This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Urban green areas present a lucid example for the harmonious co-existence of the artificial and natural environments best illustrated by their interdependence and interconnection in urban spaces. Urban green areas are essential for the health and wellbeing of citizens. The present study aimed to investigate those multiple benefits for citizens that arise through the existence of urban green areas, as well as important policy dimensions that should be considered when designing the expansion of urban green spaces in urban development. The study was based on a literature review to examine for available evidence on the benefit levels derived by the existence of urban green areas. An extended literature review was followed by a structured review, based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, which partly followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted in two databases, and a total of 1674 articles and abstracts were identified through the database searches. After removing 114 duplicates, 1560 records were initially screened based on title and Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were incorporated in the structured review and a total of 47 in the extended review. The extended literature review identified 33 additional articles examining aspects of benefits that did not fall under the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria used in the structured review, such as health benefits and other social parameters associated with urban green spaces. The selected studies were allocated in five principal groups according to study types: three of the them consisted of studies employing “willingness to pay” (WTP) methods, five were based on property values, two studies assigned monetary values, while another two assigned CO2 values, and, finally, two studies were based on qualitative criteria. The results indicated benefits to citizens and increased welfare levels gained by the existence of urban green areas. The conducted review revealed a number of findings and recommendations that could direct future research and urban policy. Those hints could assist local authorities as well as stakeholders in order to measure and assess the benefits of green spaces and urban parks and promote measures and programs to assist their further deployment.
Antonios Kolimenakis; Alexandra Solomou; Nikolaos Proutsos; Evangelia Avramidou; Evangelia Korakaki; Georgios Karetsos; Georgios Maroulis; Eleftherios Papagiannis; Konstantinia Tsagkari. The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7863 .
AMA StyleAntonios Kolimenakis, Alexandra Solomou, Nikolaos Proutsos, Evangelia Avramidou, Evangelia Korakaki, Georgios Karetsos, Georgios Maroulis, Eleftherios Papagiannis, Konstantinia Tsagkari. The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7863.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Kolimenakis; Alexandra Solomou; Nikolaos Proutsos; Evangelia Avramidou; Evangelia Korakaki; Georgios Karetsos; Georgios Maroulis; Eleftherios Papagiannis; Konstantinia Tsagkari. 2021. "The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7863.
The factors affecting the plant biodiversity in organic (manure application) and conventional vineyards (variety “Agiorgitiko for both) in southern Greece were examined separately for each vineyard type. The index for plant biodiversity was chosen to be the Shannon one (SH). The Pearson correlation coefficients disclosed that the common factors in both vineyards types affecting the SH were the concentrations of the soil organic C and organic N, the nitrates –N, the available (Olsen) P, available Cu, exchangeable K and the CaCO3 percentage. The C/N ratio in soils affected positively and significantly the SH index in both vineyards types. That means that the supply of N is not a problem with regard to decomposition but the organic C as a source of energy can be a limiting factor to plant diversity. The earthworm population density in the two vineyards types was also a significant positive factor to the SH. The concentrations of the available Mg, Zn and ammonium-N in soils affected the SH index significantly only in the conventional vineyards although their concentrations in soils did not differ. We can conclude that chemical fertilization can also affect plant variability.
Alexandra D. Solomou; Panagiotis Michopoulos; Evangelia Vavoulidou. Environmental determinants of plant species diversity in organic and conventional vineyards. Journal of Plant Nutrition 2021, 1 -8.
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, Panagiotis Michopoulos, Evangelia Vavoulidou. Environmental determinants of plant species diversity in organic and conventional vineyards. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2021; ():1-8.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; Panagiotis Michopoulos; Evangelia Vavoulidou. 2021. "Environmental determinants of plant species diversity in organic and conventional vineyards." Journal of Plant Nutrition , no. : 1-8.
