Traditional landscapes of the kopatsari villages in the prefecture of Grevena

Traditional landscapes are areas with exceptional natural and cultural diversity and are characterized by high biodiversity and high values of aesthetics and relaxation. They are also part of the cultural heritage of every country. A typical traditional landscape is formed by the villages of the kopatsari, which are found at the eastern foot of the mountain range of Pindos, prefecture of Grevena. In this paper, an effort to evaluate the landscape of the fifteen villages that are inhabited by the kopatsari, in terms of pastoralism is done, so as the changes in land uses are investigated and identified in the region over the last years. According to the dominant version, the name “kopatsaros” or “kopatsareos” comes from the word “kopatsou”, which in the language of vlachs means oak, bush and it is justified by the fact that the kopatsari were very much related to the management of the oak forests of the area. Apart from silviculture, they developed other activities, which affected and determined the landscape, such as agriculture and pastoralism. The second one was practiced in the form of transhumance and had a strong impact on the landscape through the opening up of forests and the formation of an agroforestry mosaic as well as the construction of traditional buildings, all fully harmonious with the natural environment. Over the last few years though, the abandonment of the countryside because of social and economic reasons, such as immigration, the traditional land uses are placed out and the landscape tends to become homogeneous. According to the early estimations, the changes in land uses in the region are not so intense or irreversible, so that the preservation and maintenance of the mosaic can be ensured.