Part of the knowledge gap that exists for its valuable, endangered species. Greek biodiversity will try to cover Organization for Environment and Climate Change (OFYPECA). The organization is to revise the “Red List” of endangered species in Greece, examining 17,000 species, up from 1,300 in the previous review. It is also commissioning 32 studies on endemic and endangered plant species to scientists and universities, and over the next few days it will begin recording biodiversity at archaeological sites. With the scientific knowledge gained, the Ministry of the Environment will be able (if desired) to establish more effective measures to protect and manage valuable species and habitats.

The first action announced is the revision of the Red List of Endangered Species of Greece. The list was last compiled in 2009 after a study of 1,013 animal species and 300 plant species. Today, this project will be multiplied with the help of 50 specialists – zoologists and botanists – to assess the condition of more than 10,000 animals and 7,000 plants throughout the country. The assessment will be based on the standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which compiles a global list (which includes over 130,000 species). Thus, the most complete and comprehensive assessment of the risk to which most of the species in the country are exposed will be carried out.

This will be followed by a commission on 32 special studies on endemic and endangered plant and animal species. The research is funded by the Hellenic Research and Innovation Foundation (ELIDEK) under a programmatic contract with OFYPEKA. Each study will last one year and will be based on fieldwork, which is very important as government funding for fieldwork has been minimal in recent years. Among the species to be studied are the Milos lizard, the white-tailed anemone, the Vouliagmeni lake anemones, the endemic legionnaire ant, three endangered species of orthoptera (locust), the scaptopontico, the Parnassian peony and others. Research executors are specialist scientists from the universities of Athens, Patras, Ioannina, Crete, etc. and scientific organizations such as ELGO-Dimitra and ELKETHE.

Finally, in the next few days, a biodiversity registration program will begin in the 20 most important archaeological sites (Acropolis – Ancient Agora – Hills, Epidaurus, Olympia, Philippi, Messina, Aptera Chania, Mon Repos in Corfu, Dodoni, Nikopol, Meteora). , Agios Achillios Prespon, Ioannina Old Town and Lake Island, Acrocorinth, Gramvousa – Balos, Mystras, Delos, Sounion, Vravrona, Delphi and Phaistos). The program involves 48 scientists from five universities, who will present the results of their field study in a year and a half. Characteristically, the narrowly endemic micromeria plant of the Acropolis (Micromeria acropolitana) is found exclusively on the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis, while other archaeological sites, such as Delphi or Epidaurus, are inhabited by rare species of birds and reptiles.

“These programs are especially important because they will close gaps in knowledge about the country’s biodiversity, especially endemic and endangered species,” explains Costas Triantis, Managing Director of OFYPEKA. “In addition, they will help update the thousands of opinions issued by OFYPEKA each year, helping to plan more effective measures to protect species and habitats.”