Public perception on measures needed for the ecological restoration of Grecian juniper silvopastoral woodlands

Abstract

The Grecian juniper silvopastoral woodland is considered very rare in the European context. It is restricted in north-western Greece (Prespa basin), and the type of habitat they support is a priority one, according to the EU Directive 92/43/EEC. Last decades, due to abandonment of traditional practices (fuel-wood cutting and livestock grazing) the woodland appears to decline. The most important threat for the Prespa juniper woodland seems to be the invasion of deciduous broad-leaved species. The LIFE+ JunEx project set in its mail goals the restoration of the woodland through specific concrete actions that support and promote the traditional uses of woodland resources, like grazing. The purpose of the study was to explore the views of social and institutional groups operating around the silvopastoral woodland and the formulation of measures that contribute to its ecological restoration. The first phase of the research (February 2014) was conducted with questionnaires addressed to social groups in the region. It was found that the main factors forming the perception of social groups are (a) the advantages and benefits of the habitat type (15.8%), (b) threats (14.9%), (c) interdisciplinary complementarity of livestock management and Forestry (9.2%), (d) cost effectiveness (8.6%), (e) present condition (8.6%), and (f) direct degradation of wood-standing capital (7.5%). The second phase of the research (June 2016) included a simulation exercise on the institutional environment of the LIFE+ JunEx project actions and held within a summer school. It was found that common factors affect the perception of societal and institutional groups with emphasis on the economic benefits and the interdisciplinary complementarity of livestock management and forestry.