**1. Introduction**

306 Modern Telemetry

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Throughout the world, traffic volumes have increased markedly in the past two decades (United Nations 1992) and the increasing area occupied by recently constructed roads is affecting wildlife populations in the EU from 1990 to 1998 circa 33.000 ha of landscape (10ha daily) have been used and occupied for transportation infrastructure development purposes. The average surface of undisturbed (by transportation infrastructure) continuous landscape ranges from 20 km2 in Belgium to 600 km2 in Finland with an EU average of 130 km2 (ΕΕΑ, 2001). For many mammal populations, the main demonstrated impact of roads to date has been in terms of increased disturbance or mortality. Avoidance of otherwise suitable habitats in close proximity to roads has been shown to occur for brown bears *(Ursus arctos)* and wolves (*Canis lupus*) in the U.S.A. (McLellan and Shackleton 1988, Mace et al. 1996, Mech et al. 1988). For some mammal species, roads have been shown to act also as a considerable barrier to dispersal (Mader 1984). Roads can therefore have a significant effect in fragmenting wildlife populations and eventually lead them to local extinction (Fahrig and Merriam 1994). Increased awareness of environmental problems caused by infrastructure construction has moved engineers, ecologists and policy makers to develop planning concepts to deal with the impacts on nature and landscape. If avoidance of a certain project is not feasible, mitigation measures can be undertaken as a second planning concept.

In this general context of invasive roading and large scale transportation infrastructure development Greece has not "escaped". The "Egnatia" highway project of modern times was planned to connect the western part of the country with the eastern and serve as a trade route between the EU, through Italy and Greece, and the Orient. With funds allocated by the EU (Cohesion Funds) and the Hellenic Government, the modern Egnatia, only partly follows the route of its predecessor "Via Egnatia" from the Roman times (as of Rome's first

<sup>\*</sup> Mazaris Ant.1, Sgardelis St.1, Aravidis El.4, Giannakopoulos Al.3**,** Godes C.2, Riegler S.2, Riegler A.2 and Tragos Ath.2

*<sup>1</sup> Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece,* 

*<sup>2</sup> NGO "Callisto" - Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, Thessaloniki, Greece,* 

*<sup>3</sup> University of Aegean, Environmental Studies Dept, Lab. of Biodiversity & Management, Xenia Hills, Mytilini, Greece,* 

*<sup>4</sup> Development Agency of Thessaloniki Prefecture, Thessaloniki, Greece.* 

Telemetry as a Tool to Study Spatial Behaviour and Patterns of

landscaping of areas affected by the construction of the highway.

Photo 4. Partial view of the mitigated Egnatia Highway

Brown Bears as Affected by the Newly Constructed Egnatia Highway – N. Pindos - Greece 309

With only 290-350 bears remaining in Greece and the expected detrimental impact of the highway on natural habitats, bear population structure and movement patterns of the NE Pindus brown bear sub-population the NGO's were alerted and made several notifications to the competent authorities. In the very beginning hardly any mitigation measures were foreseen along the 37 km most critical highway stretch cutting through core brown bear habitat with a bear indigenous population estimated approximately at 80 ind . It is only after NGO's strong pressure that the revised highway EIA study finally incorporated the construction of a number of additional mitigation measures such as: tunnels, wildlife underpasses, green bridge and viaducts that are expected to prevent serious habitat fragmentation and population disruption of the indigenous large mammal species. Additional mitigation measures included a ban on hunting in a 2+2 km corridor along the highway, the construction of noise barriers, adequate fencing and the appropriate ecological

It is important to note that the above measures were taken only after a Council of the State verdict issued in 1997 and postulating the least environmentally costly alignment of this highway stretch (regarding especially bear populations and habitat), obliging EGNATIA ODOS A.E. (the construction supervisor) to carry out a revised EIA study for this most compromising (for the brown bear) 37km highway stretch and to incorporate additional mitigation measures such as: 13 tunnels (8.85 km), 11 bridges (2.64 km), 1-2 green bridges and 5 – 9 wildlife underpasses, thus mitigating about 31% of the 37km highway stretch. (photo 4.)

Moreover in compliance to the relevant articles of the relevant EIA study, a special monitoring and research project was set-up and launched in 3 phases and in cooperation

imperial roads), and is a 670 km long and 24.5m (+/- 5m) wide highway, thus making it one of the largest construction projects in Europe and part of the TENT (Trans-European Network Transportation). This highway actually connects Greece with all neighbouring countries and service 5 ports, 6 airports and 36% of the country's total population.

