REGION OF WESTERN GREECE

European Territorial Cooperation Programme Greece-Italy 2007-2013

Kick-off Meeting of BIG Project, CORFU 28 MARCH 2014

REGION OF WESTERN GREECE PROFILE (1/3)

Western Greece is one of the thirteen regions of Greece. It comprises the western part of continental Greece and the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.The region is based at Patras and is divided into three regional units (pre- prefectures), Aetolia-Acarnania in Central Greece and Achaia and Ilia in the Peloponnese, which are further subdivided into 19 municipalitiesThe region's governor is, since 1 January 2011, Apostolos Katsifaras, who was elected in the November 2010 regional elections.

REGION OF WESTERN GREECE PROFILE (2/3)

• Capital City of Region : Patras• Regional units : Achaia ,

Aetoloacarnania, Ilia• Area : Total 11,350 km2 (4,380 sq mi)

and covers 8.6% of the total area of the country.  

• Population (2011) : 679,796   • Major communities : Patras, Aigio,

Messolonghi, Agrinio, Amaliada, Pyrgos• GDP per Capita: 68.4% of the EU

average

REGION OF WESTERN GREECE PROFILE (3/3)

• Main economic activities include agriculture – fisheries, tourism and other services (public and private sector)

• As in many other Regions of Greece, production of wine and olive oil is significant.

• Dairy products are also important to the local economy as well as fish farming, unique to the area and a traditional source of income. 

• Western Greece is quickly becoming one of the top tourism destinations in Greece . The emergence of new hotel units and new investments in the area have strengthened the local economy and are currently changing the overall profile of economic activity.

Western Greece - Geography and Nature (1/2)

• The Region of Western Greece is privileged in terms of the natural environment.

• The region accommodates many, various and significantly sensitive ecosystems. It is characteristic, that from the eleven wetlands of international importance that exist in Greece and who have also joined in the Ramsar agreement , the three are located in Western Greece Region.These are: Lagoon of Messologi, Amvrakikos Gulf, Lake Kotychi

• Furthermore the Region is characterized by the existence of protected aesthetic forests and monuments, and vital places of great natural beauty.

Western Greece - Geography and Nature (2/2)

• The largest percentage of the land is mountainous (45.3%) and hilly (25.6%), while only 29.1% is flat. The Western Greece has also, an extensive coastline and its total area is bordering with the Ionian Sea and the Gulf of Amvrakikos, Patras and Corinth. 

• The geomorphology of Western Greece has great diversity. It includes mountains with a very high altitude (Aroania 2.335m, Erymanthos 2.222m, Panachaiko 1.926m), large natural lakes (Trichonida 95,8km2, which is the largest of the country, Amvrakia 14,4km2, Lysimachia 13m2, Kaiafa etc.) And rivers ( Acheloos 220 km, Peneus, Alpheus, Evinos, Selinountas, Vouraikos, Peiros and Glaucus).

    Aitoloacarnania Area (ha) 

GR2310001 SPA SCI

DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU, EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALAS 35.509,89

GR2310004 SPA SCI OROS PANAITOLIKO 18.542,03

GR2310005 SPA SCI OROS VARASOVA 1.443,30

GR2310006 SPA SCI LIMNES VOULKARIA KAI SALTINI 3.122,62

GR2310007 SPA SCI LIMNI AMVRAKIA 2.204,75

GR2310008 SPA SCI LIMNI OZEROS 1.258,49GR2310009 SPA SCI LIMNES TRICHONIDA KAI LYSIMACHEIA 14.279,80

GR2310010 SPA SCI OROS ARAKYNTHOS KAI STENA KLEISOURAS 13.331,28

GR2310011 SPA OROS TSEREKAS (AKARNANIKA) 5.096,43

GR2310013 SPA LIMNI LYSIMACHEIA 2.274,63

GR2310014 SPA LIMNI VOULKARIA 3.272,70

GR2310015 SPA

DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU KAI EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALAS, DYTIKOS ARAKYNTHOS KAI STENA KLEISOURAS 44.185,62

GR2310016 SPA LIMNI AMVRAKIA 1.904,43

TOTAL AREA 146.425,97

NATURA 2000 SITES – AITOLOAKARNANIA

Achaia Area (ha) 

