Title : Monitoring, threats and conservation strategies for plant biodiversity in Greek forest ecosystems
Abstract:
This study examines the status, pressures and conservation prospects of plant biodiversity in representative Greek forest ecosystems, with an emphasis on mountainous regions. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of existing monitoring practices, identify the main threats and develop integrated conservation strategies through a comparative analysis of two case studies: Mt Oiti (Natura 2000 site) and Mt Parnassos (Natura 2000 site). Systematic vegetation sampling was carried out in selected representative plots, recording species presence and abundance with emphasis on endemic, rare and threatened taxa. The case studies on Mt Oiti and Mt Parnassos revealed a mosaic of high plant diversity but also intense, multifactorial pressures. On Mt Oiti, key threats include the gradual abandonment of traditional grazing, which favours forest encroachment at the expense of open habitats and species-rich grasslands, recurrent wildfires and climate change, which alter elevational distribution patterns and increase stress on sensitive habitat types. On Mt Parnassos, these are compounded by tourism and development pressures (ski resort, road network expansion, second homes), which intensify fragmentation, increase disturbance and degrade sensitive subalpine and forest ecosystems. Based on these findings, we propose targeted conservation strategies that combine strengthened monitoring, spatial planning and participatory governance. Priority actions include: establishment of permanent monitoring plots focusing on plant diversity and climate-sensitive taxa, development of biodiversity and habitat condition indicators to be integrated into forest and protected-area management plans; regulation of the intensity and spatial allocation of human activities through zoning, biodiversity-friendly infrastructure design and stricter environmental permitting; and support for traditional, biodiversity-friendly land uses such as extensive grazing and close-to-nature silviculture. Particular emphasis is placed on linking scientific monitoring with management policies and local communities. We highlight the potential of citizen-science schemes and locally tailored environmental education programs to enhance awareness, data collection and acceptance of conservation measures. The study concludes that effective protection of plant biodiversity in Greek forests requires integrated, adaptive monitoring systems that combine ecological data, socio-economic parameters and climate-change projections. Mt Oiti and Mt Parnassos function as living laboratories, illustrating both challenges and opportunities for implementing innovative, evidence-based conservation strategies in Mediterranean mountain forest landscapes and providing valuable insights for national biodiversity policy.
