Sustainable rural development and innovative mechanisms in Greece: The case of the lake Plastiras area

The Lake Plastiras Area is located on the Agrafa mountains (part of the major Pindos Mt), in the SW part of the Karditsa Prefecture, Central Greece; it is about 25 Km westwards from the City of Karditsa, the capital of the Prefecture. The Plastiras Lake is an artificial one. It was constructed during the period 1958 - 1962 covering an area of 24Km2, a previously fertile mountainous plateau. The water of the lake is used both to cover the needs for water supply and irrigation of the city of Karditsa and another 38 plain towns and communities, and the production of electricity. The 14 communities around the lake extend to a mountainous area of 31,400 ha. The area is divided into two main vegetation zones; the first zone is dominated by fir trees and the second one by oak and chestnut trees. The landscape is of high aesthetic value being characterised by high mountain peaks, the lake itself, a wide variety of forestal ecosystems, a net of torrents and gorges as well as alpine grasslands. In such a landscape a wide variety of species of flora and fauna is present. Among these species many are characterised as rare and/or under protection. The climate is characterised as half-dry Mediterranean.