Lakmos and Koziakas

A goat standing in a shrubby pasture on Crete, with the Greek mainland in the background.

Lakmos and Koziakas

Case Studies | Greece

A map of Greece showing the case study location in the centre of the country.

Introduction

Located in the southern Pindus Mountains of western Thessaly, the Lakmos and Koziakas region features forests, alpine meadows, and river systems that support a rich biodiversity, including brown bears and wolves. For centuries, local communities have shaped the landscape through transhumance and sedentary pastoralism. Today, traditional land use and nature-based tourism are striving to counteract land abandonment and demographic decline, in an effort to maintain the mountainous way of life and preserve the diverse landscapes, species, and centuries-old cultural heritage.

OVERVIEW

Municipalities

Parts of Municipality of Meteora and Municipality of Pyli.

Geographical size

Approximately 410 km².

Human population

Approximately 1,900 permanent residents.

Number of livestock farmers

178 livestock holdings.

Livestock farming systems

Cattle, sheep, and goats are the main livestock, with a focus on extensive grazing systems.

Large carnivore species

The brown bear and the grey wolf have been present throughout history.

Bear population

Minimum population of 54 individuals in the wider area.

Wolf population

Unknown.

SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEXT

The Lakmos–Koziakas region is a highland socio-ecological system shaped by rugged topography, nature protection zones, and demographic pressures. Historically, local livelihoods relied on transhumant livestock breeding, small-scale agriculture, and forestry, a subsistence model that was closely linked to the natural environment.

Over recent decades, nature-based tourism has added economic diversification, though it remains seasonal and spatially uneven, offering limited income stability.

The area faces pronounced demographic decline, with outmigration and an ageing population threatening community continuity. These trends, coupled with the gradual abandonment of traditional land uses, have contributed to landscape changes. Limited Infrastructure and restricted market access further hinder economic resilience.

Since 2022, the area hosts a pilot Bear Smart Community, fostering coexistence through awareness campaigns, cultural events, and stakeholder cooperation for the development of a local coexistence strategy.

The impacts of Storm “Daniel” in September 2023 exposed the fragility of local livelihoods and infrastructure. Intense rainfall caused landslides, destroyed road networks, and temporarily isolated mountain communities, aggravating pre-existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. The effects of the storm are still being felt as they continue to undermine local livelihoods.

The village of Chaliki, a typical settlement on Mount Lakmos. Located at an altitude of 1,150 m above sea level, it lies below the alpine pastures and the Verlinga plateau, where the Acheloos River originates (July 2025; Photo credit: Giorgos Chatzinakos).

Traditional cowbells used by an elder Vlach cattle owner. The bells served both practical purposes and symbolised pastoral culture and identity. They reflected the owner’s status and pride in their animals, while the distinctive soundscape they created was deeply linked to the owner’s presence and personal story (September 2025; Photo credit: Maria Psaralexi).

FARMING CONTEXT

Farming in Lakmos–Koziakas remains central, rooted in extensive grazing systems on mountainous pastures, and supplemented by small-scale cultivation. However, pastoralism has declined rapidly: in the Regional Unit of Trikala, from 2009 to 2020, cattle holdings fell by 14%, sheep by 49%, and goats by 54%.

While there are limited specific figures at village level, the wider region has reported tens of thousands of losses following “Daniel”, whereas the number of holdings has decreased even further following recent disease outbreaks (sheep-goat pox in 2025, PPR in 2024). Many holdings have since been abandoned.

Main challenges:

Ageing farmer population, low generational renewal and outmigration.
Predation by bears and wolves causes economic loss and emotional distress.
Persistent dissatisfaction with ELGA’s compensation scheme.
Economic viability and dependency on EU subsidies, threatened by subsidy scandals (e.g. OPEKEPE).
Operational actions against sheep and goat pox (2025) and PPR (2024) endanger pastoralism.
Extreme weather events, such as storm “Daniel”, have caused pasture degradation in the lowlands, feed loss, and damage to infrastructure, while soaring feed prices and disrupted supply chains further strain farm operations.

LOCAL CONFLICT ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE CARNIVORES

Number of attacks:

ELGA (the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organisation) is a public benefit organisation responsible for compensating for agricultural damage caused by natural phenomena, including attacks by wild animals such as wolves and bears. In 2022, ELGA recorded 58 compensation claims in the study area: 29 for bear damages and 29 for wolf damages to livestock. However, these figures underestimate the true extent of the problem, as many incidents not meeting ELGA’s eligibility criteria remain unreported, and numerous breeders dissatisfied with the compensation scheme refrain from filing claims. On the upside, a growing number of farmers are now investing in preventive measures, such as electric fencing.

Cattle farming appears to be more resilient than small ruminant farming in the area. In summer, cattle are typically moved to mountain pastures, where they graze with minimal human supervision. Owners largely rely on the herd’s collective behaviour and protective instincts to deter predators. Although this pattern is not uniform across all holdings, owners or shepherds usually conduct only periodic visits to check the animals and ensure that no problems have occurred.

Social conflict:

Most attacks occur during grazing, though predators may enter farm facilities.
Poison baits killing shepherd dogs, leaving flocks vulnerable.
Subsidy scandals fuel distrust; farmers feel falsely accused.
Sheep and goat pox is managed through lockdowns and flock removal, causing continuous stress, financial loss and uncertainty for breeders.
Wolves preying on hunting dogs add to conflict.
Conflict with large carnivores is pronounced, with cases of bears or wolves being deliberately killed or poisoned.
Cases of habituated bears have been documented in the area; these animals have become largely dependent on human food sources and lost their natural fear of people. This situation fosters negative perceptions of bears, heightens public fear, and increases tensions among residents within affected villages.

These patterns indicate significant human-wildlife tensions with both ecological and socio-economic consequences.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.