Large Carnivores status in Greecebrief overview (Alex. Kavvadia MSc Biologist- Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy Yorgos Mertzanis, PhD biologist NGO Callisto) 7 th Regional Workshop of the EU PLATFORM ON COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LARGE CARNIVORES Budva, MONTENEGRO, November 6 th, 2018
7 th Regional Workshop of the EU PLATFORM ON COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LARGE CARNIVORES -(Budva, Montenegro, November 6 th, 2018) 3+1 large carnivore species in Greece. Wolf Golden jackal Brown bear Lynx lynx
Brown bear (Ursus arctos) status- Greece. Part of the Dinara Pindos & Eastern Balkan populations Brown bear: range, distribution Population: 400-500 ind. (Pilidis 2015, MoE 2016) Range: 34,868 km2 Distribution: 17,850 km2 (Recolonization of former range) Legal Status Greek law (1969/art.258) (strictly protected) EU HD 92/43 (Annex II IV priority species) Bern Convention (Annex II) (strictly protected) (Red data Book, 2009): EN LCIE, 2015
Grey wolf (Canis lupus) status- Greece. Part of the Dinara Pindos & Eastern Balkan populations Population: 717-815 ind(min),189 packs, 1,4-2,1 ind/100km2 (Iliopoulos, MoE 2016) Range: 71,000 km2 Distribution: 61,000-64,000 km2 (Recolonization of former range) Legal Status: EU HD: Annex II/IV (priority species south of 39o ) V (north of 39o parallel) Bern Convention (Annex II)(strictly protected) LCIE, 2015 Red data Book VU
Golden jackal (Canis aureus) status- Greece. Population: ~ 1,000 ind (WWF Greece, Giannatos 2004, WWF Greece 2009) Range: 30,049 km2 Distribution: 11,525 km2 Recolonization of former range (W. Greece)(Kominos et al. 2018) Legal Status IUCN Red List : LC EU HD (Annex V) Red data Book 2009: VU In 1990 delisted from pest (in Greece).
Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balkanicus) status- Greece. Population: unknown (probably vagrants) Potential Range: 2,130 km2 (Kominos 2016, MoE 2016) Potential Distribution: NW Pindos range(kominos 2016, MoE 2016)?? Legal Status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species : Critically endangered (CR) EU HD (Annex II,IV, V) Red data Book 2009: critically endangered (CR)
LC Monitoring scheme & methods in Greece.
LC s monitoring scheme in Greece. EU Member States 6 year reporting (HD 92/43, art.17) (1 st National Report 1994-2000, 2 nd NR 2001-2006, 3 rd NR 2007-2012) MEEN Greek submission Monitoring of Article and 17 assessment reporting for of the the period conservation 2007-2012. status The of actual reporting species period and for Greece habitat is types 2007 of 2014 Community : Interest in Greece» (2012-2015) http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/gr/eu/art17/envvkfa_q/ Action plan for Ursus arctos (under LIFE93/NAT/GR/010800, submission 1995,revision 2019, legal approval 2020) will be updated within LIFE-IP 4 Natura LIFE projects: Brown bear (1994-95, 1997-99, 2000-02, 2009-13, 2011-2015, 2016-2020) Wolf (1998-2001) WWF Greece (funds): Jackal (2004, 2009) Monitoring in Protected areas (National Parks), SPA s & SCI s. Other regional scale Monitoring projects: i.e. related to large scale transportation infrastructure (via Egnatia).
BEAR: A. Distribution range size and trends Systematic records of bio-signs FWCOY spring surveys Confirmed damage on livestock- beehives and cultivations (yearly official data from National Farmers Insurance Organization - ELGA). Questionnaire surveys Camera traps
BEAR: B. Population levels and trends Systematic records of bio-signs FWCOY spring surveys Genetic fingerprinting N.Pindos-Gramos: N c =219(Tsaparis et al 2014), N.Pindos Florina : N c =154 (Patronidis et al 2018) Rodopi: N c = 92 ind.(pilidis 2015) Total: 400-500 ind.(pilidis 2015, MoE 2016). Human-caused mortality records Camera traps
BEAR: C. Home range and spatial activity Telemetry (70 tagged ind.) Genetic fingerprinting (capture-recapture) Home range size Average HR (MCP100) for M ~271 km2 Average HR (MCP100) for F ~118km2 (Giannakopoulos et al. 2015) Habitat connectivity gene flow Habitat use Monitoring of problem bears.
WOLF: A. Distribution range size/ Complete census: ΟCCUPANCY MODELS from large scale presence data (livestock damage records) Confirmed damage to livestock- 2013 per municipality (ΕΛΓΑ, 2013). Occupancy models to predict presence Closed season- three summer months Royle- Nichols closed one season occupancy models (Iliopoulos et al. 2016)
WOLF: Β1. Distribution & Territory size: Based on, a) Pack spacing b) direct territory size estimations (Iliopoulos et al. 2016) Howling sessions : Pack spacing and counting. Wolf telemetry Territory size: Camera traps (pups of the year) Interviews with locals- breeding sites confirmed
Β.2 Population: Average pack size Snowtracking Camera trapping (>30 days- winter data) Minimum pack size ν= 26 / 5.4 ± 0.6 individuals/pack (95%C.I) (Iliopoulos et al. 2016)
JACKAL: Distribution range size and population estimation (Giannatos 2004-WWF Greece, Migli, Petridou 2010 WWF Greece/Callisto, Kominos et al 2018)) Questionnaires interviews information gathering. Acoustic simulation sessions/ call-ins Transect counts with spotlights (depending on terrain and vegetation coverage Telemetry
Balkan LYNX : Intensive surveys for presence detection (1991-2016 and continued) (Kominos, Panagiotopoulou 1992, 1994 Kominos, Galanaki 2016) Questionnaires interviews information gathering. Testimonies records Camera traps network Reliability categories (based on SCALP classification criteria): Category 1 (C1): Hard facts verified and unchallenged observations such as dead Lynx and clear photos of Lynx. Category 2 (C2): Observations controlled and confirmed by a specialist, such as killed livestock or wild prey, and Lynx tracks or other field signs. Category 3 (C3): Unconfirmed observations of the category 2 (kills, tracks,other field signs too old or poorly documented) and all observations such as direct observations and calls which by their nature cannot be verified.
Formulation, legal adoption and implementation of APs for species/habitats of Community Interest (2019-2020- 2025) AP for brown bear Pilot implementation of MPs in four (4) participating Administrative Regions (start 2022) Management of LCs in Greece. LIFE-IP 4 NATURA (LIFE16 IPE/GR/000002) www.edozoume.gr APs Workshop specific management actions for wolf Complementary actions Drafting, preparation, evaluation, reviewing and legal adoption of the MPs for all Natura 2000 sites (end 2021) (including SES) Measures listed in Greek PAF (2014-2020, 2020-2024) Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEEN), Management Bodies of Natura 2000 sites Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food Rural development Program of Greece (2014-2020) Measure 4.4.1 Protection of agricultural/livestock farming activities from Bear damage. With contribution of : NGO,s, Universities, Research Institutes.
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