LIFE17 NAT/GR/000522 - B1

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (Max. 3 pages; to be completed in English)

Project title:

Greek Caves and Bats: Management Actions and Change of Attitude

Project objectives:

The proposed project’s overall aim is the implementation of conservation actions in 10 Natura 2000
sites in order to improve (slow, halt or reverse the decline of) the conservation status (range,
population, habitat, future prospect) of 10 selected bat species (Annexes II - IV 92/43/EEC) and of
Habitat 8310 (Annex I 92/43/EEC).

The project’s specific objectives are to:

1. Improve, restore and protect the roosting habitat of the target bat species and Habitat 8310 in the
selected Natura 2000 sites (A1, A2, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2)

2. Reinforce the legal framework for the protection and management of target species and habitat on a
national level through the elaboration of species and habitat action plans and the creation of cave
micro-reserves (A3, C3)

3. Alter the currently inappropriate attitude and behaviour of stakeholders involved with the
management and/or use of underground sites used by roosting bats and of Habitat 8310, for the
benefit of the target species and habitat (A4, C4, D3, E1, E2, E3)

4. Involve volunteers and promote citizen science to multiply the expected impacts of management
and conservation actions targeting the selected species and habitat (actions C4, C5 and E)

5. Raise public awareness with regards to the ecological importance of caves and cave life, the human
activities’ effects on their conservation, the national and international legal framework for their
protection, and the role of the proposed project (Ε1,E2)

6. Demonstrate the proposed conservation methods and practices and promote their replication and
transfer on a national level as well as in other contexts during and after the project (E1, E2,E3)

7. Promote green tourism and jobs, to support adaptation or other ecosystem benefits, for research,
education, training, awareness linked to Natura 2000 management

The project’s actions fall into two broad categories:

(a) Demonstration conservation actions aiming at habitat restoration / improvement of target species
and of Habitat 8310 in a specific number of Natura 2000 sites in Greece

(b) Actions aiming at the change of attitude and behaviour of specific stakeholders across the Greek
territory, in favour to the conservation of target species and habitat

Benefits for target species:

-an important proportion of the 10 Annex II as well as Annex IV targeted bat species national
population will be protected (0.5 to 95%)

-increase of the bat populations at project sites by 5-10%, 5 years after the implementation of project
actions

See Revision Annex.

Actions and means involved:

A1:Inventory of target species and habitat at the selected sites=Collection of reference data from
literature and fieldwork.

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A2:Technical studies and tender documents=Elaboration of detailed studies for all required technical
works.

A3:Elaboration of species and habitat Action Plans=Use of international literature and experience
gained.

A4:Initial monitoring of stakeholders’ attitude and behaviour=Collection of baseline data through

questionnaires, interviews and data collection.

C1:Protection, restoration and management of important bat roosts=In situ construction and
restoration works.

C2:Establishment of an early warning monitoring system for Habitat 8310 and bat colonies=in situ
establishment of telemetry automatic systems; development of a prototype.

C3:Establishment of cave micro reserves=Assessment and designation of cave microhabitats.

C4:Change attitude and behaviour of key stakeholders=in situ events; management guidelines for
underground shelters.

C5:Establishment of volunteer network for important caves and bat colonies=Recruitment-training-

equipping of volunteers, creation of software application.

D1:Project monitoring plan=Methods and specifications to monitor effectiveness.

D2:Monitoring the effect of project actions on target species and Habitat 8310=biological monitoring

D3:Monitoring the change of attitude and behaviour of local stakeholders=social research  

D4:LIFE - Performance indicators of the project=Use project monitoring results to fill Life performance
indicators xlsx.

D5:Socio-economic impact of the project actions=Relative qualitative and quantitative indices

D6:Assessment on the ecosystem function restoration=Relative qualitative and quantitative indices of

ecosystem services

E1:Information and awareness raising activities=Website, notice boards, layman’s report;

interpretation signs, awareness raising pack.

E2:Technical dissemination activities=Dissemination plan; augmented reality demo; cave information

centres. Media work.

E3:Multiplying the impacts of the project=Analysis for the wider application of proposed methods;
preparation of business cases, networking with other projects.

