Greetings to all, and happy holidays
Peace on Earth !!!
The Katsika Mountain Project: An Introduction
Background
This project focuses on Katsika Mountain, an area spanning approximately 10 million square meters south of Thessaloniki Greece. Understanding its history is important .
Local residents aged 75 to 85 recall thousands of goats—perhaps 10,000 to 15,000—grazing the mountain in their youth. Today, fewer than 1,000 goats remain, concentrated on the northern, southern, and eastern slopes. The western side and the mountain's central area are now largely ungrazed.
In the late '60s and early 70s I'm told that the oak shrubs that currently cover the mountain were so small that all you saw was stones. The vegetation did not have a chance to grow; it was promptly cut down by the goats.
In addition to grazing, widespread charcoal production further impacted the mountain's ecology. Locals harvested trees and large shrubs, burning them to produce charcoal for sale in nearby cities. One village reportedly had three to four crews of five people each engaged in this activity, suggesting that any substantial trees present in the early 1950s were likely felled for charcoal production.
Katsika Mountain historically provided numerous resources for the four surrounding villages. In addition to goat grazing, it served as a hunting ground and a source of firewood for heating and cooking. Until the mid-1970s, wood was the primary fuel for these purposes.
Finally, several springs once active at the mountain's base have mostly dried up, with only one or two still providing some water.
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Why Reforest
We're examining this mountain to identify inexpensive methods for reforestation. Reforesting this area would bring numerous benefits, including enhanced water retention and storage. If the rainwater that falls here is absorbed and stored underground, it would rejuvenate the underground water system, reviving old springs. Additionally, reforestation would alter the microclimate, attracting rain clouds, and providing food for bees and wildlife. There are countless advantages to reforesting this area.
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How to plant
99% of the top soil has washed away. All we have is small pockets of soil in between stones. Conventional tree planting will not work; you simply need heavy equipment to dig the holes it cannot be done by hand tools. In addition this will be very expensive and practically impossible because of the slope of the hills and the mountain is not accessible by mechanical equipment.
Placing seeds on the ground is our only option right now. And planting acorns is perhaps a good starting point, though trees like cypress and others may also do well.
The placement of the seeds is crucial. Acorns should be planted on the northern side of oak shrubs, at a depth of 5 to 10 cm. Plant them after heavy rains when the soil is wet, as planting in dry soil will dry out the acorns. Planting on the northern side ensures that the shade keeps the soil moist. During the hot summer months, the temperature in the shade is significantly cooler than in soil exposed directly to the sun.
In addition small seeds like arugula are sprinkled on the disturbed soil to mark the location and to further shade the young trees.
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There are countless small mountains\hills like this throughout Greece and the world. Conventional reforesting methods are not feasible for these areas, so planting seeds directly into the ground is likely the best approach.
This method is simple and can be carried out by local volunteers and communities, helping to restore the earth.
It's success is not a given...what is given, that we need to try again and again.
Kostas