GR2320002 SPA SCI OROS CHELMOS KAI YDATA STYGOS 17.493,03

GR2320003 SPA SCI FARANGI VOURAIKOU 2.176,31

GR2320004 SPA SCI AISTHITIKO DASOS KALAVRYTON 2.386,08

GR2320005 SPA SCI ORI BARMPAS KAI KLOKOS, FARANGI SELINOUNTA 6.042,57

GR2320006 SPA SCI ALYKI AIGIOU 31,98

GR2320007 SPA SCI OROS PANACHAIKO 12.219,51

GR2320008 SPA SCI OROS ERYMANTHOS 19.332,14

GR2320009 SPA SCI SPILAIO KASTRION 308,02

GR2320010 SPA SCI ORI BARMPAS, KLOKOS, FARANGI SELINOUNTA 15.705,36

GR2320011 SPA SCI YGROTOPOI KALOGRIAS-LAMIAS KAI DASOS STROFYLIAS 6.566,21

GR2320012 SPA OROS ERYMANTHOS 38.983,48

GR2320013 SPAOROS CHELMOS (AROANIA) - FARANGI VOURAIKOU KAI PERIOCHI KALAVRYTON 32.169,19

     TOTAL AREA 156.947,77

NATURA 2000 SITES – ACHAIA

 Ilia Area (ha) 

GR2330002 SPA SCI OROPEDIO FOLOIS 9.741,96

GR2330003 SPA SCI EKVOLES (DELTA) PINEIOU 903,81

GR2330004 SPA SCI OLYMPIA 314,83

GR2330005 SPA SCITHINES KAI PARALIAKO DASOS ZACHAROS, LIMNI KAIAFA, STROFYLIA, KAKOVATOS 3.274,18

GR2330006 SPA SCI LIMNOTHALASSA KOTYCHI, BRINIA 1.314,63

GR2330007 SPA SCIPARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI APO AKR. KYLLINI EOS TOUMPI - KALOGRIA 13.166,35

GR2330008 SPATHALASSIA PERIOCHI KOLPOU KYPARISSIAS: AKR. KATAKOLO - KYPARISSIA 11.042,19

GR2330009 SPA LIMNOTHALASSA KOTYCHI - ALYKI LECHAINON 2.337,83

     TOTAL AREA 42.095,78

NATURA 2000 SITES – ILIA

REGION OF WETERN GREECE – MAP OF ECOSYSTEMS ( NATURA 2000 AND OTHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS )

PP2 ( WGR) : FOCUS IN 3 ECOSYTEMS

• In the framework of BIG, Region of Western Greece intend to focus in 3 ecosytems:

1. LIMNOTHALASSA KALOGRIAS, KOTYCHI, DASOS STROFYLIAS KAI ELOS LAMIAS, ARAXOS

2. OROS CHELMOS (AROANIA) - FARANGI VOURAIKOU KAI PERIOCHI KALAVRYTON

3. -DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU, EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALAS

LIMNOTHALASSA KALOGRIAS, DASOS STROFYLIAS KAI ELOS LAMIAS, ARAXOS

• This site is located in NW Peloponnisos and occupies a coastal zone of about 22 km in length and with an average width of 1500 m. It is a compound coastal ecosystem, that includes the lagoons of Prokopos and Kalogria (or PAPPAS) the Lamia marshes, as well as the forest of Strofilia The Kotyhi – Strofylia area has been recognized as a Wetland of International Importance, and has been protected under the Ramsar Convention since 1974. Additionally, five (5) sections within the same area, have been identified as Natura 2000 sites, according to the European Directives 2009/147/EC and 92/43/EC, and have been included within the European NATURA 2000 network since 1998. More specifically, there are 2 Special Protection Areas for Birds and 3 Sites of Community Importance.

• Threats :Poaching is one of the most serious threats on avifauna, as there is lack of law enforcement. Increased disturbance is also a potential threat as well as the continuous urbanization. Destruction of nests of terns and other ground nesters by grazing cattle is also a serious threat.