Phytoremediation is an effective technique for the processing of contaminated soil and for sequestering environmental contaminants such as heavy metals. This kind of pollution is ubiquitous in mines and similar excavation sites. This mini-review aims to provide an overview of the alternative forms of restoring contaminated soils (phytoremediation) highlighting the areas of Kozani (Agios Dimitrios) and Chalkidiki (Stratoni) in Greece characterized by exorbitant metallurgical activities. Firstly, a literature search in databases such as ScienceDirect, SciFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted, using the following keywords to identify relevant articles: “utilization”, “plants”, “phytoremediation”, “sustainability”, “environment”, and “restoration”. Two case studies have subsequently been chosen in Northern Greece, one characterized by metal mining (Pb, Zn, Ag) and hot summer Mediterranean climate and another one involving lignite mining and concomitant Cr, Zn, Cu, and Ni pollution under subtropical climate. Based on the literature search some possible, non-invasive plant species were proposed, focusing on the most efficient hyperaccumulators.
Georgios Charvalas; Alexandra D. Solomou; Kyriakos D. Giannoulis; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Dimitrios Bartzialis; Christina Emmanouil; Nicholaos G. Danalatos. Determination of heavy metals in the territory of contaminated areas of Greece and their restoration through hyperaccumulators. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2021, 28, 3858 -3863.
AMA StyleGeorgios Charvalas, Alexandra D. Solomou, Kyriakos D. Giannoulis, Elpiniki Skoufogianni, Dimitrios Bartzialis, Christina Emmanouil, Nicholaos G. Danalatos. Determination of heavy metals in the territory of contaminated areas of Greece and their restoration through hyperaccumulators. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2021; 28 (4):3858-3863.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeorgios Charvalas; Alexandra D. Solomou; Kyriakos D. Giannoulis; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Dimitrios Bartzialis; Christina Emmanouil; Nicholaos G. Danalatos. 2021. "Determination of heavy metals in the territory of contaminated areas of Greece and their restoration through hyperaccumulators." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28, no. 4: 3858-3863.
Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) are an important component of biodiversity as they constitute useful bioindicators for monitoring environmental quality in a variety of natural and agricultural ecosystems. In the present study, the predictive strength of several important components of biodiversity (e.g. herbaceous and woody plants, etc.) and agro-environmental factors for isopod species richness in each management system of olive groves and a natural ecosystem in central Greece was investigated. Our study highlights an increase in isopod species richness with increasing air humidity, woody plant species richness and soil organic matter in organic olive groves. It is noteworthy that woody plant species richness could be utilised as the best candidate for monitoring isopod species richness. In the conventional olive groves, isopod species richness decreases possibly due to herbicide and inorganic fertiliser application. In abandoned olive groves, isopod species richness increases with increasing soil plant litter and pH. Moreover, soil organic matter has been proved to be a positive indicator of isopod species richness in maquis ecosystems. The species Porcellio laevis can be regarded as an indicator for organic olive groves. Conclusively, this paper contributes to the integration of biodiversity conservation with ecologically sustainable agriculture, conservation of agroecosystem and natural ecosystem services and preserving landscape.
Alexandra D. Solomou; Athanassios I. Sfougaris; Spyros Sfenthourakis; Athanassios I. Sfugaris; Spyros Sfendourakis. Terrestrial isopods as bioindicators for environmental monitoring in olive groves and natural ecosystems. Journal of Natural History 2019, 53, 1721 -1735.
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, Athanassios I. Sfougaris, Spyros Sfenthourakis, Athanassios I. Sfugaris, Spyros Sfendourakis. Terrestrial isopods as bioindicators for environmental monitoring in olive groves and natural ecosystems. Journal of Natural History. 2019; 53 (27-28):1721-1735.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; Athanassios I. Sfougaris; Spyros Sfenthourakis; Athanassios I. Sfugaris; Spyros Sfendourakis. 2019. "Terrestrial isopods as bioindicators for environmental monitoring in olive groves and natural ecosystems." Journal of Natural History 53, no. 27-28: 1721-1735.
