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The Project |
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LIFE PROJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT THE AGRAS WETLAND |
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APPLICATION PROJECT |
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ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ
LIFE- NATURE,
IMPLEMENTATION OF MANAGEMENT
MEASURES AT THE AGRAS WETLAND |
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| SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Project title : IMPLEMENTATION OF MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT THE
AGRAS WETLAND.
Agras lake has been designated as an SPA site due to the presence of a significant number of priority bird species. Among the >140 bird species present at the site, 37 are included in Annex I of the Birds Directive. The wetland is one of the few Greek sites hosting Aythya nyroca’s breeding population at least 2 pairs at present, more than 5, ten years ago). Ixobrychus minutus, Nycticorax nycticorax and Chlidonias hybridus also breed in the site. The wetland is also considered very significant as a staging place for Pelecanus crispus (up to 150 individuals per day in February and March) and Pelecanus onocrotalus, (up to 20 individuals per day in spring) because of the convenient location as a stop over site, on the route to and from Prespa wetlands, where the largest EU colonies of these species exist. The wetland is also important as a stop over site for many Annex I species (herons, such as Nycticorax nycticorax (>50 ind.), Ardea purpurea (>5 ind.), Ardeolla ralloides (>10 ind.), Botaurus stellaris (1-2 ind.). Several raptor species including Circus aeruginosus are wintering on the site. The project aims to implement integrated management measures for the restoration of the SPA site of Agras wetland, taking into consideration the management prescriptions derived by the Management Plan already prepared for the site, by a previous LIFE project, and involving the key stakeholders of the protected site. |
The project involves the participation and close
collaboration of all the competent authorities and bodies involved in the
management of Agras wetland, for the implementation of the following
actions:
• Formulation of a Management Agreement for the conservation of the protected site and operation of the wetland Management Committee. • Elaboration of a Wetland Restoration Plan identifying and prescribing specific management solutions for restoring wetland functions and values, especially the support of priority bird species. • Implementation of management measures, according to the prescriptions of the restoration plan, including: 1. Establishment of riparian tree stands 2. Improvement of nesting and refuge habitats for priority species 3. Management of wet meadow habitats through controlled grazing 4. Management of reed beds and restoration of aquatic habitats 5. Restoration of fish and crayfish habitats 6. Implementation of a guarding – patrolling scheme for the site 7. Monitoring of priority species and key habitat parameters 8. Integration of wetland interpretation infrastructure 9. Operation of wetland interpretation facilities 10. Implementation of a wide public awareness campaign for the site The project implementation is expected to provide the following results: • Overall improvement of the SPA conservation status, for the proliferation of priority bird species. • Restoration of wetland functions and values for the benefit of biodiversity and local society. • Promotion of sustainable environmental interpretation and ecotourism activities, compatible with the conservation of the SPA site. • A three years demonstration of the win-win case of sustainable, conservation compatible and socio-economic acceptable management of the SPA site.
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| ACTIONS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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ACTIONS
A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans ACTION A.1: Formulation of the wetland Management Agreement and operation of the Wetland Management Committee ACTION A.2: Elaboration of the wetland restoration Plan ACTION A.3: Elaboration of a grazing management plan for the wet meadow habitats B. Peurchase / Lease of Land C. Non-recurring management ACTION C.1: Reestablishment of riparian tree stands ACTION C.2: Establishment of two observation hides and expansion of nature trails. ACTION C.3: Improvement of nesting, foraging and refuging habitat for priority species. D. Recurring management ACTION D.1: Management of wet meadow habitats through controlled grazing. ACTION D.2: Establishment and operation of the wetland guarding project. ACTION D.3: Management of reed beds, aquatic habitats and restoration of fish spawning grounds. ACTION D.4: Implementation of the wetland-monitoring scheme E. Public awareness and dissemination of results ACTION E.1: Operation of the Wetland Information Center ACTION E.2: Enhancement of wetland interpretation capabilities by creating a wetland interpretation room. ACTION E.3: Production of interpretation material. ACTION E.4: Creation of environmental education material for the SPA site. ACTION E.5: Organisation of public meetings and an international workshop. F. Overall project operation and monitoring ACTION F.1: Project co-ordination and management
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• Improvement of the wetland trophic status through the implementation of vegetation control measures that will remove litter and plant biomass (5% of the total reed biomass per year) from the wetland, and increase water circulation. Implementation of a conservation compatible hydroperiod, will further enhance the wetland water quality. • Increase of habitat heterogeneity, increase in the area of wet meadow…..AREA, open water and shallow open water habitats, establishment of riparian tree stands, enhancement of habitat conditions for fish and cray fish populations. Vegetation management will include control of 5% or reedbed area per year. An overall improvement of priority bird species habitat conditions, as well as of the socio-economic wetland values. • Significant reduction of disturbance events due to the wardening implementation. Improvement of the wetland environmental interpretation and ecotourism potential with reduction of the negative effects of visitor disturbance • Improvement of the wet meadow biodiversity potential, for the proliferation of priority wading bird species. • Increase of public awareness and local participation in conservation compatible economic activities. Changing of conservation related attitudes of local society towards wetland protection and sustainable management. • Formulation of a wetland Management Agreement, establishment an operation of the Wetland Management Committee. Co-ordination of management actions affecting the wetland habitats and priority species.
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| FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| LIFE (C) 2005 . | ||||||||||||||||||||||
