Areas with protected species of plants and animals and their habitats that are important for the preservation of local populations (breeding, migrating, or overwintering sites) are designated as Wildlife Refuges.
The specific characteristics and conditions of an area to be declared as a Wildlife Refuge are defined by the 3937/2011 «Biodiversity Preservation Law" and usually include hunting prohibition, protection against destruction of natural vegetation, etc.
Within the Prefecture of the Northern Aegean there are 79 Wildlife Refuges, 16 of them on Lesvos:
- Kastelia - Agios DimitriosΆγ. Δημήτριος (Molivos- Argenos- Lepetimnos)
- Achlada - Peristeries - Manoulos (Mandamados)
- Xambelia (Ν. Kydonies)
- Toukmakia Islets, Prasologos and Monopetra (Mandamados and Loutropolis Thermis)
- Plakorta - Vounaria - Koufo - Kamara (Pelopi)
- Xerolimni (Vatousa - Skalohori)
- Skamniouda (Antissa)
- Apolithomena (Sigri)
- Megalonisi - Nissiopi (Sigri)
- Mesoros (Agra)
- Profitis Ilias (Polichnitos)
- Logaras (Plomari)
- Koutra - Chorafi Agrias - Chorafelia (Agiassos)
- Plati (Asomatos - Sykounta - Mychou)
- Divolo - Akothi (Loutra)
- Kalloni Salt Pans - Noutzaria - Kantri - Messa (Agia Paraskevi)