Medicinal and aromatic plants represent a stable part of the natural biodiversity legacy of many countries in the world. The present review focuses on oregano (Origanum vulgare L.; family Lamiaceae), an endemic herb in Greece that constitutes one of the best known aromatic and medicinal plants originating in the Mediterranean region. In particular, oregano is an evergreen, rich in natural compounds perennial plant that received increased attention in the last years for a wide range of uses. Oregano dry leaves and inflorescences in mixture are used as human and animal food that is extremely rich in antioxidative properties. Additionally, its essential oil is rich in carvacrol, thymol, c-terpinene and p-cymene, and is used for a number of medicinal purposes, e.g. for inhibiting microbial and fungal toxin production as well as for the well-known anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiarthritic, antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Due to its perfect quality and high essential oil concentration, Greek oregano (O. vulgare ssp. hirtum) is regarded among the best in the world gaining in popularity in the global markets for food industry applications. Consequently, oregano might be considered as an important low-input, environmental friendly commodity for extensive cultivation in Greece. The present review summarizes on the origin, the morphology, the ecology and the utilization of this plant. Despite the extensive literature available on the use of oregano biomass and essential oil, only few reports exist concerning the cultivation of this plant. Therefore, the present review is additionally focused on the cultivation practices and the importance of cultivation and utilization of Origanum vulgare L. in Greece and generally in the Mediterranean region in the near future, as it constitutes a plant species with high medical, economic and environmental value. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********
Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Alexandra D. Solomou; Nicholaos G. Danalatos. Ecology, Cultivation and Utilization of the Aromatic Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.): A Review. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 2019, 47, 1 .
AMA StyleElpiniki Skoufogianni, Alexandra D. Solomou, Nicholaos G. Danalatos. Ecology, Cultivation and Utilization of the Aromatic Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.): A Review. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca. 2019; 47 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElpiniki Skoufogianni; Alexandra D. Solomou; Nicholaos G. Danalatos. 2019. "Ecology, Cultivation and Utilization of the Aromatic Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.): A Review." Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca 47, no. 3: 1.
This paper presents the first comprehensive checklist of vascular plants for an especially important area for biodiversity, namely National Park “Ethnikos Drymos Oitis” – Natura 2000 site (GR2440004) and the surrounding area in Greece. This list includes a total of 1,153 plant taxa, including 79 endemic taxa and two local endemic species (Allium lagarophyllum Brullo, Pavone & Tzanoudakis and Veronica oetaea Gustavsson). It is noteworthy that 551 plants are new records for the flora of Mt. Oiti. A total of 67 taxa are protected by national and international legislation, while 52 orchid taxa are also protected by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Veronica oetaea, a priority species of Annex II of the Directive 92/43, is also protected by the Berne Convention. The high plant species diversity and endemism make Mt. Oiti National Park an important area with high conservation value, thus providing baseline information which could be utilized for further research.
George Karetsos; Alexandra D. Solomou; Panayiotis Trigas; Konstantinia Tsagari. The vascular flora of Mt. Oiti National Park and the surrounding area in Greece. Journal of Forest Science 2018, 64, 435 -454.
AMA StyleGeorge Karetsos, Alexandra D. Solomou, Panayiotis Trigas, Konstantinia Tsagari. The vascular flora of Mt. Oiti National Park and the surrounding area in Greece. Journal of Forest Science. 2018; 64 (No. 10):435-454.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeorge Karetsos; Alexandra D. Solomou; Panayiotis Trigas; Konstantinia Tsagari. 2018. "The vascular flora of Mt. Oiti National Park and the surrounding area in Greece." Journal of Forest Science 64, no. No. 10: 435-454.
Alexandra D. Solomou; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Faik Kamperllari. PATTERNS OF HERBACEOUS PLANT SPECIES RICHNESS, COMPOSITION AND SOIL PROPERTIES IN AN ORGANIC CULTIVATION. The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry" 2017, 63, 1 .
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, Elpiniki Skoufogianni, Faik Kamperllari. PATTERNS OF HERBACEOUS PLANT SPECIES RICHNESS, COMPOSITION AND SOIL PROPERTIES IN AN ORGANIC CULTIVATION. The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry". 2017; 63 (4):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Faik Kamperllari. 2017. "PATTERNS OF HERBACEOUS PLANT SPECIES RICHNESS, COMPOSITION AND SOIL PROPERTIES IN AN ORGANIC CULTIVATION." The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry" 63, no. 4: 1.
Alexandra D. Solomou; Elpiniki Skoufogianni. ALPHA AND BETA PLANT DIVERSITY IN MULTISPECIES AGROECOSYSTEMS OF CENTRAL GREECE. The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry" 2016, 62, 1 .
