ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES AND THREATS OF THE RIPARIAN FOREST VEGETATION IN LAKE TRICHONIDA (GR2310009)

Abstract

This paper presents the main environmental problems, pressures and threats faced by the riparian forests of Lake Trichonida, which is located in Western Greece (a protected area of Natura 2000 network with Code GR2310009), with the method of completing "questionnaires”. The main threat is human activities, such as intensive agriculture and animal husbandry, but also biotic factors such as the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata f. sp. platani, which was recently identified in the plane forests of the lake. The majority of respondents pointed out bulky waste as the first, hierarchically, problem for the region. In the opinion of the respondents, the riparian forests of Lake Trichonida are largely threatened by: abandonment (60%), insufficient management (58%) and the risk of fire (32%). The lakeside forests are least threatened by: agriculture (60%), high number of visitors (50%), fire (48%).