Sustainable research and development of the small uninhabited islands: The case of ionian Oinousses

Abstract

It is acceptable that the uninhabited islands of small size, due to their isolation from the mainland, offer remarkable habitats for the distribution and conservation of significant protected flora and fauna species. Many of these islands hosted in the past settlements, castles, etc., that now have been abandoned, though the charasteristics of the landscape and the types of economy have not been altered to present. Albeit they do not sustain human habitation, the deterioration of their enviroment is owing to human intervention. The Oinousses island complex (consisting of three major islands: Sapientza, Schiza and Agia Mariani) retain a well-preserved and undisturbed natural environment as well as a rich wild life biodiversity. The main aim of the current research is to provide an effective tool which will serve the sustainable counterbalance development in remote insular areas around Greece. This will be achieved by using an enviromental assessment methodology (Leopold Matrix) that will contribute to the evaluation of the emergent environmental impacts. The monitoring and management of these islands in the future will be based on the conservation of their insular features (as a basic principle of sustainability) and the soft actions that must be adopted with respect to their natural environment. © 2013 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved.