EVALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF GREEK GEOPARKS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES

The European geoparks are new and effective instruments for the interpretation, protection and promotion of geological heritage aiming to a sustainable local development. Since 2000 the two Greek geoparks, the Lesvos Petrified Forest and the Psiloritis Natural Park have developed a great number of activities. Because of their differences, these two geoparks can be used as good examples to evaluate contribution of geoparks to local economy. In Psiloritis geopark operation is supported by the AKOMM –Psiloritis SA Development Company and significant funds have been raised for geo-protection and geo-tourism through European projects, a certain operational budget from local funds has been established and a new action plan has been developed under the forthcoming Leader+ project. In Lesvos Petrified Forest geopark operation is supported by the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest which is responsible for research activities, protection and promotion of this protected natural monument. Main activities were funded by the North Aegean Regional Operational Framework as well as by INTERREG and LEADER initiatives to promote geoconservation, geotourism and local development. Furthermore, in both areas exchange of know how and best practices assisted local stakeholders and staff of local authorities to develop skills on the nature protection and promotion of geoheritage. Additionally, a great number of publications, environmental education programs and promotional activities contributed to the information and education of local communities, as well as of visitors on their geological and natural heritage. All the above mentioned activities have significant impact in local economy through the development of geotourism

A NEW LATE PLEISTOCENE MAMMAL LOCALITY FROM WESTERN CRETE

During the last five years systematic explorations of the Natural History Museum of Crete have added more than 20 Pleistocene fossil localities around Crete to the catalogue of the over 70 already known on the Island. The new localities are distributed in all four prefectures of Crete. The most important of these is the newly discovered site of Koutalas at Cape Drepano in Western Crete. The fossil remains are found in two levels and in red cemented clays of a collapsed cave. In the upper level a rich assemblage of micromammal, bird and large mammal remains has been discovered. The large mammals consist of dwarf hippopotamus (Hippopotamus creutzburgi) and elephants (Elephas sp.). A partly articulated skeleton (vertebral column, mandible and few long bones) of a dwarf hippo has been found next to a deciduous molar of an elephantid, indicating that the two taxa probably coexisted. The micromammal remains belong to the giant Cretan mouse Kritimys catreus. Therefore, the age of the assemblage is dated to the Kritimys catreus zone and thus to the late Middle Pleistocene. In the lower level scattered remains of deers, birds and micromammals have been identified, and their age is most likely younger than that of the upper level

NEW SIRENIAN FINDINGS FROM CRETE ISLAND

In the last five years, the discovery of several new localities of fossil Sirenians found in the Neogene sediments of Crete has increased drastically the number of sirenian localities on the island. Some of the most important findings consist of almost complete post cranial skeletons (localities of Stilos, Panassos near Zaros and Tripitos in Agia Fotia near Siteia). Furthermore, the locality Kotsiana near Chania, where in 1973 Symeonidis and Schultz reported the first sirenian findings from Crete, was revisited and several new sites were recorded. The most recent findings not thoroughly studied yet, are situated in three new fossiliferous sites near Panassos village (Ampelouzos, Panasos 2 and Kefala), and in Afrata at Rodopou peninsula. The preliminary morphological and metrical study of the remains from Panassos and Tripitos, and their comparison with other findings from Crete, as well as with Sirenian material from European localities, has shown that all studied individuals belong to the species Metaxytherium cf. medium (Desmarest 1822). The age of the studied Cretan Sirenian material has been determined as Late Miocene (Tortonian) and the presence of Sirenia in Crete indicates the prevalence of shallow and warm marine environments in coastal areas, rich in sea weeds

A NEW LATE PLEISTOCENE MAMMAL LOCALITY FROM WESTERN CRETE

During the last five years systematic explorations of the Natural History Museum of Crete have added more than 20 Pleistocene fossil localities around Crete to the catalogue of the over 70 already known on the Island. The new localities are distributed in all four prefectures of Crete. The most important of these is the newly discovered site of Koutalas at Cape Drepano in Western Crete. The fossil remains are found in two levels and in red cemented clays of a collapsed cave. In the upper level a rich assemblage of micromammal, bird and large mammal remains has been discovered. The large mammals consist of dwarf hippopotamus (Hippopotamus creutzburgi) and elephants (Elephas sp.). A partly articulated skeleton (vertebral column, mandible and few long bones) of a dwarf hippo has been found next to a deciduous molar of an elephantid, indicating that the two taxa probably coexisted. The micromammal remains belong to the giant Cretan mouse Kritimys catreus. Therefore, the age of the assemblage is dated to the Kritimys catreus zone and thus to the late Middle Pleistocene. In the lower level scattered remains of deers, birds and micromammals have been identified, and their age is most likely younger than that of the upper level

Revealing the geoheritage of Eastern Crete, through the development of Sitia Geopark, Crete, Greece

Η παρούσα εργασία αναφέρεται στις δράσεις, τις πρωτοβουλίες και τις υποδομές που αναπτύχθηκαν στα πλαίσια του έργου ΓΕΩΤΟΠΙΑ, με στόχο τη δημιουργία ενός γεωπάρκου στην περιοχή της Σητείας, στην Κρήτη. Το σύνολο των δράσεων αυτών μπορεί να θεωρηθεί ως ένα μοντέλο σχεδιασμού ενός γεωπάρκου σε μια αγροτική περιοχή κατά τα πρότυπα της υπεύθυνης και βιώσιμης ανάπτυξης που πρεσβεύουν τα Ευρωπαϊκά και Παγκόσμια Δίκτυα Γεωπάρκων. Η περιοχή μελέτης αφορά στην παράκτια και ορεινή ζώνη στα ανατολικά του Δήμου Σητείας που χαρακτηρίζεται από μια ιδιαίτερη γεωλογική κληρονομία την οποία απαρτίζουν οι ποικίλες μορφές του αναγλύφου, με χαρακτηριστικά φαράγγια, οροπέδια και επιμήκη σπήλαια, οι σημαντικές πηγές, τα ποικιλόμορφα πετρώματα και τα πλούσια απολιθώματα θηλαστικών. Το πρόγραμμα εστιάστηκε στην αναγνώριση, αποτύπωση και αξιολόγηση των γεωτόπων, στην ανάπτυξη δράσεων προστασίας, εκπαίδευσης και γεωτουρισμού, με τη δημιουργία δυο εκπαιδευτικών προγραμμάτων, δυο κέντρων ενημέρωσης, 15 γεω-διαδρομών, πινακίδων ενημέρωσης, καθώς και έντυπου, οπτικού και διαδικτυακού υλικού. Παράλληλα, προχώρησε στη σύνταξη ενός διαχειριστικού σχεδίου δράσης που έθεσε τους στόχους και αναγνώρισε τα μέσα, τις πηγές και το χρονοδιάγραμμα επίτευξής τους, και σχολίασε την αλληλεπίδραση της λειτουργίας του γεωπάρκου με άλλες αναπτυξιακές πρωτοβουλίες και έργα που σχεδιάζονται για την περιοχή.In the present document we present the main studies, actions, initiatives and infrastructure developed under the project GEOTOPIA aiming to develop a geopark at the easternmost part of Crete, in Sitia area. The developed activities may be considered as model to establish a geopark in a rural area under the provisions of European and Global Geoparks Networks, aiming intimately to a responsible tourist development. Study area includes the eastern coastal zone of Sitia municipality extended westwards to the Sitia mountains. It presents an impressive geological heritage constituted mainly by the landscape variations (including gorges, plateaus and long cave systems), hydrological resources, rock types and abundant mammal fossils. The project resulted in an inventory, mapping and evaluation of geotopes using existing methodologies, in undertaking conservation, educational and geotourisitc activities, among them the development of two educational projects, two local museums, 15 geotrails, outdoor panels and signposts, as well as printed, visual and web material. A management and action plan has been also conducted presenting the goals, the methodologies, the resources and the timetable to manage the area as a real geopark. Furthermore, the plan foresaw the interaction of geopark initiative in respect to other planned investments and activities in the area

