Values, Alterations and Degradation of the Natural Landscape 109
• Forest fires
• Over-grazing and resulting soil erosion
• Overhunting and overfishing
• Excessive wood cutting and deforestation
• Surface extraction
• Excessive road-cutting (mainly mountain or coastal roads)
• Vacation houses or tourist developments
• Construction of technical works with insufficient environmental control
Coastal landscapes are particularly vulnerable to human activities and
their degradation is, as a rule, non-reversible and for this reason especially
serious. In spite of public perception, sea pollution is not generally a serious
problem, given that it is only localized in a few coastal areas. The disposal
of liquid urban and industrial waste, the accumulation of rubbish, pollution by petroleum products, agricultural runoff, burdening of the atmosphere by transports and coastal industrial activities usually create local
phenomena of marine pollution. On the other hand, forest fires, erosion,
drainage of wetlands, all kinds of thoughtless excavations, the haphazard
expansion of vacation houses and tourist activities, loud noise sources, free
camping, uncontrolled use of recreation vessels, over-fishing etc. are factors
that exert intense pressures on the coastal environment. Many coastal landscapes and seascapes are immediately threatened by technical works, such
as the construction of coastal roads, fishing shelters, marinas etc., but they
may also be threatened by the use of campers, power boats, underwater
equipment etc. Thus the rare species of flora and fauna that live in certain
coasts are significantly receding or are in immediate danger of extinction.
5.5.4 greek landscape: a characteristic Example
5.5.4.1 Landscape Attributes and Alterations
Greece is a typical Mediterranean country with significant forest cover;
according to recent data, the forest covers 25% of its area. Twenty-four
percent is scrub, 11% is phrygana and grasslands stretches, 1% is aquatic
surfaces and marshes, 2% is urban and industrial areas and agricultural
land is about 35%. According to these data, the natural landscape corresponds to more than 60% of the country’s terrestrial extent. Actually,
though, the natural space is quite larger, because many agricultural
stretches can be included in it, as for instance olive groves, which are akin
to the natural ecosystems. The extended marine space is also mostly natural. Therefore, Greece possesses a natural landscape that constitutes a
very high percentage of the national space; it also has an extraordinary
biodiversity and it therefore holds first place among the European Union
member-states, in spite of the country’s small size (Figure 5.1). The degree
• Forest fires
• Over-grazing and resulting soil erosion
• Overhunting and overfishing
• Excessive wood cutting and deforestation
• Surface extraction
• Excessive road-cutting (mainly mountain or coastal roads)
• Vacation houses or tourist developments
• Construction of technical works with insufficient environmental control
Coastal landscapes are particularly vulnerable to human activities and
their degradation is, as a rule, non-reversible and for this reason especially
serious. In spite of public perception, sea pollution is not generally a serious
problem, given that it is only localized in a few coastal areas. The disposal
of liquid urban and industrial waste, the accumulation of rubbish, pollution by petroleum products, agricultural runoff, burdening of the atmosphere by transports and coastal industrial activities usually create local
phenomena of marine pollution. On the other hand, forest fires, erosion,
drainage of wetlands, all kinds of thoughtless excavations, the haphazard
expansion of vacation houses and tourist activities, loud noise sources, free
camping, uncontrolled use of recreation vessels, over-fishing etc. are factors
that exert intense pressures on the coastal environment. Many coastal landscapes and seascapes are immediately threatened by technical works, such
as the construction of coastal roads, fishing shelters, marinas etc., but they
may also be threatened by the use of campers, power boats, underwater
equipment etc. Thus the rare species of flora and fauna that live in certain
coasts are significantly receding or are in immediate danger of extinction.
5.5.4 greek landscape: a characteristic Example
5.5.4.1 Landscape Attributes and Alterations
Greece is a typical Mediterranean country with significant forest cover;
according to recent data, the forest covers 25% of its area. Twenty-four
percent is scrub, 11% is phrygana and grasslands stretches, 1% is aquatic
surfaces and marshes, 2% is urban and industrial areas and agricultural
land is about 35%. According to these data, the natural landscape corresponds to more than 60% of the country’s terrestrial extent. Actually,
though, the natural space is quite larger, because many agricultural
stretches can be included in it, as for instance olive groves, which are akin
to the natural ecosystems. The extended marine space is also mostly natural. Therefore, Greece possesses a natural landscape that constitutes a
very high percentage of the national space; it also has an extraordinary
biodiversity and it therefore holds first place among the European Union
member-states, in spite of the country’s small size (Figure 5.1). The degree