The roadless map of Greece

Scientific context Roadless land conservation is a measurable tool to preserve the nature of high ecological integrity, hamper fragmentation, and address biodiversity decline (Ibisch et al. 2016; Kati et al. 2020). Greece has introduced a roadless legislation to this aim (BCL 2022; Kati et al. 2022) but risks rapid habitat loss from RES deployment (Kati et al. 2021). Biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning is needed, and roadless maps can be valuable tools for this aim under the Global and European Biodiversity Strategy. Description The dataset is the roadless map of Greece (5/2022), updating a previous work (Kati et al. 2020). Definitions: Roadless Core Area (RCA) is any land patch (excluding large waterbodies) that has a size greater than 1 km2 and lies at least 1 km away from the nearest road (accessible by motor vehicles, excluding paths). Roadless Area (RA) is the RCA and its 1 km buffer zone. Roadless Island (RI) and Roadless islet (Ri) are any non-artificial islands that are road-free in all their area, with a size above and below 1 km2, respectively. Roadless Fragmentation Indicator (RFI) is the percentage of RAs plus RIs of the Greek territory. Content: The dataset includes high-confidence data and consists of four sub-databases in kmz format: (a) 389 RCAs (different colors indicate five different size categories: 1-5, 5-10, 10-20,20-50 and >50 km2, (b) 389 RAs (including the RCAs), (c) 62 RI and (d) 3,456 Ris. Nota: The RFI is 6.1%. Most of the roadless sites had a size of over 1,000ha, lying in mountains and islands. Significance, use, limitations We recommend using the database to: • Expand the Greek roadless legislation to roadless sites of at least 1,000ha. • Include roadless sites in the strictly protected zones of the national network of protected areas (EC 2020). • Identify new areas for expanding and connecting the network of protected areas (EC 2020). • Define exclusion zones for new infrastructure development across sectors (SEAs) for Renewable Energy Sources, transport, tourism, industry, etc. • Update the SEBI 13 indicator (EEA 2012) and monitor fragmentation in Greece in more natural ecosystems (RFI) • Trigger policies toward landscape conservation and fragmentation minimization (CoE 2000; EC 2020). • Identify wilderness areas of Greece and map old-growth forests Funding Green Fund of Greece: program “Natural environment and innovative environmental actions 2021”. References BCL 2022. https://bc.lab.uoi.gr/en/research/projects/roadless/ CoE 2000. https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/176 EC 2020. https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/communication-eu-biodiversity-strategy-2030-bringing-nature-back-our-lives_en EEA 2012. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/streamlining-european-biodiversity-indicators-2020 Ibisch et al. 2016. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf7166 Kati et al. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12040124 Kati et al. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo2014### 科学背景 无道路区域保护是一项可量化的保护工具，用于维持高生态完整性的自然生态系统、遏制生境破碎化并缓解生物多样性下降（Ibisch等，2016；Kati等，2020）。希腊已为此出台无道路区域相关立法（BCL 2022；Kati等，2022），但仍面临可再生能源（Renewable Energy Sources, RES）开发导致的生境快速流失风险（Kati等，2021）。当前亟需纳入生物多样性考量的空间规划，而无道路区域地图可作为符合《全球及欧盟生物多样性战略》要求的有效工具。 ### 数据集描述 本数据集为希腊2022年5月版无道路区域地图，更新自此前研究成果（Kati等，2020）。 #### 术语定义 1. 无道路核心区（Roadless Core Area, RCA）：指面积大于1平方千米、距最近机动车道路（不含步道）至少1千米的陆地块（大型水体除外）。 2. 无道路区域（Roadless Area, RA）：包含无道路核心区及其1千米缓冲带的区域。 3. 无道路大岛（Roadless Island, RI）与无道路小岛（Roadless islet, Ri）：分别指全区域无道路的非人工岛屿，面积大于1平方千米与小于1平方千米。 4. 无道路破碎化指数（Roadless Fragmentation Indicator, RFI）：指希腊领土内无道路区域与无道路大岛的面积占比之和。 #### 数据集内容 本数据集包含高置信度数据，由4个kmz格式的子数据库组成： (a) 389个无道路核心区（不同颜色对应5个面积等级：1-5、5-10、10-20、20-50及>50平方千米）； (b) 389个无道路区域（包含前述无道路核心区）； (c) 62个无道路大岛； (d) 3456个无道路小岛。 注：无道路破碎化指数为6.1%。多数无道路区域面积超过1000公顷，主要分布于山地与岛屿中。 ### 意义、应用与局限性 本数据库的推荐应用场景如下： • 将希腊无道路立法的保护范围扩展至面积至少1000公顷的无道路区域； • 将无道路区域纳入国家保护地网络的严格保护区域； • 识别可拓展与连通国家保护地网络的新区域； • 为可再生能源、交通、旅游、工业等多领域的新基础设施开发划定战略环境评估（Strategic Environmental Assessment, SEAs）框架下的禁止开发区； • 更新SEBI 13指数（欧洲环境署，2012），并针对希腊更自然的生态系统通过无道路破碎化指数监测其生境破碎化情况； • 推动景观保护与生境破碎化减缓相关政策落地（欧洲理事会，2000；欧盟委员会，2020）； • 识别希腊境内的荒野区域并绘制原始森林分布图。 ### 资助信息 希腊绿色基金：项目"2021年自然环境与创新环境行动"。 ### 参考文献 BCL 2022. https://bc.lab.uoi.gr/en/research/projects/roadless/ CoE 2000. https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/176 EC 2020. https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/communication-eu-biodiversity-strategy-2030-bringing-nature-back-our-lives_en EEA 2012. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/streamlining-european-biodiversity-indicators-2020 Ibisch et al. 2016. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf7166 Kati et al. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12040124 Kati et al. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo2014