MODELLING HABITAT SUITABILITY OF AGRO-SILVOPASTORAL LANDSCAPES FOR BROWN BEAR (Ursus arctos)

The planning of the construction of E65 branch of the Egnatia road in the eastern edge of the Pindos up to Olympus-Pieria mountains of Greece inevitably disrupts the connectivity of the brown bear habitat. Given the economic importance of the specific construction the exploration of locations with low suitability for brown bear is needed. Present research explores this suitability for brown bear habitats located between the Pindos mountain and mountainous series of Antichasia-Kamvounia-Olympus-Pieria. The exploration was attempted by using Ecological Niche Factor Analysis facilitated by the BioMapper software. The habitat suitability model showed that the northern and western parts of the study area are highly suitable for bear habitat. The highest numbers of brown bear presence were recorded under sparse oak canopies (10-40%), so fostering the need to preserve grazing in order to retain open canopy formations. The central part contains a mosaic of more and less highly suitable areas that should be turned to zones of high security, as to ensure the communication of brown bears between the Pindos and Olympus-Pieria mountains.