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, Elpiniki Skoufogianni. ALPHA AND BETA PLANT DIVERSITY IN MULTISPECIES AGROECOSYSTEMS OF CENTRAL GREECE. The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry". 2016; 62 (4):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; Elpiniki Skoufogianni. 2016. "ALPHA AND BETA PLANT DIVERSITY IN MULTISPECIES AGROECOSYSTEMS OF CENTRAL GREECE." The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry" 62, no. 4: 1.
Alexandra D. Solomou; Konstantinos Martinos; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Nicholaos G. Danalatos. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Diversity in Greece and Their Future Prospects: A Review. Agricultural Science 2016, 4, 9 -20.
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, Konstantinos Martinos, Elpiniki Skoufogianni, Nicholaos G. Danalatos. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Diversity in Greece and Their Future Prospects: A Review. Agricultural Science. 2016; 4 (1):9-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; Konstantinos Martinos; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Nicholaos G. Danalatos. 2016. "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Diversity in Greece and Their Future Prospects: A Review." Agricultural Science 4, no. 1: 9-20.
Forests perform multiple and intertwined social, economic, and environmental functions. Greek forests are complex biotic communities, characterized by trees, and encompassing much of the life on Earth. Efficient forest management strategies should be formed to consider the future forest dynamics to achieve important management objectives such as biodiversity conservation preserving ecological functions and countering climate change. Greek forests have long been threatened by a variety of destructive agents. The greatest problem for Greek forests is the lack of management. In Greece, during past years, serious natural disasters have occurred, associated with fires and floods that are inextricably linked to its geographic location, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, and the prevailing climatic conditions. Hence, restoration of forest ecosystems is of great importance and a main environmental issue in Greece. Efforts of restoration are based on earlier empirical techniques, which were later improved, and supported by scientific research. The selection of a suitable method and its implementation demands deeper knowledge of natural ecosystem functions and of the physiology of diverse organisms. Moreover, a versatile, and interscientific approach is required, coordinated with the direction of the goals and objectives of the restoration, individual actions, utilization of research results, usage and improvement of technologies, as well as the creation, improvement, and development of infrastructure.
Alexandra D. Solomou; George Karetsos; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Konstantinos Martinos; Athanasios Sfougaris; Konstantinia Tsagari. Assessment of Greek Forests Protection and Management. Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions 2016, 141 -166.
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, George Karetsos, Elpiniki Skoufogianni, Konstantinos Martinos, Athanasios Sfougaris, Konstantinia Tsagari. Assessment of Greek Forests Protection and Management. Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions. 2016; ():141-166.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; George Karetsos; Elpiniki Skoufogianni; Konstantinos Martinos; Athanasios Sfougaris; Konstantinia Tsagari. 2016. "Assessment of Greek Forests Protection and Management." Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions , no. : 141-166.
The present study aimed to compare the woody plant species richness and cover (%) of five abandoned olive groves and five maquis ecosystems in central Greece and to describe the relationship between woody plant species richness and a set of environmental variables [soil pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic matter; air temperature and humidity; altitude; slope; type of ecosystem; and presence of leaf litter]. Although woody plants are abundant in the abandoned olive groves, the number of species and amount of cover (%) are significantly greater in maquis. According to principal component analysis, woody plant species richness was positively correlated with soil organic matter, plant litter, and soil P and K in maquis. Also, woody plant species richness was positively correlated with slope in the abandoned olive groves. Olive grove ecosystems abandoned for at least 12 years have developed species compositions similar to the corresponding features of neighboring maquis, although the number of species and amount of cover (%) are significantly greater in maquis.
Alexandra D. Solomou; Athanassios I. Sfougaris. Determinants of Woody Plant Species Richness in Abandoned Olive Grove Ecosystems and Maquis of Central Greece. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 2014, 46, 317 -325.
AMA StyleAlexandra D. Solomou, Athanassios I. Sfougaris. Determinants of Woody Plant Species Richness in Abandoned Olive Grove Ecosystems and Maquis of Central Greece. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 2014; 46 (sup1):317-325.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlexandra D. Solomou; Athanassios I. Sfougaris. 2014. "Determinants of Woody Plant Species Richness in Abandoned Olive Grove Ecosystems and Maquis of Central Greece." Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 46, no. sup1: 317-325.