Assessing environmental degradation of montane riparian zones in Greece

 

Stamatis Zogaris^1,2, Yorgos Chatzinikolaou? and Panayotis Dimopoulos*²

?Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Institute of Inland Waters, Athens-Sounio, Anavissos GR-19013, Attiki, Greece

²Laboratory of Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation, Department of? Environmental and Natural Resources Management,

University of Ioannina, 2 Seferi St., GR- 301 00, Agrinio, Greece

(Received: April 02, 2008; Revised received: October 01, 2008; Accepted: November10, 2008)

 

Abstract: A survey of 218 woody vegetation plots at 109 streamside sites was undertaken to describe anthropogenic degradation of riparian zone woodlands in the mountains of mainland Greece. Two assessment indices and specific anthropogenic pressure variables were employed and they showed good correlations at both the site and river segment scales. It was demonstrated through the Spanish Riparian Forest Quality Index (Qualitat de Bosc de Riber: QBR) that most riparian zones were in moderate or good condition, although extremely few sites were of high ecological status. Most riparian sites were affected by several anthropogenic pressures, some pressures produce notable degradation beyond the site-scale (i.e. at the river segment scale). This work provides a summary of the first wide-ranging vegetation-based assessment of montane riparian zones in Greece; the results support the use of site-based rapid assessment protocols along-side aquatic ecological status surveys.

Key words: Riparian zone, Woodlands, Ecological assessment, Degradation, Indicators

 

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