LIFE TERRACESCAPE Project

Description: For the purposes of the Project, the team established the baseline for the biodiversity and climatic conditions at the project area. Field visits took place for invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, pollinators, and plants, while seeds from local varieties have been collected and have been multiplied. Soil profiles’ analyses were also conducted along with reports for organic matter content, decomposition rates, erosion and fire risk. Also, a series of meteorological stations were installed for the measurement of basic meteorological parameters, as well as the microclimate conditions of the terraced landscape. Analyses of current climate data (covering the period 1970-2005) and future climate change projections (up to 2100) were completed. Traditional beekeeping infrastructures (bee hives, bee houses, bee gardens) in the abandoned state on the island were recorded, mapped and evaluated in order to set priorities for their future restoration/maintenance. Furthermore, the terraced landscape of Andros and Syros Island were also mapped. The first Greek Land Surveillance Organization was created entitled "Farmers of the Aegean", after the signing of the Collaboration Agreement between the Social Cooperative Enterprise, the Green Fund and the Municipality of Andros "Farmers of the Aegean" (http://www.landstewardship.gr/index.php/el/). The HAO-DEMETER experimental cultivation of crops of Andros local landraces was carried out and seed material was produced for the cultivation of the project’s fields. A total of 43 ha were cultivated for two years (the cultivation is ongoing) with barley, vetch and pea following climate-smart agricultural practices and enhancing the biodiversity of the fields. This year’s cultivated species apart from barley include oregano and onion. In order to promote the project actions and objectives related to the climate change adaption, the significance of terraces as key green infrastructure elements in alleviating the impacts of climate change and the improvement of ecosystem indicators a broad public awareness campaign is being implemented. This campaign includes informative material, notice boards, environmental education material as well as a set of Thematic Seminars that started in October 2020. In order to disseminate the art of dry stone, the Drystone-Wall School will be organized in summer 2021. During this school, farmers and craftsmen from Andros and other Cycladic islands will be trained in restoring drystone constructions, such as terrace walls, trails and any type of drystone elements occurring on terraces; the school aims also to focus on methods and materials for the cultivation of terraced land.

Country: Greece

City: Andros Island

City size: Andros Island

Population: 9,221 (Census: 2011)

start: 2017

Timeframe: 6 years (until 2022)

Phase: Ongoing

Nature-based solutions (NBS) : Yes

Initiator: University of the Aegean (Coordinating Partner) Municipality of Andros HAO-DEMETER National and Kapodistrian University of Athens National Observatory of Athens

Website source: http://www.lifeterracescape.aegean.gr/en/

Latitude: 37.8371

Longitude: 24.9368

Co-benefits

Improved aesthetic value

Yes

Reference: Chrysanthaki H., Papavasileiou V., Petanidou T. (2017). The terraced drystone landscape as an element of intangible cultural heritage and its importance for sustainable development. In: Social and cultural sustainability. University of the Aegean, Department of Preschool Education Sciences and Educational Design. In: Societal and Cultural sustainability / Koinoniki kai Politismiki viosimotita, V. Papavasileiou, P. Fokiali, E. Nikolaou, D. Matzanos, M. Kaila (Eds.), pp. 365–384. University of the Aegean, Rhodes. Karamanos, A., Voloudakis, D. (2011). Impacts of climate change on agriculture. Climate Change Study Committee, Bank of Greece. Kizos Τ., Dalaka Α., Petanidou Τ. (2010). Farmers’ practices and landscape change: Evidence from the abandonment of olive cultivation on terraces on Lesvos, Greece. Agriculture and Human values 27: 199–212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10460-009-9206-9.

Pafilis P. (2014). Aegean drystone walls: Holding biodiversity (Final report). Programme “scientific projects”. John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, pp. 100. Petanidou T. (2005). Sculpturing the landscape of Nisyros with terraces for agriculture [In Greek]. Nisyriaka 15: 212-255. Petanidou T. (2011). Terraces – an inseparable element of the island landscape. In: Contemporanean lanscapes of Greece - A geographical approach from above (C. Hadjimihalis, Ed.). Melissa Publications, Athens. [In Greek]. Petanidou T. (2015a). Terraces for farming: an indispensable element of the Aegean island landscape (bilingual). Proceedings of the 13th International Convention for Culture and Tourism YPERIA 2015, Amorgos, 21-26 October 2015, pp. 38-45. Retrieved from: http://yperia.gr/wp-content/uploads/YPERIA-2015-Proceedings.pdf.

Petanidou T. (2015b). Terraces of the Aegean – the example of Dodecanese. Parisianou Scientific Publications, Athens, pp. 280. [in Greek]. Petanidou T. (2018). The terrace-scapes of the Aegean in a period of critical transition. Dry stone constructions and built heritage – Proceedings of the 15th international congress on dry stone, 9-11 September 2016, Argostoli, Cephalonia, Greece (Papaeftychiou I., Beriatou M., Eds.), pp. 32-39. Cephalonia-Ithaca Foundation (IKI), Argostoli, Athens. Petanidou T, Kizos T., Soulakellis N. (2008). Socioeconomic dimensions of the agricultural landscape change in the Mediterranean: the case of the abandonment of cultivation terraces on Nisyros Island, Greece. Environmental Management 41: 250–266. Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267‐007‐9054‐6.

Petanidou T., Pylara A., Dimalexis T. (2020). The Project LIFE TERRACESCAPE – Employing Land Stewardship to transform terraced landscapes into Green Infrastructures to better adapt to climate change. Proceedings of the XVI International Congress & Workshop on Dry Stone, 26-28 October 2018, Ciutadella Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain (A. Petchen, coordinator), σελ. 345-359, Circle Artistîc de Ciutadella, Publicacions des Born, 26. Racinska, I., Barratt, L., Marouli, C. (2015). LIFE and Land Stewardship. Current status, challenges and opportunities. Report to the European Commission. 209 pp. Sabaté, X., Basora, X., O’Neill, C., and Mitchell, B. (2013). Caring together for nature. Manual on land stewardship as a tool to promote social involvement with the natural environment in Europe. LandLife documents. 177 pp.