The Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas visited the Dadia Forest Information Centre accompanied by the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Christodoulos Topsidis, on Thursday.
Schinas was briefed on the consequences of the devastating fires of the summer of 2023, as well as the efforts to address them. Thirty-six species of predatory birds have been recorded in the Dadia forest, out of the thirty-nine species found throughout Europe, the most characteristic of which is the black vulture (cinereous vulture). To prevent the loss of the black vulture from the Dadia forest due to the destruction of its nests by the fires, fifteen artificial nests have been placed in the forest.
The Dadia – Lefkimi – Soufli Forest National Park is located in the center of the Evros prefecture and covers an area of 428 km2, 72.9 km2 of which are strictly protected. Its geographical position is very important, as it lies at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa and is close to the easternmost migration route of many bird species.
In the area, 360-400 plant species have been recorded, including 25 orchid species. Additionally, 104 butterfly species, 12-13 amphibian species, 29 reptile species, and 60-65 mammal species have been observed, with 24 of them being bats. Furthermore, the relief features such as rocky outcrops, streams and rivers, along with the geological formations and the endemic plants of the area, are of great ecological value.
European scientists recognized the importance of the Dadia forest in 1970, and in 1980, the area was declared protected. Since 2006, it has been designated as a National Park. Currently, it is one of the few refuges for rare birds of prey in Europe and is home to the only breeding population of black vultures in the Balkans