Protection and management of priority habitats in Mediterranean coastal areas

Elias Dimitriou1, Nikolaos Skoulikidis1 and Ierotheos Zacharias2

1Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Inland Waters (EL)
2University of Ioannina, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management (EL)

Coastal Wetlands undergo significant stresses nowadays, mainly due to developmental activities and the relevant land use changes observed during the last 3 decades. Intensive agriculture and the associated pollution, solid waste disposal and expansion of touristic infrastructure have led to the elimination and degradation of priority habitats. In the particular study GIS and Image analysis techniques have been used in combination with hydrogeologic data to assess the groundwater pollution risk in a priority habitat area (EC/92/43) originating from alterations in the land use regime. The results indicated that there are significant land use alterations during the period 1970-2000 in the study area, including a 34% increase of the cropland, a 27% decrease in the natural areas-forests and a 2071% increase in the area covered by Greenhouses. These changes affected the groundwater pollution risk potential by increasing the areas of high pollution potential over 53% in relation to the 70's values and eliminating the low pollution risk zone by 31%. Thus, urgent mitigation and restoration measures should be undertaken to avoid further environmental degradation in a Natura 2000 site that hosts ecologically important wetland habitats (Mediterranean Temporary Ponds).