Lake Karla: restoration Lake Karla: restoration and environmental and environmental

educationeducation

Maria ChamoglouMaria ChamoglouIchthyologist, MscIchthyologist, Msc

Management Body of Ecodevelopment Area of Karla - Mavrovouni – Kefalovriso – Velestino

International Workshop on Tourism, Culture and wetlands, Tunis, 2014

L. Karla 2014 L. Karla 1960

FormationFormation

Tectonic depression at the Tectonic depression at the beginning of the Quaternary beginning of the Quaternary periodperiod

Wetland occupied most of the Wetland occupied most of the eastern part of the Thessaly eastern part of the Thessaly regionregion

Its surface area fluctuated Its surface area fluctuated between 40 kmbetween 40 km22 and 180 and 180 kmkm22, , depending on the depending on the inflow-outflow balance. inflow-outflow balance.

In 1962 the maximum depth In 1962 the maximum depth of the lake did not exceed 2mof the lake did not exceed 2m

The ancient Lake VoiviisThe ancient Lake Voiviis

Limnology featuresLimnology features

Eutrophic lakeEutrophic lake High turbidity High turbidity Low oxygen concentration Low oxygen concentration

near the bottom near the bottom High concentrations of High concentrations of

nutrients nutrients

BiodiversityBiodiversity

143 bird species - 55 of 143 bird species - 55 of which are protected by EC which are protected by EC directive 79/409 (Zalidis directive 79/409 (Zalidis et. al., 2005)et. al., 2005)

11 fish species11 fish species

Ananiadis, 1956

The ancient Lake VoiviisThe ancient Lake Voiviis

Cyprinus carpioAquila chrysaetus

Phalacrocorax carbo

Socioeconomic Status and CulturalSocioeconomic Status and Cultural

The ancient Lake VoiviisThe ancient Lake Voiviis

Fisheries: Main source of income Fisheries: Main source of income

More than 1000 fishermen More than 1000 fishermen

High fish production High fish production

Lake settlement, unique in Lake settlement, unique in GreeceGreece

Mythology (e.g. Mythology (e.g. Argonautic Expedition, Argonautic Expedition, Trojan War) Trojan War)

History (ancient and History (ancient and modern of Greecemodern of Greece)

Drying reasonsDrying reasons

In the late 19th century, had In the late 19th century, had prevailed technocratic prevailed technocratic conception of several conception of several drainage wetlands throughout drainage wetlands throughout GreeceGreece

Flood protectionFlood protection

Agricultural developmentAgricultural development

Diseases associated with the Diseases associated with the lake as malarialake as malaria

ConsequencesConsequences Drop in groundwater levels Drop in groundwater levels Sea-water intrusion into groundwater Sea-water intrusion into groundwater

aquifersaquifers Shortage of irrigation waterShortage of irrigation water Frequent flooding of lowlandsFrequent flooding of lowlands Salinity and alkalinity problems in soilsSalinity and alkalinity problems in soils Gross pollution of ditches and water Gross pollution of ditches and water

resources fromresources from

industrial effluents and agrochemicalsindustrial effluents and agrochemicals Loss of wetland habitatsLoss of wetland habitats Decreased biodiversityDecreased biodiversity

Reconstruction project-purposesReconstruction project-purposes EnvironmentalEnvironmental Ecological restorationEcological restoration Reducing of groundwater Reducing of groundwater

abstractionsabstractions

SocialSocial Irrigation Irrigation Flood protection Flood protection Water supply of Volos & Water supply of Volos &

parakarlion settlements parakarlion settlements Ecotourism infrastructureEcotourism infrastructure

Operational Program ‘Environment’ which was approved by the European Commission for the period of 2000-2006

Reconstruction projectReconstruction project Reservoir and flood Reservoir and flood

pumping stationspumping stations

Ditch 1T

1 st Pumping station

2 nd Pumping station

Water transfer Water transfer of Pinieus riverof Pinieus river

Reconstruction projectReconstruction project

3 rd Pumping station

Mountain Torrent Mountain Torrent and collectorsand collectors

Reconstruction projectReconstruction project

Σ3

Σ6

EcotourismEcotourism 1212 site viewssite views 2 2 bird watching observatoriesbird watching observatories Information centerInformation center Museum of Natural History and Museum of Natural History and

Culture of Lake KarlaCulture of Lake Karla 117 pathways 7 pathways Plantings around the KarlaPlantings around the Karla

Reconstruction projectReconstruction project

Benefits of artificial wetland of Benefits of artificial wetland of KarlaKarla

Flood protection of the surrounding plain Flood protection of the surrounding plain area area

Environmental restoration and wetland Environmental restoration and wetland conservationconservation

Irrigation needs for the surrounding Irrigation needs for the surrounding cultivations that cover an area of 92 kmcultivations that cover an area of 92 km22

Water supply needs for city of VolosWater supply needs for city of Volos Development of the local tourism industryDevelopment of the local tourism industry

Artificial wetland of KarlaArtificial wetland of Karla

Occupies the lowest part of the former Lake KarlaOccupies the lowest part of the former Lake Karla Has a surface of 38 kmHas a surface of 38 km22

Has been included in the European Natura 2000 NetworkHas been included in the European Natura 2000 Network

Limnology featuresLimnology features Eutrophic lakeEutrophic lake High High conductivityconductivity High concentrations of High concentrations of

nutrients nutrients

BiodiversityBiodiversity In 2010- 128 bird speciesIn 2010- 128 bird species 13 fish species13 fish species 6 amphibian and reptile 6 amphibian and reptile

species (Directive species (Directive 92/43/EEC)92/43/EEC)

Artificial wetland of KarlaArtificial wetland of Karla

waders and raptors bird species

Information and awareness-Information and awareness-raising campaignsraising campaigns

Prominence of biodiversityProminence of biodiversity

Environmental Environmental education programmeseducation programmes

Dissemination of Dissemination of knowledge through knowledge through printed and printed and electronic material electronic material

Environmental Environmental interpretation signsinterpretation signs

Information and awareness-Information and awareness-raising campaignsraising campaigns

Support for cultural characteristics of various Support for cultural characteristics of various population groups in the region population groups in the region

Integration of cultural products in the wider Integration of cultural products in the wider socio-economic structures of the areasocio-economic structures of the area

Development of environmentally friendly forms Development of environmentally friendly forms of tourismof tourism

Information and awareness-Information and awareness-raising campaignsraising campaignsProminence of cultural identityProminence of cultural identity

Traditional Products of Protected Area

Systematic recording and study of traditional Systematic recording and study of traditional occupations and regional products occupations and regional products

Support actions enlisted traditional products to the Support actions enlisted traditional products to the European market (eg trahana Sourva, olives, European market (eg trahana Sourva, olives, walnuts, almonds, pears, pistachio nuts, flour, walnuts, almonds, pears, pistachio nuts, flour, cheese, cream cheese, oatmeal, wine, sweets, cheese, cream cheese, oatmeal, wine, sweets, herbs, meat, cheese slice , legumes, mushrooms, herbs, meat, cheese slice , legumes, mushrooms, etc.) etc.)

Development of food and wine tourism Development of food and wine tourism Advertisement traditional occupations through Advertisement traditional occupations through

printed material and eventprinted material and event

Information and awareness-Information and awareness-raising campaignsraising campaigns

Prominence of traditional occupations and Prominence of traditional occupations and productsproducts

Thank you for your attention