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Pelion Mountain: A rich ecosystem

Chrysochus auratus

Pelion’s diverse ecosystem, made up of coastal, plain and mountain zones, supports the development of environmental tourism activities such as bird and animal watching, plant and seed collection, etc.

Pelion is a verdant and fertile area, with interesting bio-diversity and a wealth of water sources that support the flora and fauna, and that is sustained by the temperate Mediterranean climate.

Pelion Mountain's ecological worth

Cistus Salvifolius

Pelion Mountain's ecological worth relies upon its diverse biotopes. The area combines thick forestial vegetation of deciduous forests and developed maqui shrubs. In total, the area of Pelion has three main vegetation zones, with fourteen ecotopes. Pelion's flora is rich in common taxa¹ (at least 620) including many aromatic and pharmaceutical herb species (over 50), domestic taxa² (23 Greek domestic species recorded so far) as well as rare species.

Climate

Pelion Mountain, depending of the area, has either a moist climate with long and very hot summers and mild winters, very moist through all seasons, or a mild Mediterranean climate with very hot and dry summers and mild winter season.

Veronica Persica

Environmental quality and ecological importance

Environmental quality and ecological importance of Pelion is based upon significant ecological, economical and historical characteristics. Pelion's diverse biotopes have a good to excellent structure and maintenance state, supporting rich species communities.

The area combines thick forestial vegetation of deciduous forests and developed maqui shrubs. Pelion's flora is rich in common species, a fact known from ancient times, especially concerning the pharmaceutical herbs (according to the mythology, Pelion was the land were the wise healer Cheiron the centaur used to live) but it also includes domestic and rare species.

Vegetation zones

Pelion has three vegetation zones:

1. The typical Mediterranean shrubland (Quercetalia ilicis) covering the low altitudes. This zone includes most of the self-sown aromatic and pharmaceutical taxa, such as Salvia fruticosa (Greek sage), Thymus spp., Sideritis spp. (Greek Mountain Tea) etc.
2. The para-Mediterranean broad-leaved deciduous trees zone (Quercetalia pubescentis), covering the middle altitude of the area. This zone includes Oak forests (Quercus frainetto) and chestnut forests (Castanea sativa).
3. The beech forest zone (Fagetalia) covers the areas above the para-Mediterranean zone up to the tree-limit zone.

Lasiommata maera

Pelion's ecotopes

About 14 ecotopes are recorded so far at Pelion mountain. According to the Natura 2000, the central part of the mountain is covered by a thick beech tree forest (Fagus sylvatica) with excellent structure and maintenance state, being the dominant vegetation pattern of the higher zones. There are also aspen-tree formations (Populus tremula) and willow trees (Salix caprea). The Aegean coasts are multiplexed, forming gulfs and coves. The human presence is quite intense throughout the area. Mainly cultivated species are fruit-trees (oranges, lemons, apples, apricots, pears, cherries), walnuts and almonds, wine yards and olive trees, and lately Kiwis.

Text source: Facts on the Pelion vegetation and flora. by Fotiadis, G. (Adobe pdf - Greek only)

¹ taxa, plural for taxon: taxonomical plant group (e.g. Genus, species, sub-species).
² Domestic taxa are species that exist within a specific area of interest.