CONSERVATION / THREAT STATUS

Agroforestry landscapes host the greatest part of rare and threatened species in the 27 member states of the E.U. (Birdlife International 2017, EEA 2020), which in the Mediterranean region are linked to agroforestry systems (like the Alaudidae species) and with areas of sparse vegetation or single trees (like the Laniidae species) (Bueno et al. 2019).

Short-term population trends for farmland birds reveal that 54% of species are declining, 21% are stable and only 18% are improving (Figure 2 / EEA 2020). The E.U. Environmental indicator for the common species of birds, shows a decline of nearly 35% within the last 30 years, for 39 species of common farmland birds (Figure 3 / Eurostat 2020).

In Greece, there are 147 species in the category “Species of Agropasture lands”, of which 60 species are threatened or protected, with 39 breeders, while 21 species are now globally threatened (Table 1). In total, 8 species are included in IUCN’s Red List, 18 species are referred in the Red Book of Threatened Animals in Greece and 20 species are mentioned in one of the three categories for Species of European Conservation Concern (SPEC).

Scientific name Common name Greek Red Data Book 2008

IUCN 2021 SPEC 2017 Annex Ι Directive 2009/147/EC

Marginal distribution in Europe

Hippolais olivetorum Rock partridge VU NT 1 I x

Sylvia rueppelli Grey partridge EN 2

Sylvia nisoria Quail NT

Lanius minor Pheasant CR x

Lanius senator Stone curlew NT 3 I

Lanius nubicus Turtle dove VU 1

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Great spotted cuckoo VU x

Corvus frugilegus Swift NT 3

Emberiza cineracea Roller VU I

Melanocorypha calandra Calandra lark VU 3 I

Alauda arvensis Skylark NT 3

Oenanthe isabellina Isabelline wheatear NT x

Hippolais olivetorum Olive tree warbler NT I x

Sylvia rueppelli Rüpell's warbler NT I x

Sylvia nisoria Barred warbler NT I x

Lanius minor Lesser grey shrike NT I

Lanius senator Woodchat NT 2

Lanius nubicus Masked shrike NT I x

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed chough EN I x

Corvus frugilegus Rook VU

Emberiza cineracea Cinereous bunting EN NT I x

Legend: CR – Critically Endangered, EN – Endangered, NT – Nearly Threatened, VU – Vulnerable

SPEC Categories (Species of European Concern): 1- European species of global conservation concern, 2- Species whose global population is concentrated in Europe and are classified as endangered, 3- Species whose global population is not concentrated in Europe, but they are classified as endangered

Conserving agroforestry landscapes relies upon on the continuation of mild traditional land uses

To the above species must be added species that are inseparable from agroforestry systems and, even though they are not threatened, are considered vulnerable due to their very restricted range in Europe. Furthermore, the need to protect species with rapid decline, like the turtle dove and the rock partridge, or with limited global distribution, like the levant sparrowhawk and the sombre tit (Box 1, Figure/Illustration 4), make it imperative to adopt measures for the protection and conservation of agroforestry landscapes, as part of the country’s responsibility for biodiversity conservation in Europe and the planet. Finally, it is characteristic that Greece is the second most important country in Europe after Italy for the breeding populations of the rock partridge (near threatened species on a global level) and hosts more than 30% of the global population. Additionally, it is important for the levant sparrowhawk, a species characterized as rare in Europe (BirdLife International 2017). Other species of agroforestry systems, with a marginal distribution in Europe are the rock nuthatch, the rose-coloured starling, the barred warbler, the orphean warbler, and the olive-tree warbler.