Erimitis and the International Day of Forests 21st March

International Day of Forests 21st March

Forests are home to about 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, with more that 60,000 tree species. Around 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests for food, shelter, energy, medicines and income.

Forest sustainable management and their use of resources are key to combating climate change and biodiversity decline, as well as contributing to the prosperity and well-being of current and future generations. Forests also play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet despite all these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate: The world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year – about the size of Iceland.

In Corfu, the main forest vegetation zones are the Mediterranean, the Para-Mediterranean and the Azonal, with often unclear boundaries between them. More specifically, in the Erimitis area we find mainly broadleaf evergreen forests and low (maquis) forests with characteristic species such as Holm Oak, Strawberry Tree, Kermes Oak, Myrtle, Bay laurel, Broadleaf Oak, Spiny Broom, Paliurus. It is worth mentioning that Erimitis is one of the few areas in Corfu that was not converted into an olive grove and the natural vegetation of the area remained.

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Photos : Aggeliki Pouliasi and Dimitris Kiriakis