The role of transhumance in the evolution of vegetation and landscape: a case study in Northern Greece (Vermio mountain)

Transhumance is a traditional farming system which involves sheep and goats, common in many countries of the Mediterranean basin. This seasonal movement of animals results to a better exploitation of the native vegetation of intermediate and high elevation rangelands (spring- autumn) and low elevation grasslands (autumn – winter). In Greece, transhumance uses native vegetation of mountainous rangelands 5-7 months a year. The aim of this paper was the study of the evolution of transhumant livestock system in Vermion mountain and the effect on the structure of the vegetation and the landscape. The rangelands of Vermion mountain are used as summer pastures mainly by the ‘Sarakatsanoi’ of Thessaly. A significant reduction of those pastures was found. Also, both the number of transhumant families and the number of transhumant sheep and goat declined during the last 50 years. Reduced transhumant livestock system may be due to various socio-economic factors that have significantly influenced the lifestyle of farmers. The gradual undergrazing of natural mountainous rangelands of Vermio mountain resulted in the diversification of their structure and plant composition.