Deliverables and achievements

Inventorying, documenting and disseminating knowledge

Since most island wetlands were unknown and/or unrecognized as such by institutions, in situ surveys were required so as to delineate them, evaluate their ecological status and the threats they face, and prioritize sites in terms of preservation needs. Identification and delineation of island wetlands was essential in order for them to come under some protection status, such as Open City Spatial Plans, which currently constitute the main levers for the promotion of island wetland protection on a local scale. Furthermore, documentation of the value and key characteristics of all wetlands was necessary for their importance as an ecological network to be highlighted, thus enabling the promotion of horizontal protection measures.

A total of 803 wetlands larger than 0.1ha have been identified in 75 islands (100 in 8 Ionian islands, 499 in 57 Aegean islands and 193 in Crete and 2 in satellite islands. Of them, 590 are natural wetlands and 213 are artificial (mainly dam lakes and reservoirs). Our project team visited, surveyed and inventoried 760 wetlands, each time filling in a special inventory record, supported by extensive photographic documentation. Data collected in situ and from relative literature were then entered in four interlinked databases: the GrIsWet bilingual (Greek/English) database containing inventory data, the Geo-GrIsWet geodatabase including wetland locations and boundaries as well as other geospatial data, a bibliography database, and, with the support of Canon,  the photographic archive containing more than 60,000 digital pictures of 760 wetlands and video footage of 420 wetlands.

WWF Greece organized four workshops with expert scientists in order to facilitate information exchange and promote cooperation development on a series of generic and specific issues pertaining to island wetlands. One of the most important outcomes of the above activities resulted from the “Importance and conservation status of wetlands in Greek islands” (25.9.2009) workshop, which took place during the 11^th International Congress on the Zoogeography, Ecology and Evolution of Greece and Adjacent Regions. Participants drafted a resolution titled “Stop the degradation of Greek island wetlands”, addressed to all stakeholders, including the Greek Government, the European Commission, Regional Authorities, primary and secondary Local Authorities, academic institutions, NGOs, financial institutions, and the public. Comprising 3 pages, this resolution was duly publicized by the Organizing Committee in November 2009.

Inventory progress resulted in the publication of the “Inventory of Aegean island wetlands: identity, ecological status and threats”; up to 2012, the inventory was presented in a total of 30 announcements in 19 national and international scientific congresses and published in 3 scientific journals.

Site monitoring, protection and management

A volunteer network developed gradually, covering 6 Aegean Sea islands (Lemnos, Lesvos, Paros, Andros, Skyros, Kos), with the purpose to ensure timely detection of any degrading activity and to immediately inform the project’s research team. After receiving proper training, volunteers visited wetlands, checking their status and reporting to the research team. With the project’s headquarters located in Heraklion, wetland monitoring was at its most intensive in Crete. Initially, monitoring on the island was performed by project team members, with the help of a few environmentally conscious individuals. Ever since 2011, support from the Coca-Cola System in Greece (Coca-Cola Tria Epsilon and Coca – Cola Hellas), under its “Mission Water” environmental program, led to the development of a highly dynamic volunteer network, which helped implement a number of activities aiming at raising awareness among both the public and the local stakeholders, first in Crete and then in the islands of Paros and Lesvos.

In a large number of cases, WWF Greece submitted wetland protection and visibility enhancement proposals, some of which have already been implemented in collaboration with citizens and local NGOs (e.g. delineation and marking of sand dunes in the Malia wetland along with the Sarpidonistas, delineation and marking of the Almyros marsh in Aghios Nikolaos along with the Ecological Movement of Mirabello, and more). Wherever conditions were favourable, our research team performed studies and drafted technical reports on the protection, restoration and management of wetland areas. Some of them are either being or in the process of being implemented (such as actions on the Moronis river estuary in Souda, the Malia river marsh, and the total of natural wetlands of Paros). A milestone among these actions has been the clearing of the Moronis river estuary in Souda in 2009, where 12,000 m³ of debris were collected and removed, ecologically restoring a 1ha surface area.

Interventions to prevent/thwart degradation and policy actions

Each time a degrading activity was detected by our project researchers and monitoring network volunteers, an official letter was drafted, in collaboration with the WWF Greece Citizen’s Legal Support Group, documenting the case, analyzing the legal framework, and raising specific issues with the competent bodies and authorities. Overall, more than 70 degradation cases across nine islands were tackled. Correspondence exchanged on this topic so far totals approximately 700 letters. Considerable fines have been imposed in several cases - and 5 cases (4 in Crete and 1 in the island of Evia) have been brought to court, with dozens of individuals standing accused.

Moreover, putting the project’s inventory and cartographic data to good use, WWF Greece has sought institutional protection of island wetlands, both on a local and on a national scale, using a series of memoranda and interventions. Specifically and in chronological order:

• In 2008 collaboration took place with the Northern Aegean Region, assisting it in its initiative to re-evaluate Wildlife Refuges (K.A.Z.), actively participating in all deliberations, and submitting a memorandum for the modification of 7 Wildlife Refuge boundaries and the establishment of 6 new ones, in an effort to bring 30 of the most important island wetlands of the Region under this specific protection status . Finally, in 2009, 5 wetlands were included in a new Wildlife Refuge in Lesvos, “Alyki Kallonis - Noutzaria - Kadri - Messa”, (Government Gazette D/387/16.9.2009).
• In 2009 memoranda were submitted to competent authorities at all tiers (central, regional, prefectural, municipal) asking for the inclusion of wetlands in the Plans of Spatial and Settlement Organization for Open Cities (SHOOAPs) and/or the General Urban Plans (GPSs) that were being prepared at the time.  Authorities responded positively, and - up to the end of 2012- 69 wetlands were included as protected areas in approved SHOOAPs and GPSs in the islands of Crete (48 wetlands), Ammouliani (1 wetland), Lemnos (11 wetlands), Paros (8 wetlands) and Leros (1 wetland).
• In October 2009, along with 9 more environmental NGOs, a memorandum titled “Proposal for a comprehensive legislative framework to protect the biodiversity of Greece” was prepared and submitted to the Greek Ministry of the Environment. This proposal played a significant role in the compilation of the Biodiversity Law (3937/2011), which, among other things provides for the protection of all island and mainland wetlands measuring up to 8 ha in surface area (Article 13).
• After the Biodiversity Law was passed, WWF Greece immediately provided data and worked closely with officials of the Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (YPEKA) and of the Hellenic Mapping & Cadastral Organization (OKHE) in preparing a Presidential Decree on island wetland protection. Following a successful public debate, the Presidential Decree "Approval of a list of small island wetlands, and provision of terms and conditions for the protection and conservation of small coastal wetlands included therein" was signed in June 2012 (Government Gazette AAP 229/19.06.2012), bringing 380 natural wetlands across 59 islands under a strict protection status .

Information, communication and awareness-raising

Project results were publicized in an extensive and escalating manner, aiming at sensitizing the public, mobilizing citizens, and exerting constant pressure on decision makers. Numerous tools were used: public announcements to the media and press bulletins, interviews and articles to the press, publications, lectures, citizen group ‘tours’ to wetlands, posts on the WWF Greece site and blog, as well as extensive use of social networking media. Furthermore, a close collaboration developed with the Environmental Education Centre of Ierapetra (Crete), leading to the creation and operation of a Regional Thematic Network called “Modifying my Behaviour to… the Wetter”, which undertakes Environmental Education programs and also monitors Cretan wetlands. Through this network we provide ongoing support with scientific advice, lectures and thematic field trips for dozens of teachers and students from 54 schools.