Completion of the project for the protection of the Cave of Zesta Nera in the Prefecture of Serres

In March 2025, work was completed to protect the habitat and bat colonies in the Cave of Zesta Nera in Sidirokastro (Prefecture of Serres), within the framework of Action C1 "Protection, restoration and management of important roosting sites for bats" of the LIFE GRECABAT Project.

Within the framework of the Project, the old collapsing viewing platform and the wooden bar marking the access path to the northern opening of the Hot Waters cave were restored with new ones of appropriate specifications. At the same time, environmental interpretation and signage signs (Action E1 "Environmental Interpretation Signs" of LIFE GRECABAT) were placed near the two entrances of the cave.

The work aimed to guide and provide safe access for visitors to the viewing point outside the cave in order to avoid disturbing the bat colonies, as well as to optimally inform visitors about the importance and protection status of the habitat and the bats and the relevant rules of proper behavior.

We warmly thank the contractor company GRANITIS ΙΚΕ and especially A. Karamanis for the design and implementation of the project, the Forestry Department of Sidirokastro and D. Faki and S. Divanidi for the supervision. We also thank the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology and Speleology and A. Syros, the Management Unit of Protected Areas of Central Macedonia of NECCA and Th. Naziridis, the Municipality of Sintiki and G. Chatzopoulos, G. Karvounis as well as the Association of Friends of Speleology and the Environment "The Black Rock" and S. Ioannidis for their valuable cooperation in the context of our Project.