Author(s)

Konstantinos A. Spanos^1*, Asimina Skouteri², Dionysios Gaitanis¹, Panos V. Petrakis², Ioannis Meliadis¹, Panagiotis Michopoulos², Alexandra Solomou², Panagiotis Koulelis², Evangelia V. Avramidou²

¹Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra, General Directorate of Agricultural Research, Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece.
²Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra, General Directorate of Agricultural Research, Institute of Mediterranean and Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization, Athens, Greece.

This is a review paper based on national and international literature, national inventories and empirical approach. A general overview of the forests, forest management and forest biodiversity of Greece are briefly summarized. The distribution of the main forest species and their ecosystems in the Geographic regions of Greece is presented in a tabular form. Their multiple functions and uses, their management type/regime, their risks and threats, protection and conservation measures are also synoptically described. Furthermore, adaptive forest management and silviculture as well as management of genetic diversity in order to face climate change are also analysed. Research priority areas on biodiversity and challenges for biodiversity research and related policy in Greece have been summarized. The new Rural Development Program (2014-2020), which is currently in the final phase of implementation, will take into consideration the forest itself and forest-related European and National legal obligations. Finally, major conclusions and research priority areas on future management and conservation of forests are highlighted.

Greece, Forests, Multiple Uses, Management, Biodiversity, Conservation, Forest Policy, Climate Change, Strategic Targets

Spanos, K. , Skouteri, A. , Gaitanis, D. , Petrakis, P. , Meliadis, I. , Michopoulos, P. , Solomou, A. , Koulelis, P. and Avramidou, E. (2021) Forests of Greece, Their Multiple Functions and Uses, Sustainable Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Face of Climate Change. Open Journal of Ecology, 11, 374-406. doi: 10.4236/oje.2021.114026.