GR4340017 - CHERSONISOS GRAMVOUSSAS KAI NISIDES IMERI KAI AGRIA GRAMVOUSSA, PONTIKONISI

Code
GR4340017
Type
SPA
First compilation date
01/10/2001
Date site proposed as SCI
22/05/2014
Date site confirmed as SCI
22/05/2014
Date site designated as SAC
22/05/2014
National legal reference of SAC designation
01/10/2001
01/05/2009

Map

Photos of the site

Quality

An important site for raptors associated with sea cliffs and seabirds. Species of concern include: Falco eleonorae.

Other characteristics

The site lays in the western part of Crete, including Granvousa peninsula, the islands Imeri Gramvousa and Agria Gramvousa offshore the northern edge of the peninsula, and the islet Pontikonisi, 10 km west of the centre of the peninsula.Almost all along, the pensinsula consists of rocky calcareous massifs with steep slopes which create rugged coastlines, inaccesible from the sea. Marine caves are a quite common feature of the coastline.The vegetation is mostly phryganic, dominated by the shrubby perennial Sarcopoterium spinosum, Coridothymus capitatus, Callicotome villosa, Cistus creticus and Ballota pseudodictamnus, as well as by dwarf forms (creeping) of Pistacia lentiscus and Ceratonia siliqua.At Balos bay, on the northwest, there are not extended coastal sand dunes with Erica manipuliflora and Pistacia lentiscus, while the area is known for the lagoons that are formed by the mainland and the small Tigani peninsula.The islands Agria and Imeri Gramvousa show almost similar vegetation character, with a greater percentage of rock and sand halophytic species.

Documentation

Heath, M. F. and Evans, M. I., eds. 2000. Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority sites for conservation. 2: Southern Europe. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8, p. 791.

Reference: Natura 2000 data form, database release 7 Feb 2014