Entwicklung der immergruenen Oekosysteme nach Waldbrand in Athos

Abstract

Development of the evergreen broadleaved ecosystems after a forest fire in Athos. - The peninsula of Athos is the third eastern peninsula of Chalkidiki in Central Macedonia (N. Greece) and it constitutes a self-governed region in the Hellenic State. Its organized monastic history begins in the 10th century and continues uninterruptedly until today. The monastery of Simonopetra, one of the 20 monasteries of Athos, represents a continuous historic life of seven centruries from its establishment, during the 13th century and constitutes the most during edifice on Mount Athos, a miracle of the byzantine and post-byzantine architecture. The territory of Simonopetra on Mount Athos, occupies an area of 1265 ha. The destructive forest fire on Mount Athos which started on August 14, 1990, was extinguished 14 days later. During this period, it caused heavy damage to the forests on the peninsula and destroyed a number of historical buildings. Most of the damage occured in the area of the Sacred Monastery Simonopetra, where 855 ha of the total of 1265 ha were burned. The greatest part of the burned forest area, about 665 ha, they were evergreen broadleaved forests. The ecosystems of the evergreen broadleaved forests are perscribed as well as their development after the forest fire. After the fire, all species which appear in this zone, begun to coppice sprout in a few weeks and after two years, the coppicing sprouts exceeded in height 0,5 - 2 metres depended on the species and site quality. Two years after the fire the vegetation was restored and covered 30 - 76% of the area. The only measure taken in certain positions was the removal of the standing dead material.