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Hellenic Ornithological Society, photo: Christos Toskos
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GR092 Mesolongi and Aetoliko lagoons, and Acheloos and Evinos estuaries
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Criteria: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6
Coordinates: 38o 20' N 21o 20' E (Map)
 Altitude: 0-450 m
Area: 50000 ha

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Site Description
A wetland complex with lagoons, saltpans (`Other' land-use, below), extensive saltmarshes, freshwater marshes, sandbanks, and a remnant area of alluvial forest.

Habitats: Forest (7%, Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland), Shrubland (8%, Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis), Wetland (80%, Coastal lagoons; Mud flats and sand flats; Rivers and streams; Salt marshes; Sand dunes and beaches)

Land use: agriculture, fisheries/aquaculture (50%), forestry, other (5%), tourism/recreation
Appendices
Protection status
National Partial International Partial
1,000 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Varasova/Galata-Perithoriou, 1,000 ha). 550 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Pouri-Asprolith/A. Kerasovou, 550 ha). Part of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Kantilia-Valti/Astakou, 3,500 ha). 46 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Lesini Ash Forest, 46 ha). Part of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Messolonghi Lagoons, 33,687 ha). Part of IBA covered by Biogenetic Reserve.
44184 ha of the IBA are covered by Special Protection Area (SPA) DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU-AITOLIKOU KAI EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALAS, DYTIKOS ARAKYNTHOS & STENA KLEISOURAS(GR2310015).


Birds
This is an important site for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds and raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (wintering), Pelecanus crispus (10 wintering individuals), Aythya nyroca (passage ), Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering), Aegypius monachus (wintering), Aquila clanga (wintering), Aquila heliaca (2 resident individuals), Gallinago media (passage). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter, on a regular basis (including Anas penelope 10,000; Anas crecca 3,000; Anas clypeata 3,000; Fulica atra 15,500).

Species Season Year Min Max Acc Criteria
Anas penelope Eurasian Wigeon winter 1988 10000 10000 good B1i, C3
Aythya ferina Common Pochard winter 1988 11100 11100 good B1i, C3
Numenius tenuirostris Slender-billed Curlew passage 0 - - unknown A1, C1
Burhinus oedicnemus Eurasian Thick-knee breeding 1990 39 39 good B2, C6
Haematopus ostralegus Eurasian Oystercatcher resident 1990 25 25 good B1i, C3
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet winter 1988 300 300 good B2, C6
Recurvirostra avosetta Pied Avocet breeding 1990 23 23 good C6
Charadrius alexandrinus Kentish Plover resident 1990 200 200 good B1i, C3
Glareola pratincola Collared Pratincole breeding 1990 66 77 good A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Sterna nilotica Gull-billed Tern breeding 1990 110 110 good A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Sterna caspia Caspian Tern resident 1996 10 20 average C2
Sterna albifrons Little Tern breeding 1990 489 500 good A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Gyps fulvus Eurasian Griffon resident 0 Common unknown C6
Falco naumanni Lesser Kestrel breeding 1990 12 15 good A1, C1
Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant winter 1988 1550 1550 good B1i, C3
Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis passage 1990 500 1800 good A4i, B1i, C2
Calandrella brachydactyla Greater Short-toed Lark breeding 1990 1200 1250 good B2, C6
Appendices

Conservation issues
The main threat to the site is from intensive agriculture and associated drainage and water management schemes. The completed diversion of the Evinas river and the current project to divert the Acheloos river are also major threats. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Threats: agricultural intensification/expansion (high), aquaculture/fisheries (low), construction/impact of dyke/dam/barrage (high), drainage (medium), filling-in of wetlands (medium), industrialization/urbanization (high), unsustainable exploitation (medium)
Appendices

Χάρτης

Source: Important Areas for the Birds of Greece
Copyright © Hellenic Ornithological Society


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