F1:Project operation and management by UoC=Activities required for project effective implementation
and the achievement of objectives

F2:Quality control of action’s implementation Application of a contingency and troubleshooting plan.

F3:Training staff to ensure knowledge on all project aspects.

F4:Plan how to continue the actions after the end of the project

Expected results (outputs and quantified achievements):

1. The roosting habitat of 13 multi-species colonies (8 caves, 2 mines, 2 tunnels/galleries and 1

building) will be restored, improved and protected. Functional telemetry systems that will monitor
parameters of Habitat 8310 and bat colonies will be installed permanently at 3 caves, providing
alarming messages when threshold values have been violated. Twelve portable data logging devices
will be built (prototype) to monitor environmental conditions and bat colonies at all sites.

2. Two Action Plans (for Habitat 8310 and for target species) will be adopted by the Ministry of

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Environment and Energy (legally operational until the end of the project). The 30 most important caves
in Greece will be assessed and at least 5 of the proposed cave micro-reserves will be officially
designated as “wildlife refuges” and/or as “protected natural formations” according to national
legislation.

3. A total of 16 seminars, round tables/workshops and field trips will be organized for key stakeholders
involved with the management and use of underground sites. Up to 800 people are expected to
participate. To monitor the change in their attitude and behaviour, 500 questionnaires and 100
interviews will be completed before and after the seminar series. An integrated guide for the
management and correct use of caves and other underground shelters will be produced (in electronic
format) and distributed to competent authorities and key stakeholders.

4. A network of up to 50 trained volunteers will be established and record approx.50 events (reporting
about caves and species) by the end of the project. The network will act as an early warning system
allowing immediate preventive action for the target habitat and species.

5. The following items will be produced for public awareness: 3 portable educational kits expected to
be used by more than 30 schools; 2 brochures (1,000 copies of each); 600 caps and t-shirts; 10,000
stickers; 4 banners; 5 TV-spots; 20 interpretation signs for restoration sites; a virtual reality demo and
application downloadable from the project’s website; input of material in 3 cave information centres
expected to be visited by more than 60% of the sites’ visitors.

6. Two business cases for the demonstration and the wider application of the project’s proposed
methods will be prepared and at least one is expected to be adopted by a target entity during the
project’s lifetime.

Is your project significantly climate-related? Yes No X

The proposal addresses the following project topic(s):

• Projects aimed at improving the conservation status of habitat types or species (including bird
species) of Community Interest, targeting the Natura 2000 sites proposed or designated for these
habitat types or species.
• Projects implementing one or several actions foreseen in the relevant Prioritised Action Framework
(PAF), as updated by the Member States or concrete actions identified, recommended or agreed in the
framework of the Natura 2000 bio-geographical seminars.
Reasons why the proposal falls under the selected project topic(s):

Project topic 1: The project aims at improving the conservation status of one (1) habitat type [8310]
and ten (10) bat species of Community Interest, targeting on 10 Natura 2000 sites proposed or
designated for these habitat types or species. Habitat 8310 (Caves not open to the public) is listed in
the Annex I, and the 10 bat species targeted by the project are listed in Annex II of the Habitat
Directive. Thus, the topic 1 is the most appropriate for the proposed project.

Project topic 3: More than one GRECABAT action falls in the following actions foreseen by the
Prioritized Action Framework (PAF GREECE, 2014):

Action A3 is related with the second section of strategic conservation priority for Natura 2000 (F.2, PAF
GREECE, 2014), at the general priorities for fauna species (page 45, fourth bullet) refers to the
“Configuration of national action plans per species (priority Annex II > CR, EN > Annex IV > VU, NT –
the qualifications refer to the Greek Red Book). Utilization of national monitoring results for
specification per Protected Area (where applicable).”

Actions A3, C2, C4, E1, E2 and E3 are related with the third section of the strategic conservation
priority (F.3, PAF GREECE, 2014) referring to priorities in relation to investments in Natura 2000 linked
to green tourism and jobs (related with the objectives and problems targeted by GRECABAT).

