Action A.7
Detailed habitat mapping of 2 new populations at Stenovouni and Akonorachi on Mt. Oiti during November, followed by biometric data processing and evaluation. Incremental cores were sent for laboratory analysis in order to estimate population status.
Action A.8
Visit to Mt. Kallidromo around the lakes Nevropolis and Mourizos in order to finalise details for the proposed works for erosion control.
Action C.3
Information collected from the treatments on vegetation and animals in the past months was reviewed and the annual report was prepared. In the meantime, deliberations were carried out with the owners of the cow herds grazing on Mt. Kallidromo in order to remove the collars from the ten cows and send them to the study team for data processing.
Action C.5
Conservation and plant care works of the grafted and non-grafted cypress plants.
Action C.7Scoring of seed germination experiments (including cut-tests and addition of 1000 ppm GA3) for Ranunculus lateriflorus (collection sites - dates:
Livadies - 23.06.2013), Polygonum sp. (collection sites - dates: Greveno – 13.08.2013), Myosurus minimus (collection site - date: Greveno - 21.07.2014), Limosella aquatica (collection site - date: Livadies –23.06.2013) and Juncus bufonius (collection site - date: Greveno - 21.07.2014). For Polygonum sp. (collection sites - dates: Greveno – 13.08.2013), Limosella aquatica (collection site - date: Livadies - 23.06.2013) and Juncus bufonius (collection site - date: Greveno - 21.07.2014) seeds were transfered, after 3 months of chilling, to various incubation temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 20/10 and 30/20 °C), under white light and in darkness.
Action C.8
Twenty artificial nests were placed at selected locations in the SPA of Mt. Oiti.
Action C.9
Contracts were signed with the subcontractor who will plant the wild fruit trees and the provider of the electric fences. 30 Electric fences were received and delivered to the Beekeepers Association of Lamia on December 12, in a special event in the facilities of the Management Body of the Oiti National Park. During the event there were presentations of LIFE ForOpenForests activities with emphasis on actions targeting the Brown Bear. The provider of the electric fences also presented their technical characteristics and details about their setting-up. A fruitful discussion with the beekeepers completed the event. The distribution of the fences to specific beekeepers will be completed during the first months of the next year, well before the spring period.
Official approval of the special study for planting the wild trees is still expected from the Forestry Service.
Action D.2
The vegetation data, as well as the data on animal movements collected from the ten collared cows were processed so that the annual report of the action may be prepared. The results show that animal grazing was light to moderate on Mt. Oiti but heavy to very heavy on Mt. Kallidromo, resulting in deterioration of species composition. Cows on the latter mountain seem to walk long distances while grazing but tend to concentrate in the large forest openings where habitat type 6230* is present.
Action D.3
The first monitoring of the Juniperus foetidissima plantated at Matakia took place. The site of Trapeza was not accessible for monitoring due to snow cover.
Action D.5
On December 23 a visit in the project area took place during which there were meetings and cooperation with:
- Stockbreeders that have received Greek Shepherd dogs. There were discussions about the condition the donated dogs, as well as bear presence incidents and problems with their livestock. There was no presence of bear in their territories and no problems to their livestock from bears. Their main problem is the presence of wolf and a lot of wolf damages on their livestock. The results regarding the shepherd dogs show an important loss of 7 dogs due to poisoning, and 2 due to car accidents. The total loss of 9 out of 22 donated dogs underlines the problem of illegal poisoning at a local level both for shepherd dogs and wildlife.
- The Management Authority of the Oiti National Park. There was discussion about bear presence in the area, which appears to be quite rare. A bear was photographed on September 12 by a remote camera, set up as part of a separate project of the Management Authority. Bear presence was confirmed on three other occasions, on May 3 (footprints), on May 28 (damages to beehives) and on September 22 (footprints).
- ELGA of Lamia. Discussion about officially recorded damages of bears in the project area, with no bear damages reported for the whole of 2015.
Additionally, during the event of the electric fence delivery the beekeepers were questioned about bear problems and presence; there were 5 incidents during 2015: one in January, two in May and two in July.
Action F.1: Preparation of the Mid Term Report (MtR). The MtR will be submitted on January 31, 2016.
