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.
Elafina Forest Information
The forest of Elafina (formerly known as Sporlita forest) is located at the northeastern end of the Pieria Mountains, towards the plain of Veria, at the southern end of the Regional Unit of Imathia, up to the border of the Regional Unit of Pieria. The maximum height above sea level is 1,107 m, while the minimum height above sea level is 237 m. The average altitude of the forest is estimated at 682m. 20% of the forest belongs to the semi-mountainous zone and 80% to the mountainous zone. The total area of the forest amounts to 3,573 hectares (ha) with a boundary line that follows, mainly, natural lines. The forest is divided into forty-seven (47) sections, and one hundred and one (101) stands.
Flora
The main forestry species of the forest are, among others:
- Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
- Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto)
- Downy oak (Quercus pubescens)
- Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
- European chestnut (Castanea sativa)
- Silver linden or European white linden (Tilia tomentosa)
- Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera)
- Juniper (Juniperus sp.)
- Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
- Flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus)
- Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis)
- Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
- Mountain elm (Ulmus glabra)
- Poplar (Populus sp.)
- Maple (Acer sp.)
- Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Plane tree (Platanus orientalis)
- Black pine (Pinus nigra)
- Radial pine (Pinus radiata)
- Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga douglasii)
- King Boris fir (Abies borisii-regis)
The natural forest vegetation in the co-owned forest estate of Elafina is part of the vegetation zones of the Mediterranean (Quercetalia pubescentis) and the Beech-fir and the Mediterranean conifers (Fagetalia).
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)
- Bear (Ursus arctos)
- 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)
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