Throughout its course in northern Greece, the highway crosses also the Pindus mountain range, cutting through natural areas, which are of outstanding importance for biodiversity and several priority species of the Hellenic mammal fauna and avifauna (i.e. bear (*Ursus arctos)*, wolf (*Canis lupus*) etc. see maps 1 & 2) as well as for priority habitat types, according to E.U. Directive 92/43 "(i.e. pinus nigra forests 9530\*) but also for being one of the last strongholds of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the southern Balkans. (see photos 1,2&3).

Photo 1., 2. and 3. Construction of the Egnatia highway

imperial roads), and is a 670 km long and 24.5m (+/- 5m) wide highway, thus making it one of the largest construction projects in Europe and part of the TENT (Trans-European Network Transportation). This highway actually connects Greece with all neighbouring

Throughout its course in northern Greece, the highway crosses also the Pindus mountain range, cutting through natural areas, which are of outstanding importance for biodiversity and several priority species of the Hellenic mammal fauna and avifauna (i.e. bear (*Ursus arctos)*, wolf (*Canis lupus*) etc. see maps 1 & 2) as well as for priority habitat types, according to E.U. Directive 92/43 "(i.e. pinus nigra forests 9530\*) but also for being one of the last strongholds of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the southern Balkans. (see photos 1,2&3).

countries and service 5 ports, 6 airports and 36% of the country's total population.

Photo 1., 2. and 3. Construction of the Egnatia highway

With only 290-350 bears remaining in Greece and the expected detrimental impact of the highway on natural habitats, bear population structure and movement patterns of the NE Pindus brown bear sub-population the NGO's were alerted and made several notifications to the competent authorities. In the very beginning hardly any mitigation measures were foreseen along the 37 km most critical highway stretch cutting through core brown bear habitat with a bear indigenous population estimated approximately at 80 ind . It is only after NGO's strong pressure that the revised highway EIA study finally incorporated the construction of a number of additional mitigation measures such as: tunnels, wildlife underpasses, green bridge and viaducts that are expected to prevent serious habitat fragmentation and population disruption of the indigenous large mammal species. Additional mitigation measures included a ban on hunting in a 2+2 km corridor along the highway, the construction of noise barriers, adequate fencing and the appropriate ecological landscaping of areas affected by the construction of the highway.

It is important to note that the above measures were taken only after a Council of the State verdict issued in 1997 and postulating the least environmentally costly alignment of this highway stretch (regarding especially bear populations and habitat), obliging EGNATIA ODOS A.E. (the construction supervisor) to carry out a revised EIA study for this most compromising (for the brown bear) 37km highway stretch and to incorporate additional mitigation measures such as: 13 tunnels (8.85 km), 11 bridges (2.64 km), 1-2 green bridges and 5 – 9 wildlife underpasses, thus mitigating about 31% of the 37km highway stretch. (photo 4.)

Photo 4. Partial view of the mitigated Egnatia Highway

Moreover in compliance to the relevant articles of the relevant EIA study, a special monitoring and research project was set-up and launched in 3 phases and in cooperation

Telemetry as a Tool to Study Spatial Behaviour and Patterns of

Photo 5. First bear traffic fatality on Egnatia highway

recommendations (see photos).

Photo 6. New bear proof fence

Brown Bears as Affected by the Newly Constructed Egnatia Highway – N. Pindos - Greece 311

To date the two first phases of the project (prior to construction 2002-2005 and during highway construction 2006-2009) have been completed. Due to lack of financial resources on behalf of the state authorities and the construction supervisor (EGNATIA ODOS A.E.) the third phase (monitoring of highway impact during construction) scheduled for 2009 has been delayed. Nevertheless and after three (3) traffic fatalities with two bear victims on the monitored highway stretch and which occurred within the first 4 months of the highway operation (between June and September 2009), further pressure was put from NGO's upon state authorities in order to replace the inappropriate highway fence with a bear proof fence. The fence was replaced in 2009 and 2010 although not keeping full standards

between the highway construction supervisor (EGNATIA ODOS A.E.) and specialized NGO's. The aim of this project was to monitor and assess the highway's impact on big mammals and their habitats prior and during highway construction as well as during highway operation. In compliance with the Joint Ministerial Decision for the 37km stretch Panagia - Grevena (4.1) of the Egnatia highway, the two phases (2003-2009) of the project were carried out in cooperation with three NGO's ("Arcturos", "Callisto" & Hellenic Ornithological Society) and two Universities (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Thessaly, comprising 4 Faculty departments). The two phases of the project were co-financed by the EGNATIA ODOS S.A. and the E.U. (DGREGIO). Implementation of the third phase is still on paper.It is worth mentioning that the implementation of this project was an integrated part of the environmental terms and provisions of the revised EIA study, the ex-ante part being of outstanding importance. The aim of the overall project was to evaluate the status of brown bear and wolf populations in the study area prior to and during the planned construction of the 37 km Egnatia highway stretch. The final objective of the project was a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of the mitigations measures versus the status and ecological requirements of the targeted species in the study area. The required multilevel approach of this project encompassed several disciplines such as: Genetics, Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife management, provided by the aforementioned parties.

