Θίνες - Δάσος

Θίνες - Παραλιακό Δάσος Ζαχάρως

GR2330005
Έκταση
3127

Γεωγραφική θέση
Γεωγραφικό μήκος:
E 21° 36' 0''
Γεωγραφικό Πλάτος:
N 37° 30' 0''

Υψόμετρα
Μέσο:
145
Μέγιστο:
290
Ελάχιστο:
0

Χαρακτηριστικά περιοχής

The described site is a coastal zone located in the southern part of the Ileia Prefecture and comprises the Pine forest of Strofilia, the lake Kaiafa, the dunes extending between the drained lake Agoulinitsa and the village Kakovatos, the hill Elliniko (or Stavros), the archaeological site of Kaiafa area, the caves of Anygrides Nymphes, and the curative spring of Kaiafa. The dunes occurring at the beach of Kaiafa form two parallel lines. The first one has a distance of 30 m from the sea, a height of 1.5-2 m and the plant community Agropyretum mediterraneum. The second line is 12 m in height and Greek fixed dunes with Euphorbia terracina and Silene nicaensis are developed there. At the beach between Kaiafa and Zacharo are developed dunes with an average width of 150-200 m and average height 7-10 m, with the plant community of Ammophila arenaria. Behind them Greek fixed dunes are again developed. The forest of Strofilia consists mainly of Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinea, and is unique in shape and size. Some clusters of Platanus orientalis and Ceratonia siliqua as well as bushes of Juniperus phoenicea, Quercus coccifera, Pistacia lentiscus, Myrtus communis, Cercis siliquastrum, Arbutus unedo, Erica manipuliflora and Phillyrea media etc. cover a significant area. The lake Kaiafa is a natural water ecosystem, a significant wetland with an area of about 200 ha. It is located behind the forest and is connected to the sea by a canal. Around the lake dense and extensive aquatic associations with Phragmites australis and the endangered species Cladium mariscus are developed. Close to the reed belts, stands of Scirpetum maritimi occur.

QUALITY

The combination of coastal forest, dunes and lake in this study site consists an important ecosystem with a rich flora and fauna. At the beach between Kaiafa and Zacharo, dunes in good state are developed. Pancratium maritimum, which is included in section 3.3 with the motivation D, is a species whose populations have been considerably reduced along the Greek coasts.The adventitive xenophyte of tropical origin, Saccharum spontaneum has recently been found in the area. The reed belts, Tamarix forests and the stands with mats and the endangered aquatic species Cladium mariscus are very significant biotopes for food and quarters for aquatic birds. The value of these biotopes has become more significant after the draining of the coastal lake Agoulinitsa which existed just to the north until the early 1970's. There are nine non-bird vertebrate animal taxa recorded in this area. Three of them are mentioned in Annex II of the Directive 92/43/EEC. Particular attention should be paid to the sea turtle Caretta caretta which is a threatened species included in the Greek Red Data Book under the category "Endangered". In the site concerned, this turtle has found a very good nesting beach where a number of 53-99 nests per reproductive season have been counted; this value corresponds to 7 nests/km/season and it exceeds the figure of 5 nests/km/season which is considered the lower limit for the characterization of a sandy beach as important for the nesting of Caretta caretta. The second taxon of Annex II is the tortoise Testudo hermanni recorded in the sand-dunes of the area. Also, the terrapin Mauremys caspica is the third taxon mentioned in Annex II. Six Other and Greek Important Species have also been evaluated according to the motivation system used in sections 3.3 & 3.4. All, except the Pelponnesian endemic wood mouse Apodemus flavicollis dietzi, are protected by the Bern Convention and for this reason they are indicated by the motivation C. The snake Natrix natrix and the two shrews Crocidura suaveolens and Sorex minutus are marked with motivation D since they are included in the species lists of the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981. Rana epeirotica has been allocated by the same motivation since it is a species confined to western Greece and Albania only. Sorex minutus also receives the D motivation since this site is the southernmost known area of its distribution in Europe. Finally, this site (especially Lake Kaiafa) is also known for its avifauna including rare and threatened species (Netta rufina, Falco peregrinus, Cisticola juncidis, Podiceps nigricollis and others) and because of this notable bird fauna, the area of this lake has been designated an EC Important Bird Area.

VULNERABILITY

At Zacharo beach an arbitrary settlement passing the summer has been already formed and the neighbouring area has been ceded to the village to be used as a camping ground. The unorganized residence at the sandy beaches as well as in the forest Strofilia disturbs and degrades these zones. This has as an effect the influence of the pine trees from some diseases with the danger of their decay. The forest has been degraded from overgrazing. The area of the lake is seriously degraded and alteration of the natural environment has been observed. The alteration of the water quality is due to its pollution from the EOT hotels, the many illegally rented rooms around the lake, illegal camping and pollution from the sulphate water of the curative springs (incidents of mass death of fish has been often observed). The reed belts and wet meadows have been strongly influenced by embankment and deepening for the conversion of the lake into a "marina". The brackish waters with the community Ruppietea and the aquatic species Cladium mariscus are strongly endangered. The nesting activities of Caretta caretta on the sandy beach of this site is strongly influenced by various human activities. Also, shooting is a real threat to the migratory and other birds of the area.

