A mountainous area covered by Fagus, Quercus, and Castanea forest and Pinus plantations. Evergreen broadleaved forests also occur. Human activities include agriculture, forestry, and hunting.
Key biodiversity
This is an important site for breeding forest species.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Replacement of native forest with plantations is the most serious threat to the site. Part of the area is owned by and used for ecological research by the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
Protected areas
National Partial International Partial2,100 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Pr. Ilius/Poligirou, 2,100 ha). 1,650 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Cholomonta-Arneas, 1,650 ha). 1,446 ha of IBA covered by Controlled Hunting Area (Pravitas, 1,446 ha). 21,248 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Taxiarchis-Polygyros, 21,248 ha)