Map Kotyhi – Strofylia area

Photos LIMNOTHALASSA KALOGRIAS, KOTYCHI, DASOS STROFYLIAS

OROS CHELMOS (AROANIA) - FARANGI VOURAIKOU KAI PERIOCHI KALAVRYTON

• Mt. Chelmos is located in Northern Peloponnisos and is characterized by a variety of geological substrata and soil types (conglomerates, limestones of Olonos-Pindos zone, flysh). The main elements of its "wild" landscape include: wellforested slopes of the Meso- and Supra-Mediterranean vegetation zone with Abies cephalonica and Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana forests, steep calcareous cliffs,the Mavrolimni lake (2050 m) of glacier origin (this is the only "alpine" lake of Peloponnisos) and the impressive Styx valley associated with a small, wet cave and a waterfall at its base.

• Threats: Overgrazing, expanding road networks and hunting are the main human activities which constitute threats for the ecologically significant habitats and in general of the mountainous landscape of Chelmos. The operation of the ski centre affects the mountainous ecosystems of Chelmos (plants, animals and soils).Taking into account this fact and also the illegal hunting and overgrazing one understands the pressures acting on the very important ecosystems and landscape of Mt. Chelmos. Vouraikos river suffers from household and industrial waste disposal, while a large part of the forests along its route was burnt recently.

Map : OROS CHELMOS (AROANIA) - FARANGI VOURAIKOU KAI PERIOCHI KALAVRYTON

Photos OROS CHELMOS (AROANIA) - FARANGI VOURAIKOU KAI PERIOCHI KALAVRYTON

DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU, EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES,

NISOS PETALAS• The Messolonghi-Aitoliko lagons complex is located in the north part

of the Gulf of Patras in the central west coast of Greece. It is one of the most important Mediterranean lagoons. It is a shallow area of 150 km2, extended between the Acheloos and Evinos rivers. It is protected by the Ramsar Convention and it is also included in the Natura 2000 network.The largest portion is the Kentriki Limnothalassa ("central lagoon") a shallow sea separated from the Gulf of Patras and the Ionian Sea by a chain of sand islands and is characterized as open type lagoon. To the north, the Aitoliko lagoon is connected to the central lagoon by a narrow “neck” and resembles a deep lake (depth 28 m) rather than a lagoon. The Anatoliki Klisova, Dytiki Klisova, as well as the western lagoons of the complex, as closed type lagoons. These communicate with the sea along channels and receives fresh water from the drainage pump system of the region. These lagoons resembles the typical lagoons of north Italy where ‘’vallicultura’’ (lagoon aquaculture) is practiced.

Threats: human activities anoxic crises in the lagoons of Etoliko and East Klissova

Map: Messolonghi-Aitoliko ekvoles Evinou, Nisoi Echinades, Nisos Petalas

Photos DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU

Environmental Problems we face in our Region

• Lack of a socio-economic strategic plan for the development of the protected areas

• Problems that occur from human activities nearby the Natura 2000 sites

• Insufficient measures for the monitoring, the protection and the conservation of biodiversity

• Pollution of soil because the use of pesticides and fertilizers in the rural regions

• Erosion of grounds /loss of territorial cover because deforestation and overgrazing

• Degradation of aquifer,in combination with inadequate infrastructures of collection and management of waters.

• Impact of the economic crisis negatively affect the implementation of environmental protection policies.

What we expect ….

• Exchange of best practices in sustainable management of sensitive ecosystems

• Create monitoring methods of ecosystems - biodiversity

• Create Reliable Environmental indicators • Integration and standardisation of existing data

on marine, coastal and rural biodiversity• Create innovative tools in managing the

ecosystems• Identification of opportunities and conditions for

sustainable growth in protected sites.• Support the regional observatories on biodiversity

Expected results that the project will provide to our Region

• Environmental development and planning in regional level

• Growth of tourism, suitable for protected areas (agro-tourism, eco-tourism, natural tourism)

• Exploiting of specific potential in tourism, culture and natural environment

• Focus on differentiation and development using new technologies, innovative products and services

• Development of cultural heritage and the natural environment

• Drafting proposal for the creation and operational standards of a marine reserve.

• Reinforcement of the effectiveness of administrations and natural resource managers to address threats to biodiversity

Thank you