Flora and fauna of Mount Athos – an introduction

Antonis Karydas is a scientific researcher currently writing a PhD thesis on the unique and revered landscape of Mount Athos. Here he introduces us to the flora and fauna covering this exceptional peninsula.

The Mount Athos Peninsula belongs geographically to Chalkidiki in the region of Macedonia of North Greece. It is the easternmost out of the three peninsulas of Chalkidiki; however, it differs from the other two in terms of geology, morphology, climate, and, above all, history. The latter has shaped the unique character of Mount Athos, which is reflected in the natural and man-made environment of the peninsula.

This uniqueness is not limited to the rare cultural heritage of the monastic community, but also extends to its natural environment. A characteristic feature of the Mount Athos peninsula is its great variety of animal and plant species and types of vegetation. Indeed, the geographical location, the variety of rocky substrates and microclimates, the relief of the area, and the very presence of Mount Athos, which rises to 2.033 meters, contribute to the creation of a rich mosaic of vegetation.

Hence, in the relatively small area of the peninsula, one encounters five

 vegetation zones,ranging from purely Mediterranean to sub-alpine. These vegetation zones are encountered progressively as one ascends the altitude and include the typical coastal vegetation; the Mediterranean zone of evergreen broadleaves and Mediterranean conifers; the zone of deciduous broadleaf trees and mixed forest; the zone of mountainous conifers; and, above 1.500 meters in altitude, the sub-alpine vegetation. The deciduous forests are dominated by oak and sweet chestnut forests. The latter extend to a wide area in the core of the peninsula and are managed in a sustainable manner in order to extract timber.

Another important factor is that historically, the peninsula has been sparsely populated and undisturbed. Furthermore, extensive agriculture and livestock farming have been prohibited activities for centuries. This has had a significant impact on its flora and vegetation. In the first case, most large-scale crops and their accompanying weeds are absent from the peninsula. In the second case, the pressure exerted by livestock significantly shapes the flora and vegetation of an area. Thus, while this is visible in many areas of Greece, it is not observed on Mount Athos peninsula.

In an effort to preserve the exclusively monastic character of the area, the construction of buildings and infrastructure has been, and continues to be, largely restricted. This greatly contributes to the naturalness of the ecosystems that visitors encounter. Beyond the variety of species and forms of vegetation, Mount Athos has a significant number of rare or endemic plant species.

It is no coincidence, then, that the entire peninsula is included in the Natura 2000 network. It has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. At least 35 plant species are endemic to the Mount Athos peninsula, most of which are found in the alpine area of Athos. Some of these are included in annexes of the Natura 2000 network, are protected by the Presidential decree 67/1981 and are included in the Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece.