An Event Promoting the Amvrakikos Wetland Protection

An event for the promotion of the Amvrakikos Wetland protection is organized by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) on Sunday 10 November 2013. The meeting will be held on 11:30 a.m. at the barrier beach of Koronissia, right after Salaora beach’s hill, within the framework of the Greek IBA Caretakers Network training seminar (9–10 November 2013). The event includes birdwatching as well as disseminating information for the effective and sustainable management of a highly valued ecosystem like Amvrakikos.

The main goal of this event is to send out a powerful message for the required protection of one of the most important wetlands in Southern Europe. It is of absolute necessity that the environmental legislation be immediately implemented to ensure the safeguarding of Amvrakikos natural environment preservation — and thus the quality of life of the local community. 

Photo credits: Rea Papadopoulos

Unfortunately, despite the acknowledged and undisputed global importance of Amvrakikos as being one of the 10 Ramsar Wetlands in Greece, the foundations of its statutory protection are constantly undermined. The most recent example is the preposterous decision of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change to allow the unconditional lift of the hunting ban in seven areas within the Zone A of the National Park, an area most critical to the birds of Amvrakikos, just a stone’s throw from breeding areas of globally threatened species like the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus).
 
For three decades now, the HOS has been consistently committed to the study of the birds of this valuable ecosystem. Its actions regarding Amvrakikos include:
• monitoring breeding bird populations
• the annual Mid-winter Waterbird Census
• active participation in and close cooperation with Amvrakikos Wetlands Management Body
•  interventions for management issues occurring from time to time.

For all the reasons set out above and since 2013 marks the Greek IBA Caretaker Network’s ten years of establishment, the HOS volunteers training seminar will be once more held at Amvrakikos.
 
The event is supported by the following NGOs: Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, Callisto, Naturefriends Greece and WWF Greece.
 
The event is open to the public and free of charge.