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SummaryAn historical overview of human intervention in the natural environment of Crete is presented by considering trends in human population size as well as land-use records since the Neolithic period. Trends in human impacts over the last forty years are interpreted from available statistical data on human population, forests, rangelands, livestock and cultivated areas from 20 villages of the Psilorites Mountain area, central Crete. Depopulation occurred, mainly from 1961 to 1971, with migration to urban centres of Crete and abroad; this affected traditional land-use in the uplands and transformed the rural landscape. An increase of rangelands then occurred at the expense of forests, and human activities in agricultural lands intensified, through such as tree cultivation and irrigation. Livestock grazing has become a dominant activity on all wildlands with a dramatic increase in animal numbers (70.4% in sheep and 50.8% in goats recorded in 1992 as compared with 1981), attributable to European Union subsidies. This overstocking, coupled with frequent pastoral wildfires and uncontrolled grazing, has resulted in rapid changes of land-use systems and landscapes on Psilorites that now endanger the natural environment and resources.

Information is presented on use of the natural resources of the Psilorites mountain in Crete throughout successive historical periods. The dominant human activities are described and their impact on hydrology, flora and fauna is analysed in an attempt to understand the land degradation processes on this Mediterranean mountain.

Junipers face multiple threats induced both by climate and land use changes, impacting their expansion and reproductive dynamics. The aim of this work is to evaluate the ecological status of Juniperus foetidissima Willd. forest stands in the protected Natura 2000 site of Mt. Oiti in Greece. The study of the ecological status is important for designing and implementing active management and conservation actions for the species’ protection. Tree size characteristics (height, breast height diameter), age, reproductive dynamics, seed production and viability, tree density, sex, and habitat expansion were examined. The data analysis revealed a generally good ecological status of the habitat with high plant diversity. However, at the different juniper stands, subpopulations present high variability and face different problems, such as poor tree density, reduced numbers of juvenile trees or poor seed production, inadequate male:female ratios, a small number of female trees, reduced numbers of seeds with viable embryos, competition with other woody species, grazing, and illegal logging. From the results, the need for site-specific active management and interventions is demonstrated in order to preserve or achieve the good status of the habitat at all stands in the region.

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