{"id":2814,"date":"2021-09-22T11:27:11","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T09:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifethinkhotels.com\/aenosnationalpark.gr\/fysiko-perivallon\/kefalliniaki-elati\/"},"modified":"2021-09-24T10:27:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T08:27:04","slug":"kefalliniaki-elati","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aenosnationalpark.gr\/en\/fysiko-perivallon\/kefalliniaki-elati\/","title":{"rendered":"Cephalonian Fir"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Abies cephalonica Loudon)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The distribution of\u00a0Abies cephalonica<\/em>\u00a0in Greece and Cephalonia island<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Map \u0399.<\/strong>\u00a0Distribution\u00a0of\u00a0Abies cephalonica<\/em>\u00a0in Greece and Cephalonia island\u00a0(marked by brown dots).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Greece three species of fir are recorded:\u00a0Abies cephalonica<\/em>\u00a0(Kefalonian fir),\u00a0Abies alba<\/em>\u00a0(white fir) and their hybrid\u00a0Abies borisii-regis<\/em>\u00a0(hybrid fir).\u00a0Abies cephalonica<\/em>\u00a0is a Greek endemic species, and grows only in Greek areas. More specifically, it grows in Kefalonia (Picture 1-4), Euboea, and continental Greece from the Peloponnese till mount Olympus and Athonas, in areas of 600-1600 m height (Map I). The presence of the fir forest in Kefalonia, where it was first described as a new species, and its phytogeographical importance enhanced the need to protect the fir forest of mount Aenos and declare it as a National Park in 1962.\u00a0The botanical name\u00a0Abies cephalonica<\/em>\u00a0was given by the English botanist JW Loudon in 1838, when he classified Kefalonian fir as a new species.<\/p>\n

The viability of fir forest has been threatened by the intense forest logging in Aenos – Roudi area during the previous centuries – especially after the 16th century – and the absence of means for fires. As a result, its extent is limited to only 25% of the original area (Map II). Future threats for the fir forest may comprise the rise of temperature in the context of global climate change. In the Mediterranean Basin it is foreseen an increase of temperature with important adverse implications to the populations of most of the conifer species, including\u00a0Abies cephalonica<\/em>.<\/p>\n