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Nature

Lefkada is an island in the Ionian Sea. It is located between Corfu and Kefalonia. The climate of Lefkada is categorized as “Mediterranean” with the main characteristics of sunshine, mild but rainy winter and the hot summer. Lefkada is related to five NATURA2000 areas.

Description of the NATURA2000 area

The island of Skorpios, belongs to the NATURA2000 area named “Esoteriko Archipelagos Ioniou (Meganisi, Arkoudi, Atokos, Vromonas) with the site code GR2220003. The faunistic importance of this site is evident. The marine environment of the site offers refuge to many important top predator species indicating the biological richness of the area. Especially Delphinus delphis is present in the site with one of its last 3-4 spot populations in the whole Mediterranean Sea.

Another important natural habitat type that constitutes a common component of the coastal marine environment of the site, are the Posidonia ssp. seabeds. Their conservation status in the area is still excellent and furthermore a Directive 92/43/EEC Annex IV invertebrate species (e.g., Pinna nobilis) is common within their limits.

Also, Little clusters with Juniperus phoenicea in good ecological condition participate in the composition of the vegetation. Furthermore, the brush wooding formations, the small area’s clusters with Pinus halepensis and the olive groves complete the landscape of the site.


Habitats

The types of Habitats present in the Special Area of Conservation are identified as follows from the standard Data Form of the NATURA2000 Network (2018 edition):

The habitat type with Code 1120* and with the name «Posidonia beds (Posidonion oceanicae)», which is included in the category «Coastal and Alophytic Habitats».
The importance of the habitat is great because it contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and to the reduction of coastal hydrodynamics (they do not allow the sand to move with the sea currents). The sea meadows of Posidonia are a refuge and development area for more than 1200 marine species. It is also a natural ally against climate change because it produces large amounts of oxygen by absorbing carbon dioxide, protects coasts from erosion and provides energy to the food chain.
The habitat type with Code 1150* and with the name «Lagoon», which belongs to the category «Coastal and Alophytic Habitats».

The vegetation that characterizes the habitat type 1150 is the underwater meadows with the species Ruppia maritima that covers a significant part of the bottom. The lagoons are one of the most productive ecosystems and especially important for many birds. They also support many fish populations. Aquatic vegetation is part of the wetland ecosystems and the ecological processes that take place in them, and its presence is an indication of their good operation.

The habitat type with Code 1240 and with the name «Vegetated Sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp». Which belongs to the Category «Coastal and Alophytic Habitats».

This Habitat, although based on Natura2000, is characterized by an excellent conservation status due to its small size, the presence of the endemic species Limonium norbornenes and its special ecological and aesthetic value, it needs protection and promotion measures.

The habitat type with Code 9320 and with the name «Olea and Ceratonia forests» which belongs to the Category «Mediterranean hardwoods».

Warm – Mediterranean or warm – Canary forests dominated by tree species Olea europaea ssp. sylvestris, Ceratonia siliqua, Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis or in the Canary Islands with Olea europaea ssp. cerasiformis and Pistacia atlantica. Most formations are recorded as tree shrubs, but some clusters may be of sufficient height and closed crop to fit into the above type.

The habitat type with Code 9540 and with the name «Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines» which belongs to the Category «Alpine and Mountainous Mediterranean Conifers».

The habitat type includes the thermophilic forests of Aleppo and rough pine, the cold mountain robolo forests (Pinus heldreichii). It is obvious that the ecological conditions in which these two vegetation units meets are quite different.

The habitat type with Code 1120* and with the name «Posidonia beds (Posidonion oceanicae)», which is included in the category «Coastal and Alophytic Habitats».
The importance of the habitat is great because it contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and to the reduction of coastal hydrodynamics (they do not allow the sand to move with the sea currents). The sea meadows of Posidonia are a refuge and development area for more than 1200 marine species. It is also a natural ally against climate change because it produces large amounts of oxygen by absorbing carbon dioxide, protects coasts from erosion and provides energy to the food chain.
The habitat type with Code 1150* and with the name «Lagoon», which belongs to the category «Coastal and Alophytic Habitats».

The vegetation that characterizes the habitat type 1150 is the underwater meadows with the species Ruppia maritima that covers a significant part of the bottom. The lagoons are one of the most productive ecosystems and especially important for many birds. They also support many fish populations. Aquatic vegetation is part of the wetland ecosystems and the ecological processes that take place in them, and its presence is an indication of their good operation.

The habitat type with Code 1240 and with the name «Vegetated Sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp». Which belongs to the Category «Coastal and Alophytic Habitats».

This Habitat, although based on Natura2000, is characterized by an excellent conservation status due to its small size, the presence of the endemic species Limonium norbornenes and its special ecological and aesthetic value, it needs protection and promotion measures.

The habitat type with Code 9320 and with the name «Olea and Ceratonia forests» which belongs to the Category «Mediterranean hardwoods».

Warm – Mediterranean or warm – Canary forests dominated by tree species Olea europaea ssp. sylvestris, Ceratonia siliqua, Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis or in the Canary Islands with Olea europaea ssp. cerasiformis and Pistacia atlantica. Most formations are recorded as tree shrubs, but some clusters may be of sufficient height and closed crop to fit into the above type.

The habitat type with Code 9540 and with the name «Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines» which belongs to the Category «Alpine and Mountainous Mediterranean Conifers».

The habitat type includes the thermophilic forests of Aleppo and rough pine, the cold mountain robolo forests (Pinus heldreichii). It is obvious that the ecological conditions in which these two vegetation units meets are quite different.

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