Strategic Environmental Management in Mount Athos under Climate Change (LIFE STEMMA ATHOS)

The LIFE STEMMA project proposes an integrated approach in environmental management for Mount Athos (MA), in Greece, primarily aiming at the reduction of vulnerability to climate change-related disturbances, especially focussing on wildfires. 

Management of the natural environment in MA is of particular interest due to its specific conditions of both nature and culture. It is an almost fully forested mountain, with high biodiversity, historical and cultural value. However, vulnerability is high due to MA having an island-like isolation from the Greek mainland, intensive chestnut monoculture, fractionally managed or totally unmanaged forest and shrubland and limited water resources. Moreover, each of the 20 self-governed administration entities (Monasteries) in the MA is responsible for the management of its forest, leading to lack of an integrated strategic planning to face climate change.

In this context, the project has two main goals: minimizing wildfire risk under climate change by proposing an effective water resources protection strategy, while at the same time promoting the recent EU LULUCF policies by increasing carbon stocks (sinks and reservoirs) in the Athos peninsula. Project actions incorporate all habitats: forestland, cultivated areas and areas with establishments and infrastructure.