DESIGNATION

This site partially overlaps with a game refuge according to the FEK 541/B/90. The total amount (100%) of the land area of this site is under the zone of control of urban development act (ZOE), (FEK1161/D/93, 86/D/94). With the decision A1/F07/65037/2543/2-1-81 (FEK 112/B'/24-1-81), the area of Kaiafa was declared as an archaeological site and as a landscape of special natural beauty.

OWNERSHIP

The Kaiafa lake as well as the curative springs that gush up from Mt. Lapitha, are managed by the Public Organization of Tourism. The forest of Strofilia belongs to the Public.

DOCUMENTATION

Economidou E. 1981. Ethniko programma diacheiriseos akton. 5. Paraktioi Viotopoi. 1. Athina. (National programme for coastal management. 5. Coastal biotopes. 1. Athens). (3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3) Giannakakis K. & S. Markopoulos. 1990. Meleti kathorismou zonon chrisis gis paraliakis periochis Nomou Ileias. (Study for the determination of zones of land use at the coastal area of Ileia Prefecture). (4.1, 4.4). Koumpli-Sovantzi L. 1991. Coastal lagoon flora of NW Peloponnisos (Greece). Willdenowia 21: 119-129. (3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2). Lavrentiades G. 1964. The ammophilous vegetation of the western Peloponnisos coasts. Vegetatio 12: 223-287. (3.1, 4.1). Voliotis D. & E. Drossos. 1982. A study of an Extensive Biotope of the Aromatic Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) near Aphytos, Kassandra Peninsula, northern Greece. Bauhinia 7/4:229-242. (3.3, 4.2). Margaritoulis D. 1992. Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758). Oikogeneia: Cheloniidae. Chelona Karetta, Thalassochelona [Family: Cheloniidae. Loggerhead Turtle]. In: The Red Data Book of Threatened Vertebrates of Greece, pp. 97-100. M. Karandeinos (coord.). Hellenic Zoological Society and Hellenic Ornithological Society (eds.). Thymeli Publ., Athens. (3.2, 4.2, 4.3). Margaritoulis D. 1988. Nesting of the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta on the shores of Kyparissia bay, Greece. Mesogee 48: 59-65. (3.2, 4.2, 4.3).
Margaritoulis D. 1989. Determination of nesting habitats of Caretta caretta in Greece (1989: Western Peloponnisos). Report to the E.E.C. Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. Athens. 43pp. (3.2, 4.2, 4.3).
Margaritoulis D. & T. Arapis. 1990. Monitoring and conservation of the Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta in Greece. Final report to the E.E.C. (DGXI) on project 6610-88-33 (MED-SPA) Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. Athens. 87 pp. (3.2, 4.2, 4.3).
Kahmann H. 1964. Contribution a l'etude des mammiferes du Peloponnese. Mammalia 28: 109-136. (3.3). MED-SPA (4.2, 4.3). Schneider H. & Haxhiu I. 1992. The distribution of the Epeirus frog (Rana epeirotica) in Albania. Amphibia-Reptilia 13: 293-295. (4.2). Bern Convention (Appendices II & III). (3.3, 3.4, 4.2). Proedriko Diatagma (Presidential Decree) 67/1981. (3.3, 3.4, 4.2). Sotiropoulos K. 1995. New locality records of three Greek reptiles. Newsletter-Hellenic Zoological Society 25(1): 3. (3.2). Ondrias J.C. 1966. The taxonomy and geographical distribution of the rodents of Greece. Saugetierk. Mitt. 14(suppl.): 1-136. (3.4, 4.2). Handrinos G. 1992. Poulia [Birds]. In: The Red Data Book of Threatened Vertebrates of Greece, pp. 123-243. M. Karandeinos (coord.). Hellenic Zoological Society and Hellenic Ornithological Society (eds.). Thymeli Publ., Athens. (4.2).
Macdonald D. & P. Barrett. 1993. Mammals of Britain and Europe. Harper Collins Publ., London. (4.2). Morague G. & G. Minet 1988. Notes Coleopterologiques Helleniques. Biocosme Mesog. 5(1): 23-32. (3.3, 3.4).Koomen P., van Helsdingen P.J. 1993. "Listing of biotopes in Europe according to their significance for invertebrates". Council of Europe, T-PVS (93) 43, 74pp. (4.2).