University Forest Taxiarchis - Vrastama

University Forest of Taxiarchis
University Forest of Taxiarchis
– The Forest University Taxiarchis - Vrastama is one
of the two university forests of our country.
Established as a university institute in 1934 with
the granting of the woods in the Aristotelian
University of Thessaloniki. The 1940 war that the
administration of the Forest does not work. The
buildings destroyed, and the forest harvested
predatory. In 1951 he established the Fund
Administration and Management University of
Forestry as an independent legal entity under
public law established by the University of
Thessaloniki, for the two concession forests as a
model forest of creating, developing forestry
research and ultimately serves the practical
training of students in Forestry.
– The two villages surrounding the forest, the
Commander and two Vrastama is predominantly
rural, mountainous forest villages evolution trends
in tourist destinations. Today many rural tourism
establishments such as hotels, rooms, restaurants
and various shops offering all kinds of pleasures
to visitors. Along with the ongoing operations of
the University Forest Management capacity
building to improve the living conditions of
paradasoviou population, improve and enhance
the biodiversity of the forest and exploit the
resource.
Management of the University Forest
The University Forest spreads on an area of 5800 ha in
the central part of Chalkidiki, on the southsouthwestern slopes of mountain Cholomontas (above
sea height: 320-1625 m).
The forest was conceded in 1934 by the Ministry of
Agriculture to the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for
researching and educational purposes. It is under the
jurisdiction of the University Forests Fund (UFF) of the
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Since the founding of the department in 1951 the
Management of the University Forest of Taxiarchis:
1) ensures the necessary infrastructures for the
practical training of university students and the conduct
of forest researches.
2)
applies
model
forest
and
administrative
management which focuses mainly on the protection of
the forest ecosystem, the improvement and
magnification of wood stock, the composition of studies
and the execution of said works.
3) creates infrastructures aiding the tourist growth of
the mountain range of Chalkidiki and the promotion of
alternative cultivation for the containment of the forest
population in the mountain areas.
Ever since 1971 it has formed up the forest land
registry and it has secured the internal external
boundaries of the forest, providing the local population
with ownership titles of their respective properties.
University Forest of Taxiarchis
Natural Forest
Conditions
70,00
65,00
60,00
55,00
50,00
45,00
40,00
35,00
30,00
25,00
20,00
15,00
10,00
∆εκέμβρ
Νοέμβρ
Οκτώβρ
Σεπτέμβρ
Αύγουστ
Ιούνιος
Ιούλιος
Μάϊος
Απρίλιος
Μάρτιος
Ιανουάρ
0,00
Φεβρουάρ
5,00
140,00
135,00
130,00
125,00
120,00
115,00
110,00
105,00
100,00
95,00
90,00
85,00
80,00
75,00
70,00
65,00
60,00
55,00
50,00
45,00
40,00
35,00
30,00
25,00
20,00
15,00
10,00
5,00
0,00
ΜέσοΜηνιαίοΥψος Βροχής &Χιονιούσε mm
ΟΜΒΡΟΘΕΡΜΙΚΟ ∆ΙΑΓΡΑΜΜΑ Π.∆.ΤΑΞΙΑΡΧΗ
ΠΕΡΙΟ∆ΟΥ (1974-2011)
Μέσες Μηνιαίες Θερμοκρασίες σε οC
The region’s climate is
classified as Mediterranean to
continental. The average air
temperature is at 11,1 oC ,
while the annual rainfall and
snowfall comes up to 770 mm.
Weather data is being
acquired through a
meteorological installation of
the forest administration, since
1974.
Flora
The forest area is rich in minerals like quartz,
hyalite, calcareous schist, gneiss etc., while the
ground originating from solifluction, shows great
diversity and as a result is host to a variety of
vegetation.
The flora of the area is mostly made up of deciduous
tree forests while in places reforestations of conifers
(30% of the area). Major forest species are the
broadleaf oak, the beech, the evergreen
broadleaves (holm oak, briar, arbutus, holly),
various pine species (P. nigra, P. brutia, P.
halepensis), chestnut trees etc.
Of special interest are the fir sapling groves,
cultivated in private fields for the production of
Christmas trees and offering an extra source of
income for the local populace, while protecting the
ground from erosion and .
Camomile, oregano, thyme, wild strawberries,
raspberries and mushrooms are commonly found in
the forest and at large harvested by the locals,
though the collection of edible mushrooms,
harboring food poisoning risks, demands both
knowledge and experience. In total there are more
than 1100 recorded species of turfs and . Among
these, 38 species are under protection status, while
others are of special biogeographically importance.
Fauna
The area’s fauna is greatly diverse, consisting
of mammals like boars, rabbits, roebucks as
well as predatory species like wolves, foxes,
jackals, weasels, ferrets, badgers and squirrels
in numbers sufficient enough as not to be
endangered. Additionally, present are many
species of predatory birds including several
species of hawks and a few species of eagles.
In total, 134 species of birds have been
recorded, 52 of which are migratory, 46 are
breeding visitors, 27 are visitors, 9 are winter
visitors and 4 are not breeding in this area.
The
forest
territory
is
a
part
of
the Natura network and according to the
92/43/EEC and 79/409/EEC directions of the
European Union, it has been declared a
protected site for the predatory birds
Local Agricultural Activities
The general area of the University Forest is a
representative forest of broadleaf species of
the Greek region. It naturally reproduces
itself, whilst only in extremely unfavorable
conditions there is interference through
reforestation. Maintenance of the villages’
populace comes about through systematic
and continuous exploitation methods of the
forest sources, applicable since several
decades. The main forestry products are oak,
beech and pine firewood, as well as
charcoals, while present to a lesser degree is
also carpentry. Finally, a total of 50-60 forest
workers are employed annually in the various
woodcutting activities. Pastoral activities
make up another part of the local activities.
Locally bred are stocks of sheep, goats,
cattle, swines and chicken, with numerous
units applying biological methods of
breeding. Apiculture takes up the last part of
the local occupation activities, with honey of
excellent quality being produced.
Facilities
Throughout
the
years,
an
adequate number of houses have
been erected inside the university
forest area, housing the offices of
and the administration personnel,
the teaching personnel and the
students.
The student housing complex
consists of several rooms, a
restaurant, laboratory and storage
facilities, two convention rooms
and a small museum, where
specimens of the local flora and
fauna are exhibited.
Education - Research
Every
year,
students
of
the
4th semester of the Faculty of Forestry
and Natural Environment attend a one
month practical training in the forest,
guided by the faculty’s education
personnel. Forest Botany, Forest Soil
Science,
Rangeland
Ecology,
Topography and General Hydraulics
and Hydrology-Potamology, are some
of the courses the students attend
during their training in the forest.
Additionally, various researches are
carried out by postgraduate students
as well as education and researching
personnel throughout the year.
The village of Taxiarchis
The village of Taxiarchis is built 25 km from
Poligiros and 3 km from the University Forest
Administration facilities. Tradition ties the village
with the Holy Mountain of Athos and more
specifically with the monastery of Dochiario and
the dependency of the archangel Michael it
possessed on the village site. The village’s older
name was Lokovi and was officially renamed
Taxiarchis in 1928 in honor to its patron saint,
archangel Michael. Its inhabitants, numbering
about 1100 people, are mainly occupied with
woodcutting, the production of charcoals, various
agricultural cultivation and stock breeding.
Reputable are also the stone cutters and the
technicians of Taxiarchis, that are sought after
throughout Chalkidiki.
Many of the local women are occupied with
weaving, knitting, embroidery, traditional sweets,
while an important part of a household’s income,
comes from the cultivation of fir trees that are
sold as Christmas trees. Finally, a growing
number of locals