Gyaros Marine Protected Area
In 2013, on the initiative of WWF Greece and other environmental organisations, an ambitious nature conservation and environmental management programme was launched for the terrestrial and marine area of Gyaros island. It was designed and implemented using innovative practices, with the participation of numerous bodies and organisations. It enriched our understanding of the area with significant research findings, shaped the institutional framework for its protection, and ultimately establishing it as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). In the years since then and up to the present day, a variety of projects and initiatives have been implemented in the area, relating not only to biodiversity but also to culture and the ‘connection’ between Gyaros, Syros and Andros.
The Gyaros Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a successful example of environmental resource protection, with significant progress made in conserving biodiversity, improving scientific knowledge and strengthening cooperation with the local community. However, further action is required to address existing challenges, strengthen restoration efforts and improve governance, in order to ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of the area.
The systematic and persistent efforts of WWF Greece and its partners over the course of more than 10 years – from the launch of the CYCLADES Life programme right up to the handover of the MPA’s management responsibility to NECCA, must serve as a model for the future.
The Gyaros MPA is an excellent example of an initiative that began with the interest and vision of an environmental organisation and is evolving into a model for the management of a protected area under the responsibility of the central administration.
Find out more about this initiative here.
Best Practice Guides
WWF Greece, drawing useful conclusions from the planning, establishment and management of the Gyaros MPA, aims to contribute to the overall endeavour to achieve the objective of creating a coherent network of effectively managed Marine Protected Areas in Greece, by compiling the lessons learned and best practices from its activities, with the aim of supporting the management of both existing MPAs and those that may arise in the future at the national and international level.
In this context, WWF Greece decided to design and produce two separate guides based on the conclusions and best practices arising from its decade-long involvement and experience in the wider Gyaros area:
The two digital best practice guides were produced as part of the project ‘Development of Good Practice Guides based on the experience of establishing and managing the Gyaros Marine Protected Area’, which is part of the Programme ‘Mainstreaming best practices and lessons learnt from the Gyaros MPA into Greece’s National Marine Protected Areas Management System’, implemented by WWF Greece. The programme benefits from the support of the Monk Seal Alliance.
The above project was commissioned by WWF Greece to the OIKOM ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS LTD (Oikom Ltd)). Oikom Ltd is a consultancy company with extensive experience in the fields of the protection, management and promotion of the natural environment.
It should be noted that the two digital guides set out best practices drawn from the experience of WWF Greece and its partners, based solely on their work in the Gyaros MPA. They are not and are not intended to be comprehensive guides for organising a fully-fledged surveillance and guarding system for a Marine Protected Area, nor for designing and implementing the entire required processes relating to an MPA establishment and management.
Gyaros Marine Protected Area (MPA)
The Gyaros MPA, which forms part of the Natura 2000 network, is a pioneering example of integrated management, as it combines the protection of biodiversity with the promotion of the island’s historical and cultural heritage.
In 2013, an initiative was launched, coordinated by WWF Greece and involving a number of partners, to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the island of Gyaros, prompted by the large population of Mediterranean monk seals that live and breed in the area.
In 2015, a permanent Marine Wildlife Sanctuary (KAZ) was established in the marine zone surrounding Gyaros Island, covering an area of 245 km², whilst in 2019 it was designated a Marine Protected Area by Ministerial Decision.
The Natura 2000 area ‘Gyaros Island and Marine Zone’ (Code: GR4220033) is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA), with a total area of 260.37 km², of which 93.2% corresponds to the marine area extending 3 nautical miles around the island of Gyaros.
Today, the island is recognised not only for its historical significance, but also for its natural heritage. Its designation as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) highlights its dual significance: as a place of historical memory and as an ecosystem that hosts important species of flora and fauna.
Gyaros
Gyaros is an uninhabited, medium-sized island in the northern Cyclades, covering an area of approximately 18 km² with a coastline of approximately 37 km, which administratively falls under the Municipality of Syros-Ermoupoli. It lies at the centre of an almost circular marine area with a diameter of approximately 50 km, surrounded by the islands of Kea, Euboea, Andros, Tinos, Syros and Kythnos. Close to the island’s coast lie two small rocky islets covering an area of a few stremmata: Fouis to the north-west and Glaronisi to the south-east.
The waters around Gyaros are characterised by steep seabed slopes near the coast, particularly in the northern and southern parts of the island. The island lies on the ‘geological plateau’ of the Cyclades. This is a relatively shallow part of the Aegean Sea, with depths of 200–300 m, whilst the maximum depths (~400 m) are found north-west of Gyaros. Sea depths, within most of the 3-nautical-mile zone off the coast of Gyaros, do not exceed 200 m.
Today, the island is uninhabited and belongs entirely to the Greek state, whilst practically no systematic human activities take place across its entire land area. In the surrounding waters, the only lawful activities are sporadic passages and moorings by small, mainly private or tourist vessels.
Find out more about the island’s history and natural environment in Gyaros Story, a guide for your digital and in-person tour of Gyaros.
Gyaros: A Historic Site
Gyaros (also known as Gioura), a small and barren island in the Cyclades, is renowned not only for its natural beauty and its significance as a Marine Protected Area, but also for its profound historical and cultural importance. The history of Gyaros stretches from antiquity to the modern era and is closely linked to events that have shaped Greece’s collective memory. It was not always uninhabited, but it has always been sparsely populated.
Gyaros was inhabited in antiquity, as evidenced by archaeological finds. Its initial use involved mainly the exploitation of its limited agricultural land and natural resources. In ancient Greek literature, Gyaros is described as an isolated and poor island.
During the Roman period, Gyaros gained a reputation as a place of exile. The Romans exiled political opponents and individuals considered a threat to the regime. This practice continued into the Byzantine era, cementing the island’s reputation as a place of isolation.
