Presentation of the management plan for the mountainous region of Asterousia

The Forest Directorate of Crete-Region and Heraklion Forest Service prepared the Management Plan through implementation of the LIFE 02NAT/GR/8492 European Programme entitled “Actions for the conservation of Gypaetus barbatus and biodiversity of Crete”. The Special Protected Area (SPA) of the Eastern Asterousia was selected as area of study and the plan was realised according to the executory institutional specifications for the extensive farming and the traditional cultivation for application at the mountainous region of Asterousia, south Crete. The implementation of the management plan aims to convert the current methods of local land use practices in order to make possible the preservation and protection of priority species (gypaetous, predatory birds etc) as well as their habitats. The diminished availability of food for the birds comprises a reference point due to the applied methods of contemporary agriculture and husbandry. The Plan consists of the following subject units: (a) description of the study area according to data related to the biotic and abiotic environment and also social, demographic and economic details, (b) analysis of management information (forestry-agriculture-husbandry), (c) evaluation of the conditions that prevail in the area in terms of forest-grassland factors, plant and animal production,  fishery and the secondary productive sector and last, (d) proposals for the management of forest and grassland ecosystems and the water resources as well as for forest recreation, ecotouristic development and sensitization and participation of the local societies.