Greek Wildlife
GREAT ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Greece, owing to its pronounced relief with mountains and islands, its climatic diversity, geological history and the long presence of man, has, despite its small size, an impressively rich and unique biodiversity, characterized by high endemism.
It is estimated that 18% of Europe’s fauna species live in our country. 23,130 species have been recorded in its terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, and an additional 3,500 species inhabit the Greek seas. The total number reaches 50,000 species if we include those that have not yet been officially recorded.
However, despite these impressive numbers, many species are rare or endangered, their vulnerable populations requiring the formulation and implementation of appropriate conservation measures. A condition evidenced by the data of the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).