Its history ran parallel to that of neighbouring Syros, as it was considered an integral part of it. The island was repopulated by two or three families from Syros towards the end of the 19th century. The so-called Syrians – Agiourgians – produced wool, milk and butter from their sheep, and meat from their goats and pigs, all of which were much sought-after products in the neighbouring islands. They cultivated vines and barley, which they ground at the hand mill. Each family had its own beehives and its own boat, which they used for fishing and travelling to the neighbouring islands. They built their own houses, sheepfolds and dry-stone walls, always in accordance with the ancient traditional bioclimatic Cycladic architecture. The Agiourgians made a significant contribution to the National Resistance during the Second World War against the occupying forces.
In 1948, the Greek state expropriated the property of the last 31 Agiourgian residents of Gyaros to build the prison.
The historical and cultural significance of Gyaros in the course of Greek history reached its peak in the 20th century, particularly in the post-Civil War period. From 1948 to 1974, Gyaros was used as a place of exile for political prisoners, mainly communists and leftists, during the Civil War and later during the Dictatorship.
Large prison blocks and other supplementary buildings were constructed. In the 1950s, the population of exiles on the island, exceeded 22,000, living under harsh conditions,. In 1974, the island’s use as a place of exile ceased definitively and the buildings were abandoned.
Subsequently, and until 2000, the island was used by the Greek Navy as a training ground and live-fire range. For this reason, access to the island, as well as any other activities such as fishing, was prohibited.
Since 2001, the island has ceased to be used as a firing range and was subsequently designated a ‘Historic Site’ through a series of Ministerial Decisions.
Gyaros stands as a symbol of repression, resistance and the struggle for democracy. The prison buildings that survive to this day stand as irrefutable witnesses to that period. The island is regarded as a place of remembrance and has been declared a historic monument by the Greek state, whilst the prison and the supportive buildings have been designated as landmarks.
Gyaros plays a special role in Greece’s cultural identity. It has been a source of inspiration for writers, poets and artists who have captured the meaning of exile and freedom. The memory of those exiled to the island is honoured through exhibitions, books, documentaries and dedicated events.
Today, the island is recognised not only for its historical significance but also for its natural heritage. Its designation as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) underlines its dual significance: as a place of historical memory and as an ecosystem that hosts important species of flora and fauna.
Habitats and Species of the Area
Gyaros is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Aegean, home to rare and protected species of flora and fauna, as well as unique habitat types.
One of the area’s most iconic species is the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), a rare marine mammal found in extremely limited populations worldwide. Gyaros is home to one of its most important breeding populations, estimated at 70 individuals, with a colony structure. The island’s steep coastline, sea caves and the minimal human disturbance provide ideal conditions for the species’ survival and reproduction.
The island is also home to a large colony of the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), an endemic seabird species of the Mediterranean. Based on surveys results of in the area, the breeding population of the Yelkouan Shearwater on Gyaros is estimated at several thousand pairs, making it one of the largest in Greece and the Mediterranean.
Another important bird species that nests on Gyaros is the Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae), a bird of prey that relies on steep coastlines and small islets for its breeding. The island is home to a colony of 217 pairs, making it one of the most important sites for the species in Greece.
The presence of Posidonia meadows (Posidonia oceanica) is also significant. Posidonia meadows are vital to the marine ecosystem, providing shelter and food for many marine species. Furthermore, Posidonia meadows provide extremely important ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, acting as carbon sinks, whilst also contributing to the maintenance of water quality and sediment stability.
Apart from Posidonia, the calcareous coralligenous formations (Rhodophyta), known as ‘tragana’, are particularly important for the Gyaros marine area. These coral-like formations cover almost 50% of the mapped seabed around the island and constitute an extremely important fishing ground.
On land, Gyaros hosts the protected habitat Mediterranean seasonal marsh (3170*), which is found in a small area in the eastern part of the island. This habitat is extremely sensitive to environmental changes, as it depends on the maintenance of the area’s hydrological balance.
Finally, rare and endemic species of flora and fauna can be found on Gyaros. Among them, the endemic species Fritillaria obliqua subsp. tuntasia stands out; this is a rare plant listed in the Red Book of Threatened Plants of Greece. Furthermore, the island is home to endemic species of coleoptera, arachnids and molluscs, as well as the snake Hierophis viridiflavus, which is considered vulnerable due to its limited range.
Discover the underwater wealth of Gyaros
Credits: G. Issaris – HCMR
WWF in Gyaros
In 2013, on the initiative of WWF Greece and other environmental organisations, an ambitious nature conservation and environmental management programme was launched for the terrestrial and marine area of Gyaros island. It was designed and implemented using innovative practices, with the participation of numerous bodies and organisations. It enriched our understanding of the area with significant research findings, shaped the institutional framework for its protection, and ultimately establishing it as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). In the years since then and up to the present day, a variety of projects and initiatives have been implemented in the area, relating not only to biodiversity but also to culture and the ‘connection’ between Gyaros, Syros and Andros.
The successful implementation of the CYCLADES Life project played a decisive and pivotal role in the establishment and management of the MPA, contributing – amongst other things – to its institutional recognition, and to the effective protection of key habitats and species across the wider area. Part of the success of the CYCLADES Life project lay in achieving consensus and collaboration with the local community, carrying out information and awareness-raising activities for relevant stakeholder groups, schoolchildren and visitors, the production of substantial, high-quality information materials, and the implementation of innovative technological solutions for surveilling the wider area.
Through the CYCLADES Life project, as well as through the additional actions and projects implemented subsequently, the foundations were laid and favourable conditions were created for the institutional and legal recognition of the Gyaros MPA, and a comprehensive plan was developed and implemented for the integrated management and promotion of the area.
