west with considerable speed and engulfed the trees that covered the western part of Lesvos at that time. Today some of the trunks can still be seen in their upright position with intact roots of up to seven metres, while others are found in a fallen position measuring up to 20 metres. The forest comprised enormous trees similar to those of the Sequoia family found today in North America - as well as pines, oaks, conifers and cinnamon trees. The fossilised trunks have retained fine details of their bark and their interior reveals a great variety of colours. Not only ancient trees were fossilised but an entire ecosystem as well. Branches, fruits and leaves have also been preserved. The Greek state recognised the major environmental, geological and palaeontological value of the area and declared the Petrified Forest to be a preserved Natural Monument (Presidential Decree 443/85).

Moreover in the area of Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark there are findings of the oldest known land mammal (Prodeinotherium bavaricum) 19 million years ago in Greece, impressive fossils of animals that lived on Lesvos 2 million years ago, numerous volcanic sites and thermal springs witnesses of the intense volcanic activity (21.5-16.2 million years ago), faults and landscapes created from tectonism, caves and karstic structures, erosional forms and waterfalls as well as impressive coastal landforms.

The population of the island is 85.410 inhabitants (2011 census) a third of which lives in its capital, Mytilene, in the southeastern part of the Island. Mytilene is also the administrative center of the North Aegean Prefecture and it is the seat for the General Secretary of the Aegean & Naval Policy and for the University of the Aegean.

The local economy of the island is based on agriculture with an emphasis on olive oil production, cattle-raising and fishing. Distillery is developed and its main product is the world famous ouzo. An important component of the Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark management plan is the support of the local economy. Several opportunities have been created through Geoparks activities for tourist enterprises, small hotels, guest houses, restaurants, and other enterprises such as local handicrafts artisans. It is worth to be mentioned that Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark collaborates closely with women's agrotourism cooperatives and every summer organizes an agrotourism festival, which promotes high-quality local products, food, and drinks prepared by the women's cooperatives.

The park includes the Natural History Museum in Sigri that offers visitors a better understanding of the geological evolution of the Aegean Sea, together with a variety of original exhibits. Special guided tours of the area and educational programmes for students can also be organised. Educational activities lie at the core of the UNESCO Global Geopark's operations. Environmental education programs organized for elementary and high school students in Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark cover a broad range of activities such as fossil excavation and conservation, nature observation, and bird watching. School visits are organized all year round, contributing to the local economy through the development of educational geotourism. Educational activities for local schools help raise the awareness of the local inhabitants as to the importance of the natural monuments and the conservation of the earth's heritage.

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Lesvos Island | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

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"The ancient trees of Lesvos were submerged in a sea of volcanic material in an eruption in the Northern Aegean 20 million years ago" The Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark, former Lesvos Petrified Forest Geopark, is a founding member of the Geoparks Network that brings visitors to an ancient forest preserved by a massive volcanic eruption 20 million years ago.

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Petrified Forest of Lesvos | a tourist holiday travel guide from Greek Islands Postcards.

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The geological history of Lesvos is inextricably linked with the volcanic activity that took place 21.5 to 16.5 million years ago and led to the creation of large volcanoes, such as those in Lepetymnos, Vatoussa, Agra, Mesotopos and Anemotia. Volcanic eruptions shook the area of modern Lesvos. But the volcanoes were not only cause for destruction, since their activity led to the creation of important geosites and rocks.

The impressive lava domes in Molyvos and Ordymnos and the volcanic neck of Petra have been used by man as locations for the construction, respectively, of the Castle of Mythimna, the Ypsilos Monastery and the Church of Panagia Glykofiloussa, thanks to the resistance of their volcanic materials to weathering.Many minerals and rocks, such as quartz and opal, ignimbrite and andesite, alum, bentonite, lead, zinc, magnesite, constitute valuable natural resources exploited by man over the years. The “alum earth” is a sulphate called alunite, associated with the volcanic activity on Lesvos. It was extracted in ancient times for medical purposes. One of the first natural materials used by man was flint, as evidenced by the archaeological excavations in the area Rodafnidia, near Lisvori. But, one of the first stone tools built and used to grind grains and process the fruit of the olive tree were the millstones made of volcanic rocks, which have played a leading role in the productive economy of the island.Particular is also the raw material for the creation of the Lesvos ceramics, which have the unique ability to keep water cool. The raw material for their creation is pulverized ignimbrite, a volcanic rock associated with the activity of the large Lepetymnos volcano about 17 million years ago. The ceramics are created with a technique that has remained almost unchanged since the ancient times in the area of Agios Stefanos, in Mandamados.

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Petrified Forest of Lesvos | a tourist holiday travel guide from Greek Islands Postcards.

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On the western part of Lesvos Island, remains of fossil plants appear within volcanic rocks. The fossils comprise the well-known «Lesvos Petrified Forest», which covers an area of 15,000 ha. Within this area, several unique palaeo-botanical sites showing high concentrations of fossilised tree-trunks have been discovered.The region of the Petrified Forest is characterized by impressive volcanic geotopes, result of the intense volcanic activity of the past. This region could be characterized as a window on the geohistoric development of the Aegean over the past 20 million years. Scientists researching and studying the Petrified Forest speak enthusiastically of the rarity and great scientific value of the monument and repeatedly emphasize the uniqueness of the site. There are many reasons for this. The Petrified Forest constitutes an entire forest ecosystem that was fossilised on site because of intense volcanic activity. The large number of fossilised trunks that have remained standing upright, with their root system fully developed, confirms that the trees were fossilised in their original position, thus this is an autochthonous fossilised forest.The fossilised trees and the parts of the plants have been preserved in excellent conditions up to the present. The age of the forest and the great variety of fossilised plant species that have been found contribute to its great scientific value, whereas the composition of the fossilised flora is a particularly important guide to the climatic conditions, the environment and the

geological conditions at that period.The systematic paleobotanical study of the petrified tree trunks and fossilised leaves enables the determination of the genus and species of the plants that made up the forest of Lesvos 20million years ago. At the area of Gavathas, in northwestern Lesvos, findings of the oldest known land mammal in Greece,Prodeinotherium bavaricum (first appearance of the family in Europe) have been recovered. At the Petrified Forest, we can gather information regarding the plant species which constituted the island’s flora, the climatic and geological conditions that prevailed in the Aegean area 20 millions years ago. In other words, the Petrified Forest constitutes a unique ‘’testimonial’’ of the geological history of the Aegean basin over the past 20 million years.