Philippos Forests are a complex of 7 forests with a total area of 128,000 stremmas and are
located in the Imathia and Pieria prefectures of Northen Greece.
Philippos’ Forests boast remarkable biodiversity, playing a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystem functions and supporting human well-being.
Elafina Forest Information
The forest of Ryakia is located north of the Regional Unit of Pieria and extends on the lower slopes of the Pieria Mountains, peripheral to the village of Ryakia and reaches the boundaries with the Regional Unit of Imathia. The maximum oversea height is 1,020 meters, while the minimum is 170 meters at the location “Ammopetres”, at an average distance of 23 km. Northwest of the city of Katerini. The total area of the forest estate amounts to 2,416 hectares and is divided into twenty-four (24) sections or forty-nine (49) stands.
Flora
The main forestry species of the forest are, among others:
- Deciduous oaks (Quercus frainetto, Q. pubescens)
- Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis, Carpinus betulus)
- Flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus)
- Maple (Acer campestre)
- Greek strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne)
- European chestnut (Castanea sativa)
- Common hazel (Corylus avellana)
- Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
- Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis)
- Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Silver linden or European white linden (Tilia tomentosa)
- Italian plum (Prunus cocomilia)
- Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera)
- Green olive tree (Phillyrea latifolia)
- The terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus)
- Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus)
- Beech (Fagus moesiaca)
- European smoketree (Cotinus coccygria)
- European hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia)
- Christ’s thorn (Paliurus spina-christi)
- Almond-leaved pear (Pyrus amygdaliformis)
- Plane tree (Platanus orientalis)
- Common aspen (Populus tremula)
- Dog rose (Rosa canina)
- Willow (Salix spp.)
- Bramble (Rubus sp.)
The natural forest vegetation in the private forest estate of Ryakia is included in the Paramediterranean Vegetation Zone of Quercetalia pubescentis and in particular in thesubzone 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)
- Long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
- Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca)
- Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur)
- Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
- Blackbird (Turdus merula)
- Crested lark (Galerida tristate)
- Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
- Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
- Song thrush (Turdus philomellos)
- Cedar thrush (Turdus pilaris)
- Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
- Yellow-bellied warbler (Pyrrocorax graculus)
- Magpie (Pica pica)
- Crow (Corvus corone)
- Hoopoe (Upura epops)
- Sparrows (Passer sp.)
Mammals
- Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
- Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
- Lupus (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)
- Earthworm (Bufo bufo) etc.
Reptiles
- Green lizard (Lacerta viridis)
- European blind snake (Typhlops vermicularis)
- Desert Snake (Eryx jaculus)
- Lightning snake (Dolichopus caspius)
- Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatrolineata)
- Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)
- Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)
- Erhard’s wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii)
- Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
- Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis taurica)
- European legless lizard (Pseudopus apodus)
- Common slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
- Water snake (Natirx natrix)
- Pond snake (Natrix tessellata)
- European cat snake (Telescopus fallax)
- Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)
- Dahl’s whip snake (Platyceps najadum)
- Balkan whip snake (Hierophis gemonensis)
- Common viper (Vipera ammodytes)
Emergency Phone Directory
SERVICES
POLICE
FIRE DEPARTMENT
EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE
FOREST SERVICE
POWER COMPANY
POWER OUTAGE / ELECTRICITY FAULTS (HEDNO)
EUROPEAN EMERGENCY NUMBER
CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCY
PIERIA FOREST DIRECTORATE
VERIA FOREST AGENCY
IMATHIA FOREST DIRECTORATE
PHILIPPOS’ FORESTS
FOREST MANAGER
FOREST GUARD 1
FOREST GUARD 2
FOREST GUARD 3
