Greek authorities have approved a key environmental study for Mount Olympus, clearing the way for a major expansion of the national park surrounding the country’s highest peak.
The approved section of the Special Environmental Study covers the Natura 2000 site “Mount Olympus” (GR1250001), part of a broader study for protected areas in the regions of Western and Central Macedonia. The approval is a required step toward enlarging Olympus National Park, which will now take in the full Natura site, the entire existing park and the area designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The move fulfills a commitment the Ministry of Environment and Energy made when it submitted Olympus as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Under the plan, the park will grow from about 58,200 acres to about 92,800 acres. It will absorb the 34,202-acre buffer zone around the current park, bringing the whole area under a single management framework.
The study sets out eight protection zones, along with permitted land uses and activities and specific management measures. The goal is to preserve the mountain’s ecosystems while still allowing low-impact human activity. Some 58% of the expanded park will fall under strict protection.
The plan aims to safeguard natural features considered unique at the international, European, national and local levels. It also seeks to address pressures threatening vulnerable habitats and species, and to help Greece meet its EU environmental obligations.
Particular attention goes to valuable land habitats that are home to rare, endemic and endangered wildlife, including brown bears, chamois and birds of prey, as well as plants of special scientific interest. The study also protects the area’s important forest ecosystems.
Officials say the plan strikes a balance between protecting nature, preserving the mountain’s cultural heritage and supporting sustainable development that showcases Olympus.
Source: tovima.com
