Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are extensive areas designated to ensure the survival and reproduction of bird species – migratory and non-migratory – and their habitats in the European area.
Koziakas Mountain Peaks
The area GR1440006 – KOZIAKA MOUNTAIN PEAKS is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA). Kerketio Oros (Koziakas) is located at the eastern edge of the central Pindos mountain range. It is characterised by bare and rocky ridges and peaks but also by forested gorges and spruce forests. The vegetation of the area includes toadstools, dry limestone meadows, dry siliceous meadows, Quercus frainetto forests, native coniferous forests, cobbles, exposed rocky surfaces and steep cliffs.
Antichasia Mountains and Meteora
The Special Protection Area of 72,047 hectares (GR1440003) includes the Antichasia Mountains and Meteora, the valley of the river Iona, the plain and the bed of the river Pinios in Kalambaka. In the northwest of Antioch, at higher altitudes, there are beech forests. The climate is sub-Mediterranean with hot summers and cold winters.
Meteora, known for its impressive rock formations, is home to a rich flora and fauna. Endemic plants such as the Kalambaka Centauria and the Cretan Anthemis are found here, along with animals such as European otters, wolves, alpine newts, echidnas and protected fish. The area is an important habitat for birds of prey, including the Egyptian Vulture (10+ pairs).
Threats include logging, illegal hunting, overgrazing, road expansion and tourism.
Athamanika Mountains (Tzoumerka)
The area of the Athamanika Mountains (Tzoumerka), classified as a Site of Community Importance (GR2110002) and a Special Protection Area (SPA, GR2130013), is located in South Pindos, on the border of Epirus and Thessaly. It is one of the largest mountain ranges in Greece, with a length of more than 30 km, which includes wooded areas of coniferous and broad-leaved species, as well as plateaus with herbaceous vegetation. The area is home to rare and protected species of fauna (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals), while its floral wealth remains poorly studied.
Mountain Lakmos (Peristeri)
Mountain Lakmos (Peristeri), designated as a Site of Community Importance and Special Protection Area (SPA, GR2130007), is an imposing mountain range with alpine plateaus, separating Epirus from Thessaly. The flora includes rare and protected species of Pindos, while its rock formations are home to predators such as golden eagles, snake eagles and a few vultures. The fauna includes amphibians, such as the alpine newt, and the Greek nanohendra (Vipera graeca), a rare snake that lives above 1,400 m. Other species include the Mediterranean tortoise and the Roumeli lizard.
