Biodiversity of Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas delta

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Biodiversity of Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas delta
(Georama 1999)
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Greek wetlands
(Mousio Goulandri Fisikis Istorias E.K.B.Y. 1996)
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• The delta consists of
• lagoon of Kalochori at
• estuaries of Gallikos
• river
• Axios delta
• estuaries of Loudias
• Aliakmonas delta
• Kitros salt-pan
• Characteristics of the delta
• small islands
• halophytic marshes
• brackish lagoons
• riparian forests

(Georama 1999)
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Axios river
The largest river of Balkan peninsula -total
length 330km, 76km belonging to Greece, the
remaining to former Yugoslavia
(www.elliniko-panorama.gr)
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Aliakmonas river-the largest
Greek river
(www.elliniko-panorama.gr)
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Piles of sand in the lagoon of Kitros salt-pan
(15000 acres)are created when there is an
obstacle as the wind blows, vegetation for
instance
(Mousio Goulandri Fisikis Istorias E.K.B.Y. 1996)
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Zones of the delta Zone A the central part of
the wetland, no human activities are
allowed Zone B middle zone, human activities
strictly controlled Zone C the extensive area
of the plain, use of land is allowed
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Protection Status

Ramsar Convention Game Refuge Verni
Convention Directive 92/43

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• More than 500 flora species
• Salina Artemia
• halophytic marshes covered with Arthrocnemum
  fruticosum
• banks covered with Tamarix
• lagoons and irrigated channels bordered with
  Phragmites communis

FLORA
(www.geocities.com)
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FAUNA

• There have been observed
• 26 fish species in Axios and 30 in Aliakmonas
• 7 amphibians species
• 15 reptiles species
• approximately 30 mammals species
• a great number crustacean and other invertebrates

Some species of great importance are
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Fauna of birds consists of 215 species

• Herons
• Pelicans
• Avocets
• Eagles
• Flamingoes
• Buffaloes

Egretta garzetta
(Georama 1999)
Buteo buteo
(www.minenv.gr)
Recurvirostra avosetta
(Georama 1999)
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Human activities

• pollution
• livestock
• agriculture
• fisheries

• water abstraction-dredging
• flood controls
• hunting
• disturbance

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(Mousio Goulandri Fisikis Istorias E.K.B.Y. 1996)
(Georama 1999)
flooded rice culture
rice-culture
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This way of fishing is not allowed when
it occupies the whole flow of the water
(Mousio Goulandri Fisikis Istorias E.K.B.Y. 1996)
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All these activities have resulted in the
wetlands extension being 70 of its former
extension and the natural function of the rivers
has deteriorated. The future of the wetland
depends on human will from now on.