Identification and assessment of Cretan geotopes

Η εργασία αυτή αποτελεί μια πλήρη καταγραφή των πιο σημαντικών γεωτόπων της Κρήτης που βασίστηκε στην αποδελτίωση της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας και προηγούμενων προσπαθειών και στη συλλογή στοιχείων υπαίθρου. Ακολούθως δημιουργήθηκε μια βάση δεδομένων με την τεκμηρίωση των γεωτόπων στην οποία και στηρίχθηκε η προσπάθεια αξιολόγησης τους. Κατά το στάδιο αυτό χρησιμοποιήθηκαν διεθνώς αποδεκτές μεθοδολογίες ώστε για κάθε γεώτοπο να καθοριστεί η σπουδαιότητα, η αξία, οι ενδεχόμενες απειλές και η μελλοντική συνεισφορά τους στην ανάπτυξη της επιστήμης και των τοπικών κοινωνιών. Έτσι αναγνωρίστηκαν περίπου 132 γεώτοποι εθνικής ή περιφερειακής σπουδαιότητας, που είτε αντιπροσωπεύουν χαρακτηριστικές θέσεις για τη γεωλογία της Κρήτης, είτε έχουν μεγάλη αξία για οικοσυστήματα ή τον πολιτισμό. Η αξία των περισσότερων από αυτούς είναι κυρίως επιστημονική/ εκπαιδευτική ή αισθητική, ενώ δεν αναγνωρίστηκαν σημαντικές απειλές για την πλειονότητα τους, εκτός από την επίδραση του τουρισμού σε μερικούς σπήλαια. Τα αποτελέσματα της προσπάθειας αυτής σε συνδυασμό με μια αλλαγή στάσης σε εθνικό επίπεδο μπορεί να αποτελέσουν την απαρχή για τη διατήρηση και την ανάδειξη της γεωλογικής κληρονομιάς της ΚρήτηςThis study presents the first complete list of the most important geological features and landforms of Crete. Identification of geo topes and collection of data were based on earlier publications and similar efforts, search in existing scientific literature and field observations. A database was formed containing the overall documentation of each geotope, on which evaluation was afterwards implemented. Worldwide tested methodologies were used for the recognition of the importance and value for each geotope, as well as, the identification of possible threats and future perspectives for local economic and scientific development. About 132 geotopes were recognized for their national or regional importance, their representativeness for the interpretation of Cretan geology and impact on natural ecosystems and local culture. The majority of these geotopes are of high scientific and aesthetic value serving in our days tourist and scientific/educational purposes. Generally no serious threats or dangers have been recognized, except of few caves where the impact of massive tourism is serious. These results set a minimum base for the conservation and enhancement of Cretan earth heritage, that should be followed by nationally based actions for further recognition and legal protection of our geodiversit

Identification and assessment of Cretan geotopes

Η εργασία αυτή αποτελεί μια πλήρη καταγραφή των πιο σημαντικών γεωτόπων της Κρήτης που βασίστηκε στην αποδελτίωση της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας και προηγούμενων προσπαθειών και στη συλλογή στοιχείων υπαίθρου. Ακολούθως δημιουργήθηκε μια βάση δεδομένων με την τεκμηρίωση των γεωτόπων στην οποία και στηρίχθηκε η προσπάθεια αξιολόγησης τους. Κατά το στάδιο αυτό χρησιμοποιήθηκαν διεθνώς αποδεκτές μεθοδολογίες ώστε για κάθε γεώτοπο να καθοριστεί η σπουδαιότητα, η αξία, οι ενδεχόμενες απειλές και η μελλοντική συνεισφορά τους στην ανάπτυξη της επιστήμης και των τοπικών κοινωνιών. Έτσι αναγνωρίστηκαν περίπου 132 γεώτοποι εθνικής ή περιφερειακής σπουδαιότητας, που είτε αντιπροσωπεύουν χαρακτηριστικές θέσεις για τη γεωλογία της Κρήτης, είτε έχουν μεγάλη αξία για οικοσυστήματα ή τον πολιτισμό. Η αξία των περισσότερων από αυτούς είναι κυρίως επιστημονική/ εκπαιδευτική ή αισθητική, ενώ δεν αναγνωρίστηκαν σημαντικές απειλές για την πλειονότητα τους, εκτός από την επίδραση του τουρισμού σε μερικούς σπήλαια. Τα αποτελέσματα της προσπάθειας αυτής σε συνδυασμό με μια αλλαγή στάσης σε εθνικό επίπεδο μπορεί να αποτελέσουν την απαρχή για τη διατήρηση και την ανάδειξη της γεωλογικής κληρονομιάς της ΚρήτηςThis study presents the first complete list of the most important geological features and landforms of Crete. Identification of geo topes and collection of data were based on earlier publications and similar efforts, search in existing scientific literature and field observations. A database was formed containing the overall documentation of each geotope, on which evaluation was afterwards implemented. Worldwide tested methodologies were used for the recognition of the importance and value for each geotope, as well as, the identification of possible threats and future perspectives for local economic and scientific development. About 132 geotopes were recognized for their national or regional importance, their representativeness for the interpretation of Cretan geology and impact on natural ecosystems and local culture. The majority of these geotopes are of high scientific and aesthetic value serving in our days tourist and scientific/educational purposes. Generally no serious threats or dangers have been recognized, except of few caves where the impact of massive tourism is serious. These results set a minimum base for the conservation and enhancement of Cretan earth heritage, that should be followed by nationally based actions for further recognition and legal protection of our geodiversit