MAES implementation in Greece: Geodiversity

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geoscience
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• The Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) initiative requires robust indicators for abiotic attributes.
• Geodiversity is crucial for supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services, necessitating specific assessment tools.
• Existing conservation efforts in Greece may not adequately address geodiversity and its associated threats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and synthesize a geodiversity indicator for Greece to support MAES implementation.
• To identify geodiversity "conservation hotspots" and map associated threats.
• To inform conservation, management, and spatial planning decisions through scientifically-backed data.

Main Methods:

• Compiled geological, geomorphological, climatic, pedological, and hydrological data layers.
• Developed a geodiversity indicator by integrating these abiotic data layers.
• Assessed threats by integrating sub-indices for erosion, protection level, land degradation, extraction activities, and wildfire ignition sites.

Main Results:

• A geodiversity indicator for Greece was successfully synthesized.
• Bivariate mapping identified geodiversity "hotspots" across Greece.
• These hotspots often coincide with areas of rich geodiversity but lack adequate protection from natural or anthropogenic threats, primarily due to insufficient legislation.

Conclusions:

• The developed geodiversity indicator provides a baseline for informed conservation and spatial planning in Greece.
• Identified "hotspots" highlight the urgent need for protective legislation to safeguard valuable geodiversity.
• The study aligns with EU and national strategies for nature conservation and integrated development.