Map 1. Brown bear (Ursus arctos) distribution versus Egnatia highway total alignment (Greece)

Map 2. Wolf (Canis lupus) distribution versus Egnatia highway total alignment (Greece)

between the highway construction supervisor (EGNATIA ODOS A.E.) and specialized NGO's. The aim of this project was to monitor and assess the highway's impact on big mammals and their habitats prior and during highway construction as well as during highway operation. In compliance with the Joint Ministerial Decision for the 37km stretch Panagia - Grevena (4.1) of the Egnatia highway, the two phases (2003-2009) of the project were carried out in cooperation with three NGO's ("Arcturos", "Callisto" & Hellenic Ornithological Society) and two Universities (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Thessaly, comprising 4 Faculty departments). The two phases of the project were co-financed by the EGNATIA ODOS S.A. and the E.U. (DGREGIO). Implementation of the third phase is still on paper.It is worth mentioning that the implementation of this project was an integrated part of the environmental terms and provisions of the revised EIA study, the ex-ante part being of outstanding importance. The aim of the overall project was to evaluate the status of brown bear and wolf populations in the study area prior to and during the planned construction of the 37 km Egnatia highway stretch. The final objective of the project was a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of the mitigations measures versus the status and ecological requirements of the targeted species in the study area. The required multilevel approach of this project encompassed several disciplines such as: Genetics, Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife management, provided by the aforementioned parties.

Map 1. Brown bear (Ursus arctos) distribution versus Egnatia highway total alignment (Greece)

Map 2. Wolf (Canis lupus) distribution versus Egnatia highway total alignment (Greece)

To date the two first phases of the project (prior to construction 2002-2005 and during highway construction 2006-2009) have been completed. Due to lack of financial resources on behalf of the state authorities and the construction supervisor (EGNATIA ODOS A.E.) the third phase (monitoring of highway impact during construction) scheduled for 2009 has been delayed. Nevertheless and after three (3) traffic fatalities with two bear victims on the monitored highway stretch and which occurred within the first 4 months of the highway operation (between June and September 2009), further pressure was put from NGO's upon state authorities in order to replace the inappropriate highway fence with a bear proof fence. The fence was replaced in 2009 and 2010 although not keeping full standards recommendations (see photos).

Photo 5. First bear traffic fatality on Egnatia highway

Photo 6. New bear proof fence

Telemetry as a Tool to Study Spatial Behaviour and Patterns of

**2. Study area** 

Brown Bears as Affected by the Newly Constructed Egnatia Highway – N. Pindos - Greece 313

The project area extends over almost 1000km2 of a mixed forest and agricultural ecosystem and is located in the north-western part of Greece, in Pindos mountain range. Of this area 43.23% are forests, 31.11% are meadows (pasture lands), 19.47% agricultural lands, whereas human settlements occupy 3.69% of the total area. Major forest vegetation types comprise oak (*Quercus sp*.), black Pine (*Pinus nigra*) and beech (*Fagus sp*.) (see photos 1 & 2). The area is characterized by a mosaic of dense forests, openings and small scale cultivations. Altitude ranges between 500m –2.200 m. Specific sampling pressure was given to the sector that was more directly influenced by the highway construction works and which covers a surface of 160 sq.km. This surface includes the total length of the highway segment (37 km) in a "buffer zone" of 2+2 km width. The current alignment of the newly constructed Egnatia Motorway (total length 670 km), which is one of the largest transportation infrastructures projects in Europe and part of the TENT, cuts through the study area over a 50km stretch. In the total study area the overall highway mitigation measures comprise: 20 tunnels (16.465 km), 12 bridges (2.84 km), 1 green bridge (50m), 7 wildlife underpasses, and 59 culverts have been placed thus mitigating about 38,6% of the 50 km highway segment. The wider study area extends over 5.229 km2 and there are 48.293 inhabitants (9.56 id/ km2).

Photo 9. and 10. Two different aspects of the study area: mixed coniferous and deciduous

forests and oak forests with openings and small scale cultivations

Photo 7. Old inappropriate fence destroyed by bears highway crossings

Photo 8. New fence permeability problems due to inadequate standards (missing of the upper bent part)

The main objectives of the study were to investigate behavioral changes of the brown bears in response to the road as a disturbance factor in terms of :