“... in the current conditions of economic and social crisis, the Natura 2000 sites shall have to be part
of the solution otherwise there will be extremely big pressures for their degradation.”

 “…The abovementioned sectors, except for their important contribution to the economic development

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of the country, they also constitute the fields where the most significant pressures and threats for
species and habitats arise from.” = related with threats targeted by GRECABAT.

“The preparation and adoption of Management Plans along with the Action Plans that accompany them
(as provided by the provisions 3937/2011)”

Actions E1 and E2 are relevant with section 1a-22 of the “G.1a General Priority Measures for Natura
2000” (page 49) (20) / Provision of Information – awareness raising on specific group of users in N2000
sites / All N2000 sites/ LIFE /section 1a-22.

Actions A1, C2 and D2 are relevant [bats targeted species] with section 1a-7 of the “G.1a General
Priority Measures for Natura 2000” (page 48) (5) / “Elaboration of specialiazed studies of the ecology
biology of species”. / LIFE / section 1a-7.

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MAP OF THE COUNTRY LOCATION OF THE PROJECT AREA SCALE 1:390000

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LIST OF ALL PROPOSED ACTIONS

A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans

A1 A1: Inventory of target bat species and habitat 8310 at the selected sites
A2 A2: Technical studies and tender documents
A3 A3: Elaboration of species and habitat Action Plans
A4 A4: Initial monitoring of stakeholders attitude and behaviour

B. Purchase/lease of land and/or compensation payments for use rights

C. Conservation actions

C1 C1. Protection, restoration and management of important roosting sites for bats
C2 C2: Establishment of an early warning monitoring system for habitat 8310 and important bat colonies
C3 C3: Cave micro reserves
C4 C4: Change the attitude and behaviour of stakeholders
C5 C5: Establishment of volunteer network for habitat 8310 and important bat colonies.

D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)

D1 D1: Project monitoring plan

D2 D2: Monitoring the effect of project actions on target species and Habitat 8310.
D3 D3: Monitoring the change of attitude and behaviour of local stakeholders
D4 D4: LIFE - Performance indicators of the project
D5 D5: Socio-economic impact of the project actions
D6 D6: Assessment on the ecosystem function restoration

E. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)

E1 E1: Information and awareness raising activities

E2 E2: Technical dissemination activities
E3 E3: Multiplying the impacts of the project

F. Project management (obligatory)

F1 F.1: Project operation and management / project management by UoC

F2 F2: Quality control and risk management
F3 F3: Training of project beneficiaries
F4 F4: Production of an a “After-LIFE Conservation Plan”

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TIMETABLE

Action 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Action
Name of the action I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV
numbe
A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans
A.1 A1: Inventory of target bat species and habitat 8310 at the selected sites
A.2 A2: Technical studies and tender documents
A.3 A3: Elaboration of species and habitat Action Plans
A.4 A4: Initial monitoring of stakeholders attitude and behaviour
B. Purchase/lease of land and/or compensation payments for use rights
C. Conservation actions
C1. Protection, restoration and management of important roosting sites
C.1
for bats
C2: Establishment of an early warning monitoring system for habitat
C.2
8310 and important bat colonies
C.3 C3: Cave micro reserves
C.4 C4: Change the attitude and behaviour of stakeholders
C5: Establishment of volunteer network for habitat 8310 and important
C.5
bat colonies.
D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)
D.1 D1: Project monitoring plan
D2: Monitoring the effect of project actions on target species and Habitat
D.2
8310.
D.3 D3: Monitoring the change of attitude and behaviour of local stakeholders
D.4 D4: LIFE - Performance indicators of the project
D.5 D5: Socio-economic impact of the project actions
D.6 D6: Assessment on the ecosystem function restoration
E. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)
E.1 E1: Information and awareness raising activities
E.2 E2: Technical dissemination activities
E.3 E3: Multiplying the impacts of the project

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F. Project management (obligatory)

F.1 F.1: Project operation and management / project management by UoC
F.2 F2: Quality control and risk management
F.3 F3: Training of project beneficiaries
F.4 F4: Production of an a “After-LIFE Conservation Plan”

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