Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The site includes two mountains separated by the Tembi valley. The western part of Kato Olympos is predominantly grassland and scrub, whilst eastern areas are well forested.
The site is important for breeding and passage raptors and as a migration corridor. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aegypius monachus (non-breeding),
Aquila heliaca (non-breeding),
Falco naumanni (passage).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Logging and scrub burning are leading to gradual degradation of the habitat. Plans for a dam and reservoir in the gorge are a serious threat. The laying of poison baits continues and has already caused the loss of
Gypaetus barbatus and
Aegypius monachus from the site. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
National Partial
International Partial2,250 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Aspropetra-Ailia/Kalipefkis, 2,250 ha). 470 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Tsaira-Goliani/Rapsanis, 470 ha). Part of IBA covered by Controlled Hunting Area (Ossa, 26,377 ha). 1,690 ha of IBA covered by Aesthetic Forest (Ossa Aesthetic Forest, 1,690 ha). Part of IBA covered by Aesthetic Forest (Tembi Valley, 1,762 ha). 1,336 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Aisthitiko Dasos Koiladas Tempon, 1,336 ha). 19,519 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Aisthitiko Dasos Ossas, 19,519 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kato Olympos, Tempi gorge and mount Ossa (Greece). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kato-olympos-tempi-gorge-and-mount-ossa-iba-greece on 23/12/2024.
