Environmental Memories 1990-2015

Environmental Memories 1990-2015 from Giannis Psifas

Environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It encompasses the interaction of all living species. Physical, biological, social, economical and cultural atmosphere affect human survival and economic activity. Concisely, the factors that affect living things are called environment. Environment contributes to our future, and if we don’t control the environment now, we can regret this some time.

Hellenic region is a big part of the Balkan peninsula as Hellas (Greek), and part of South - Eastern Europe, as the focal point of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, thus showing great interest because it contains a variety of climate types. Our country is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea -the Ionian, the Libyan, the Aegean, the latter connects with Asia and therefore the Black Sea.

The most northern part of Hellas is the village of Ormenio (Evros), the southernmost is the island of Gavdos (Crete), the easternmost is the island Castellorizo and westernmost part is the island of Othonoi (in Corfu). One third of the total area of approximately 395,000 square kilometers is occupied by  land and two thirds by the sea thus playing an important role in shaping the Hellenic climate. Specifically, the distribution of contour comprises: 32.6 % lowland (0 - 200m) , 26% semilowlands (201 -500m ), while 27.8 % mountain (501 - 1000 ) , 9.9 % semi- ( 1001 - 1500m ), and with the rest of the area 3.5 % is covered by subalpine (1501 - 2000m) and alpine regions. Greece’s major island regions are the Ionian Islands, the Aegean Islands and Crete, which separates the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, and numerous individual islands. Not surprisingly at all when we refer to the term “environment”, it comes to everybody’s mind the «paradise on Earth”-GREECE. The Aegean Islands include the Cyclades, the Northern and Southern Sporades groups, and numerous individual islands. Crete, the site of the first European civilization, is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth-largest Mediterranean island, with an area of 8,308 square kilometres. 

Grete- South Hellenic region

20 years ago, similar to other European countries, Greece’s climate was as it was supposed to be .For example it had mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. This was the climate in all coastal locations, including Athens, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and Crete, the Peloponnese, the Ionian Islands and parts of the Central Continental Greece region. The Pindus mountain range strongly affected the climate of the country, as areas to the west of the range were considerably wetter on average than the areas lying to the east of the range. The inland parts of northern Greece, in Central Macedonia and East Macedonia and Thrace featured a temperate climate with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers with frequent thunderstorms. Snowfalls occurred every year in the mountains and northern areas, and brief snowfalls were not unknown even in low-lying southern areas, such as Athens. 

Athens – Central  Hellenic region

Thessaloniki- North Hellenic region

Melissani cave, Kefalonia –West Hellenic region

Greek Fauna and Flora

The natural environment in Greece is of great diversity and it varies a lot. There are more than 6,000 plant species that have been recorded, 700-750 of which are original, that is they can be found only within the boundaries of the Greek land. There is a large number of widespread species relative to the size of Greece, due to the isolation of the numerous mountains and islands. Equally rich is the variety of fauna species living, nesting, propagating or migrating in the Greek regions.

There are also 12 types of cetacean (whales and dolphins), from sperm whales to Cuvier’s beaked whales. About 110 Mediterranean Monk Seals (Monachusmonachus) live in the Greek seas, sheltering in remote caves. The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) lays its eggs on a number of Greek beaches, while two other types of sea turtle, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), are also present. 

Caretta - Caretta sea turtle (loggerhead turtle) is the only species of Mediterranean sea-turtles that nests in Crete and Greece. Sea turtles are reputed to be strongly philopatric, and always return to the same beach they were born on to lay their own eggs. Nesting beaches in Greece are mainly located in Zakynthos, Peloponnese and Crete.

The golden jackal is one of the species in Greece threatened with extinction. Jackals are called “nature’s cleaners” because, as omnivorous animals, they prey on rodents and comb their territories for organic residue and waste.

Wetlands, old-growth forests, fertile shallows, and thousands of islands contribute to Greece's biodiversity. Three quarters of the country is mountainous. The mountains, yet unexplored, are very beautiful and full of  life. They are covered with deep gorgeous forests and give rise to some of the most spectacular views.  The flora consists mainly of white poplars, oak, chestnut, spearheaded cypresses, pine, fir and olive-trees. Greece also possesses a great amount of wildflowers like anemones, violets, tulips, peonies, narcissuses, partheniums, and primroses, many of which are featured in classical poetry and mythology.

Before 20 years ,alike the other European countries ,Greece’s climate was as it was supposed  to be .For example it had mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers The climate here is typical Mediterranean, which means that it's hot and dry in summer time, relieved by stiff breezes, especially in the north and coastal areas, and winters are usually wet, short and. There are cool and quiet areas, covered by poplars, planes-trees, willows and broad-leaved deciduous trees, with their own micro - climate. The Park has a large number of different species of fauna.

But sometimes even in better places are moments with exceptions. 

Natural disasters (floods, droughts, fires etc.) can also be reason to the extinction of  all the living.

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry. Flooding may occur as an overflow of water from water bodies, such as a river or lake, in which the water overtops or breaks levees, resulting in some of that water escaping its usual boundaries, or it may occur due to an accumulation of rainwater on saturated ground in an area flood.

 While the size of a lake or other body of water varies with seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melting, these changes in size are unlikely to be considered significant unless they flood property or drown domestic animals. In Greece they occur as flash floods and stem from heavy showers in areas with high morphological relief. In the present decade many regions in Greece have suffered the catastrophic effects of such flooding phenomena as in cases like. 

Lamia, Kamena Vourla St. Constantine and surrounding villages Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala, the Royal Pa Evia.

A drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in its water supply, whether atmospheric, surface or ground water. A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared as such after just 15 days. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region. Although droughts can persist for several years, even a short, intense drought can cause significant damage and harm to the local economy.

Susceptibility, wildfires increases during periods of drought. Although “slash-and-burn” land clearing methods and accidents triggered many of the fires, the severe drought conditions allowed them to spread out of control. Droughts have been relatively frequent since the late 1970s in some areas where drought usually occurs. Hot temperatures and dry conditions also increase the likelihood of forest fires.

Today, our energy system is based on extracting highly concentrated forms of energy we find in nature, such as fossil fuels, large rivers and waterfalls, and burning trees.

    Unfortunately, our energy system is dysfunctional as highly concentrated forms of energy are in short supply and play a critical role in the ecosystem.

To be continued with more Environmental memories…