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Georgiadis L., Bousbouras D. & Giannatos G.
Via Egnatia case in Greece: an overview of the intervention.
Abstract: While economic growth in the modern world seems to be a one-way process, various threats for wildlife and the natural ecosystems are increasing. The development of intense road networks, cause habitat fragmentation and connectivity between important habitats and consequently influence the gene flow between sub-populations of large terrestrial animals. In, Greece the construction of the new cross country four line 600 km highway VIA EGNATIA is such an example. The highway connects the Ionian Sea harbor of Igumenitsa with the Greek-Turkish borders and passes through the provinces of northern Greece (Regions of Epirus, Macedonia, and Thrace). The construction cuts through important natural areas of Pindos Mountain massif, the main habitat of large carnivores like the brown bear (Ursus arctos) and the wolf (Canis lupus). ARCTUROS, an NGO based in Thessaloniki (established 1992), seriously intervened in the plans of highway construction since 1994 and achieved to change the initial route plan for a 34 km segment in the Prefecture of Grevena a critical corridor habitat for carnivores. The intervention lead to an increase of the total length of tunnels and bridges from an initially planned 7 to almost 17 km covering 50% of the total length of the road, whilst additional construction of green bridges and underpasses were planned so as to reduce further habitat fragmentation. Moreover a 6 year monitoring program was planned, to monitor the effect of the highway on animal populations, before and after construction.
Key words: highway, habitat fragmentation, green bridges, underpasses, Via Egnatia, Greece

Suggested citation: Georgiadis L., Bousbouras D. & Giannatos G. 2007. Via Egnatia case in Greece: an overview of the intervention. In: B. Jackowiak (ed.). Influence of Transport Infrastructure on Nature. General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways, p. 113-118. Warszawa-Poznań-Lublin.
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