In this forest there has never been human interventionis the only one in Europe that was not even touched by the glaciers of the Tertiary period, but, on the contrary, was a refuge for many species and is the most well-preserved virgin forest in all European countries.
Rare treasure for our country is the forest of Fraktos Paranesti, Drama, the only virgin forest that exists in Greecefor which efforts are being made to include him in list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
“It is essentially a living laboratory of nature, where the lack of human presence in most of the virgin forest of Paktos Paranesti, gives a special added value and justifies its name as a Virgin Forest”, reports to η Dr. Elsa Konstantinidou, director of forests of the prefecture of Drama.
“In this forest,” as he characteristically says, “because man has not entered for centuries, the trees literally die standing up as they age and then decompose in the soil, giving way to a new life cycle and providing food and shelter to animal and plant organisms.
The original core of the forest, which is one primary virgin forestoccupies area of ​​5,500 acreshas remained unaffected by human interventions, on the one hand because it is at a great distance from residential areason the other hand because the topographic configuration with steep slopes make it inaccessiblebut also unsuitable for grazing. The 2009with a relevant decision, the area of ​​the Absolute Nature Protection Area that includes the Virgin Fence Forestexpanded to 17,150 acres.
“The forest hosts endemic and rare species of flora and fauna in perfect harmony, centuries-old trees of impressive dimensions, with excellent stability and ecological balance and structure with a large percentage in the phase of aging and disintegration of the crown”clarifies Mrs. Konstantinidou.
The fact that in the last glacial period, when many species of plants migrated further south, they found refuge in Frakto and were able to survive, makes it valuable gene bank.
Vegetation like a journey from the Mediterranean to Norway!
Overall, the forest of Fraktos occupies an area of ​​119,352 acres, which include the 17,150 acres of virgin forest, is located at the northeastern end of the prefecture of Drama and is administratively part of the municipality of Paranesti. He owes his name and her its old name “Zagradenia” in the fact that it is located in a basin that is blocked all around with peaks and has an outlet, at its southern and lowest altitude point.
As Mrs. Konstantinidou describes, going up from Drama to Paranesti and Frakto, the visitor crosses four vegetation zones“In other words, we meet almost all the vegetation zones of Europe, which is why we say that the transition to Frakto it’s like a journey from the Mediterranean to Norway! “
In the Fence Forest, which is the “vestibule” for the Virgin Forest, as well as its “cushion” of protection, there are supporting infrastructures, such as the Fence Visitor Center, where the visitor can be informed about the Virgin Forest, its natural ecosystems. area, to explore exhibits but also to use the permanently installed telescope to admire the waterfalls. Despite the long distance from the urban centers and the difficulties of access, the Fence welcomes, according to data from the Drama Forest Service, 1,500-2,000 visitors per year, from around the world.
Flora, fauna, structure and composition of the Virgin Forest
Its flora shows unique biodiversity due to the isolation but also the heterogeneity of ecological conditions. Rare and endemic species of flora are found here, such as, for example lily of the Rhodopes (Liliumrhodhopeum), η sordanella of Rhodope (Sordanellarhodopaea) and rare orchids. The fauna of the virgin ecosystem that finds refuge in the rocky inaccessible slopes, such as bears, deer, wildcats and rare birds of prey.
The arboreal vegetation of the Virgin Forest consists mainly of mixed multi-storey beech stands, spruce and fir. In addition to the impressive sizes in the dimensions of the trees and the structure of virgin forest is different from that of financially managed forests. Of all the phases of evolution that are distinguished, the phase of rebirth, the phase of youth, excellence, old age and disintegration, the largest percentage is occupied by the phase of aging and the phase of disintegration of the crown, characteristic of the Virgin forests.
“The forest is allowed to evolve on its own according to the laws of nature. The scientific research of this untouched virgin forest in terms of flora, fauna, structure, dynamic evolution, nutrient cycles, carbon accumulation and genetic resources, etc., help us to better understand the complexity of ecosystems and to apply the conclusions. concludes the director of forests of the prefecture of Drama.
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