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GR066
Timfi (Gamila) and Smolikas mountains
Location Greece, Ipiros
Central coordinates 20o 50.00' East  40o 2.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, C6
Area 55,000 ha
Altitude 500 - 2,637m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Hellenic Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This is an important site for breeding raptors, alpine and forest species. Breeding birds include four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane biome.

Site description A remote mountain range crossed by the Rivers Aoos and Voidomatis. The site is dominated by broadleaved, conifer and mixed forests and extensive subalpine grasslands at higher altitudes. Human activities include forestry, stock-raising, hunting and recreation.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca resident  1996  frequent [units unknown]  -  B2  Near Threatened 
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus breeding  1997  5 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Endangered 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  -  4-10 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  -  2-3 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax resident  1997  uncommon [units unknown]  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  1997  700 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush Monticola saxatilis breeding  1997  frequent [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Charadras Aoou/Konitsas--Eleftherou-Papigou Game Refuge 3,600 protected area contained by site 3,600  
ETHNIKOS DRYMOS VIKOU - AOOU - GR2130001 Habitats Directive 12,794 protected area contained by site 12,794  
Kedros-Papigou Game Refuge 1,017 protected area overlaps with site 1,017  
KENTRIKO TMIMA ZAGORIOU - GR2130004 Habitats Directive 33,115 protected area overlaps with site 2,545  
KORYFES OROUS SMOLIKAS - GR2130002 Birds Directive 19,976 protected area contained by site 19,976  
OROS TYMFI (GKAMILA) - GR2130009 Birds Directive 27,416 protected area contained by site 27,416  
Padon Game Refuge 2,080 protected area contained by site 2,080  
Parletzi--Avalos/Vrisochoriou--Hliochoriou Game Refuge 3,900 protected area contained by site 3,900  
VASILITSA - GR1310001 Habitats Directive 8,013 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Vikos-Aoos Core Zone in National (Woodland) Park 3,238 protected area contained by site 12,600  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  60%
Shrubland Scrub  5%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Mesophile grasslands  25%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  10%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 40%
tourism/recreation 20%
water management 5%
agriculture 80%

Management considerations The main threats are from plans for large-scale tourism development, existing water management schemes and hunting. A number of conservation and development studies have been conducted. A management plan exists. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International Partial12,600 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Vikos-Aoos, 12,600 ha). 2,080 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Padon, 2,080 ha). 1,017 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Kedras-Papigou, 1,017 ha). 3,900 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Parletzi-Avalos/Vrisochoriou-Hliochoriou, 3,900 ha). 3,600 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Charadras Aoou/Konitsas-Eleftherou-Papigou, 3,600 ha). 12,793 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Ethnikos Drymos Vikou-Aoou, 12,793 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Timfi (Gamila) and Smolikas mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife