Samaria National Park (Greece)
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Location
The Samaria National Park (Lefka Ori mountain massif) is located in the prefecture of Chania - Western Crete - Greece. The total area of the National Park is 58.484 ha covering almost 7% of the total surface of the island.
Protection status
The Samaria Gorge, one of the first protected areas of Greece, was designated as a National Park in 1962. Recognizing the importance, the ecological and the cultural values of the Lefka Ori as whole, the boundaries of the protected area (Samaria gorge, 4.848 ha) have been extended to cover the entire massif of the Lefka Ori and Samaria gorge has become the core protected area of the Samaria National Park.
The National park is protected by the Barcelona Convention. It has been designated as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve since 1981. It is listed in the Natura 2000 European network as a Special Protected Area (1987) and a Site of Community Interest (1997) aiming to protect wild and vulnerable species of flora and fauna. It has been awarded many International distinctions such as the European Biogenetic Reserve of the Council of Europe (1981) and as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International (2000).
Samaria - UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve (MAB)
Map data: Map of Protection and Management Zones - Samaria National Park
Governance type: shared governance
The Management Unit of Samaria National Park and the Protected Areas of Western Crete is the legal entity responsible for the administration and management of the National Park and Natura 2000 areas of western Crete.
It operates under the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency which aims to implement policies formulated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy for the management of protected areas, biodiversity conservation, promotion and implementation of sustainable development actions and climate change mitigation.
Decision-making authority and responsibility rest with the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency which is required - by law and/or policy - to inform or consult other local, regional or national stakeholders.
Main characteristics
Climate
The climate is of ‘Mediterranean type’, i.e., cool and wet in the November–March period, and hot and dry in the May–September period with variations from thermo-mediterranean at sea level to meso-, supra-, montane- and oro-mediterranean as the altitude increases.
Precipitation is strongly seasonal and not uniformly distributed throughout the year. Its amount depends mainly on altitude and aspect, with north and west slopes being more humid than slopes facing east and south.
Main characteristics
Landscape and vegetation
The typical landscape consists of deep gorges, steep and imposing vertical rocks forming narrow openings, flat internally upland plains encircled by mountains named “polje”, dolines, mountain peaks and shores. The southern part of the massif, which plunges into the Libyan Sea, is steep and precipitous compared with the more mild topography of the extensive northern foothills.
The vegetation cover consists of many phrygana types such as Sarcopoterium spinosum and endemic phryganas, i.e. Euphorbio-Verbascion, in the northern lower altitudes and partially the rest of the peripheral zone of the mountain. Calcareous woodlands are extensive and consists mainly of eight tree species (Pinus brutia, Cupressus sempervirens spp., Horizontalis, Acer sempervirens var. creticum, Quercus coccifera, Quercus ilex, Phylirea latifolia, Platanus orientalis and the Cretan endemic Zelkova abelicea).
Why was Samaria selected as a pilot site for StrategyMedFor?
Ecological importance and biodiversity
The particular landscape features, combined with the long-term isolation of the area, have led to the evolution of several endemic species and have contributed to the development and preservation of a unique biodiversity (biodiversity hotspot).
Flora and fauna are very rich with endemic, vulnerable and rare species. Around 650 plant taxa have been recorded in the National Park, i.e. almost one third of the total number of the around 1.800 Cretan wild plants. Among the 178 Cretan endemic plant species, around 56,6% (101) are found at the White Mountains. Of these, 24 species are narrow-endemic, such as Nepeta sphaciotica, which means that their distribution is strictly limited to and are found exclusively in the White Mountains.
Left: Nepeta sphaciotica, Right: Abelitsia (Zelkova abelicea)
Fauna consist of 32 mammals such as the endemic wild goat (Agrimi - Capra aegagrus cretica), 67 nesting birds such as the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), 25 orthoptera, 3 trihoptera, 3 amphibian and 11 reptile species.
Left: Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Right: Agrimi (Capra aegagrus cretica)
Human activity
The area of the National Park (NP) is sparsely inhabited due to its complex topography of several mountain peaks or deep gorges. The NP provides a vast array of provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services and benefits to local communities.
Historically, the economy of the area was based on pastoralism, agriculture, logging, fishing and beekeeping. Nowadays, the economy is mostly based on pastoralism (~ 170.000 sheep and goats graze in the grasslands or forest areas of the NP - The grazing load exceeds the grazing capacity of the site: overgrazing), tourism (~ 150.000 people visit the Gorge of Samaria every year during its operation period) and agriculture being practiced in the peripheral zone of the NP. The main agricultural land use is olive groves.
From left to right: Pastoralism, honey production, sport activities in the gorge of Aradena.
Main pressures and impacts
Main pressures arise from changes in land use practices, over-exploitation of resources and climate change.
Climate change
Temperature rise, changes in precipitation patterns, increased fire risk, habitat loss (fragmentation and degradation), changes in species distribution/ecosystem function and service provision, biodiversity loss and risk to visitors safety and access.
Overgrazing
Vegetation degradation, changes in species distribution/ecosystem function and service provision, soil degradation, biodiversity loss.
Unsustainable human activities
Such as over-exploitation of resources, land use changes and infrastructure development: habitat loss (fragmentation and degradation), changes in species distribution/ecosystem function and service provision, biodiversity loss, tourism pressure (overcrowding, trail erosion, waste management).
How will StrategyMedFor help Samaria?
Expected solutions at the local level
Design and implement pilot actions based on the concept and principles of forest landscape restoration to achieve measurable results, engage local stakeholders and build support for future restoration/protection initiatives. These pilot actions will illustrate a proactive approach to environmental restoration/protection and help advocate for policy changes for future interventions.
Potential pilot actions at the pilot site level
Restoration and protection of habitat 9540 - Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines to prevent soil erosion and improve ecosystem function and resilience, such as testing reforestation on degraded sites with parallel protection from grazing.
Wildfire management - creation and maintenance of fire-smart landscapes - fire prevention - fuel reduction treatments (habitat 9540).
Land use plan to adapt to changing climate conditions - adaptive management practices (habitat 9540).
By adopting the strategy across the Mediterranean forestry sector, several positive outcomes are anticipated at the regional level:
In situ plantation of trees
1. Increased resilience of forest ecosystems
The strategy will support forest health and recovery by adopting sustainable management practices, reducing climate change impacts and enhancing the ability to recover from disturbances.
2. Enhanced biodiversity
The strategy will support the conservation of native plant and animal species through forest landscape restoration, and protection of existing forests.
3. Improved ecosystem services
The strategy will enhance climate regulation through carbon dioxide absorption and managing water cycles to reduce soil erosion and maintain water quality.
Test site - Anapoli pine forest
4. Better human wellbeing
The strategy will support sustainable growth by fostering ecosystem services, will create new job opportunities in forest management and eco-tourism, and will improve public health with cleaner air and increased access to natural spaces.
5. Strengthened governance and policy
The strategy will reinforce governance and policy by supporting stronger legal frameworks for forest protection and greater local involvement in decision-making, ensuring effective implementation of sustainable practices.
Get in touch
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania ( CIHEAM-MAICh )
Contact persons:
- Dany Ghosn
- Mail: dghosn@maich.gr
- Ilektra Remoundou
- Mail: hlektra@maich.gr
