Dr Kalliopi Stara works as a lecturer and researcher at Biological Applications and Technologies Department of the University of Ioannina, where from 2016 teaches Cultural Ecology. She holds a degree in Psychology (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1992), a master's degree in Ecology (University of Wales, Bangor, 2001) and a PhD in Folk Studies (University of Ioannina, 2009). Her PhD thesis is about the sacred woods and groves in the Vikos-Aoos National Park. Her research is focused on the study of Sacred Natural Areas, Ethno-botany, Ethno-ornithology, Non Timber Forest Products and Environmental Education.
Address: University campus 45110 Ioanninna
Address: University campus 45110 Ioanninna
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natural as well as cultural, tangible and intangible resources, and have contributed essentially to the formation a local identity for their inhabitants. This paper presents the convergent evolution of the cultural landscape in two distant mountain-plains by exploring the effect of historical management practices which local communities used to regulate social and economic needs. Data are drawn from interdisciplinary research in Soudena of Zagori (NW Greece) and in Soudena of Kalavryta (SW Greece), stimulated by oral traditions of their inhabitants that they share a common origin, based on the belief that the latter was colonised by Soudeniotes of Zagori during the Ottoman period. Notably, analogous patterns of ancient and modern time trajectories of landscape use have been found. Villages located in the edges of the plateaus, scattered outlying churches, dry-stone walls, wells, threshing fl oors, handmade drainage canals, and non-intensive agricultural practices are still existing remains of a relict cultural landscape, still in use in both areas. Recent population exodus, partly rearrangement of the most productive land, transition of farmland to pastureland and encroachment of vegetation in the rough surrounding slopes are similar modern
transformations. Nowadays, both areas belong to national and international networks for conserving their values, but mountain-plains may hide more interesting bio-cultural secrets.
eight similar but conventional managed forest sites were selected close to the sacred in order to serve as control for comparison. The flora of the sacred and the control was recorded using 32 Braun-Blanquet quadrats in total. For the comparison of the plant communities, species richness, Shannon – Wiener (H) adiversity index and similarity indices Sorensen (Ss) and Jaccard (Sj) were calculated. Floristic diversity and species richness depend on parameters other than age and stand structure. Grazing impact seems important, whereas a diversity pattern related to sacred and managed forests in the study area is missing.
following transhumant activities and movements probably from the prehistoric time. Moving along
riversides and ancient roads, from extensive open woodlands and lowland rangelands nearby wetlands,
towards summer pastures in the picks of the Pindos mountain range, the birds followed huge flocks of
moving animals transported by foot and nowadays mainly by trucks. Several breeding colonies of griffon
vultures were located along the backbone of Pindos, but today only three remain active, numbering
probably less than 15 pairs. These birds still disperse in the wider area searching the extensive mountain
terrain for food. Several accidental observations show that this population attracts birds also from other
Balkan countries. A characteristic example is a griffon vulture born in Croatia, tagged with a satellite
transmitter in north Italy that settled this year in Akarnanika –Boumistos mountains, but it has been also
located as far as in Agrafa, Tzoumerka and Xirovouni (Thessaly and Epirus regions), visiting or roosting
in several deserted griffon vultures colonies. Most of the above areas are designated as SPA’s (Special
Protected Areas within the Natura 2000 network for the conservation of birds). Although, due to the
extensive use of illegal poison baits against carnivores, many SPAs have lost their breeding raptors, such
us griffon, bearded, Egyptian vulture and golden eagle, which are included nowadays in the National Red
Data Book. Environmental Impact Assessments of Wind Turbine Development proposals do not take into
account the periodical use of mountains by species of international conservation importance. Linking
SPA’s through management practices that maintain anthropogenic habitats, support traditional extensive
livestock breeding practices and promoting local high quality dairy products should be a priority for
maintaining mountain biodiversity and especially vultures as flagship species for conservation.
vicinity of villages. These “meadows” have not the typical appearance of a grassland but of a
woodland functioning mostly as a protective wood above villages Archive study and ethnographic
research showed that these woods were considered as sacred by local communities in order to prevent
use for private needs and to conserve them for the Community. Most of the times wood cutting was
strictly prohibited or controlled by local Authorities and the Church, but grazing was allowed
according to local covenants. Those pastures had the form of a savannah type woodland pasture. Such
local systems of natural resources conservation functioned efficiently during the period of the Ottoman
Occupation and lasted until the Second World War. However supernatural beliefs continue to protect
‘livadia’ in Zagori until today and as a result some of the oldest trees of the region occur there.
Nowadays these locally adapted systems have a special scientific value for the study of ecological
history, sustainable natural resources management and biodiversity as also for their aesthetic and
historical values.