Greek and Anatolian oromediterranean siliceous dry grassland

This habitat is formed by dense, closed, usually unsculptured, oromediterranean chionophilous grasslands of acid and often deep soils over siliceous or calcareous substrates, as well as the closed, dry or mesophilous perennial Nardus spp. grasslands (mat-grass swards) occupying siliceous soils in the mountains of central and southern Greece, and north-western Anatolia (transitional region between the Mediterranean and the Euro-Siberian floristic region). The various vegetation communities of this unit occur on the high mountains of the southern Balkan peninsula under Mediterranean climate influence, including southern Albania, the Former Yuguslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), northwestern Turkey, the southern Pelagonides (Vermion), the Pindus mountain range (Tymfi, Peristeri, Karava, Smolikas), the high Thessalian mountains (Olimbos, Ossa), the Sterea Ellas (Giona, Iti) and the Peloponnesus mountains (Chelmos, Killini, Erimanthos, Taygetos); they develop on decalcified colluviums, on damp soils of seeps or poorly drained areas, and in depressions and other sites where snow lingers. These grassland communities or grassy meadows ("pelouses rases") above the treeline are mainly found at altitudes from 1,800 to 2,400 m Asl, and are mainly associated with late snow cover (>150 days) and irrigation from melt water in shallow depressions or in more or less flat ground with accumulated fine-grained soil.

Indicators of quality:

• Vegetation cover > 80%
• Species rich communities
• High grass species presence
• Absence of strong erosion indication
• Soil without significant disturbances
•  Absence or very low cover of weed species
• Absence of indications of secondary succession (e.g. invasion by tall herbs and the establishment of trees and shrubs on grassland areas)
• Controlled grazing regime

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats