Mountainous Nafpaktia stands above the beautiful coastal landscapes. It rises within a diverse topography, where mountain bulges, gorges and water dominate. Characteristic elements of Nafpaktia Mountains are the sculptured slopes, the livestock roads and the pastures on mantels that reveal the titanic struggle of generations for survival.
Mountainous Nafapktia is one of the most beautiful parts of Greece mostly from an environmental point of view. The diverse landscape and the geological structure of Nafpaktia favour the rich and varied flora. The visitor is enchanted by a sensual and enjoyable route through the beautiful woods where oak, fir, beech, plane, and chestnut trees interchange, while there are some points where they all exist together giving a special unique colour. In many spots there are natural springs decorated with stone faucets ready to refresh travellers.
These top ecological conditions of the area make up the ideal space for the survival of big and small mammals and birds. The most significant wild animals, birds and reptiles of the ecosystem of the area are wild bores, deer, foxes, wolves, lynx, ferrets, rabbits, porcupines, squirrels and others. Bird wise there are partridges, pigeons, vultures, magpies, blackbirds, grouse, woodpeckers, owls and some sets of eagles and golden eagles. The main reptiles of the area are dentrogalia, Vipers, saitoura tyflitis fyllodaktylos and turtles.
Evinos River is also an ideal place for several fish. Wild trout outstands but also there are eels; glanidia; strosidia (Barbus albanicus); chamosourtides (Barbus peloponnesius peloponnesius); tseroukles; and evinogovios (Knipowitschia panizzae). Otters also find refuge in some parts of the waters of the Evinos River.
Some of the unique characteristics of the ecosystem are the beech forests on the south side of Mount Sarentena (altitude 2000 meters). It is the southernmost forest of beech trees in Europe and is known for the tropical form of its trees. It is also interesting to see the approximately 200 species of mushrooms, of which 70 are edible and 3 of which exist only here in all of Europe.
Finally, in the area there are six types of woodpecker one of which is very rare with tropical colours. This wealth of wild fauna causes the turnout of hunters from all over the country; but illegal hunting creates serious dangers for animals and birds and many times some species have reached the verge of extinction.
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