Philippos’ Forests comprise a network of six forests spanning 103,000 acres across the Regional Units of Imathia and Pieria. Their primary focus is sustainable forest management and conservation, ensuring a harmonious balance between nature and human activity.
Philippos’ Forests boast remarkable biodiversity, playing a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystem functions and supporting human well-being.
South Kastania Forest Information
The forest of South Kastania is located north of the Regional Unit of Pieria and extends to the lower slopes of the Pieria mountains. The above sea altitude of the forest ranges from 120 m at the NE end of the forest to 380 m at the northwestern boundary. The total area of the forest estate amounts to 1,617 hectares (ha) with a boundary line that follows, mainly, natural lines. The forest is divided into nine (9) sections or twenty-four (24) stands.
Flora
The main forestry species of the forest are, among others:
- Deciduous oaks (Quercus frainetto, Q. pubescens. Q. cerris)
- Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
- Flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus)
- Common hazel (Corylus avelana)
- Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
- Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis)
- Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Silver linden or European white linden (Tilia tomentosa)
- Black pine (Pinus nigra)
- Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera)
- Silver linden or European white linden (Tilia tomentosa)
- The turpentine tree (Pistacia terebinthus)
The natural forest vegetation in the private forest of South Kastania , is included in the Paramediterranean Zone of vegetation Quercetalia pubescentis and in particular in the subzone of Quercion confertae (formations of thermophilic subcontinental deciduous oaks), and in the growth area of Quercetum confertae.
The forest is a natural wildlife habitat and one can encounter the following species, among others:
Avifauna
- Snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
- Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
- Eagle Hawk (Buteo rufinus)
- Mountain Partridge (Greek alectoris)
- Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)
- Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
- Blackbird (Turdus merula)
- Crested Lark (Galerida tristate)
- Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
- Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
- Song Thrush (Turdus philomellos)
- Cedar thrush (Turdus pilaris)
- Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
- Alpine chough (Pyrrocorax graculus)
- Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
- Raven (Corvus corone)
- Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops)
- Sparrow (Passer sp.)
- Green Swift (Picus viridis)
Mammals
- Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
- Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
- Wolf (Canis lupus)
- Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- Jackal (Canis aureus),
- Wildcat (Felis silvestris)
- Hare (Lepus europaeus)
- Ferret (Martes foina)
- Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor)
- Weasel (Mustela nirvalis)
- Badger (Meles meles)
- Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Amphibians
- Frog (Rana spp)
- Common toad (Bufo bufo) etc.
Reptiles
- Green lizard (Lacerta viridis)
- European blind snake (Typhlops vermicularis)
- Javelin Sand Boa (Eryx jaculus)
- Caspian whipsnake (Dolichopus caspius)
- Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatrolineata)
- Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)
- Smooth snake(Coronella austriaca)
- Aegean wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii)
- Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
- Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis taurica)
- European glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus)
- Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
- Grass snake (Natirx natrix)
- Dice snake(Natrix tessellata)
- European cat snake (Telescopus fallax)
- Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)
- Dahl’s whip snake (Platyceps najadum)
- Balkan whip snake (Hierophis gemonensis)
- Horned viper (Vipera ammodytes)
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