Biodiversity of Lake Kerkini

1
Biodiversity of Lake Kerkini

•    

Dactylorhiza romana
2
Herodotus mentions two kinds of fish paprakes
and tilones, both so abundant that ... if a
man lets an empty basket down by a line into the
lake, it is no long time before he draws it up
full of fish....   
Carassius auratus
3
During 1922 and 1928 85,000 refugees from Asia
Minor settled in the Serres plain.20 of the
refugees died mostly from malaria.The situation
led to the construction in 1928 of an artificial
reservoir.

• Disastrous floods struck the Serres plain and a
  new dam was constructed in 1982

4
  Species number of different groups in Kerkini
5
Green Lizard
6
Birds that breed in mixed-type colonies
7
Glossy Ibis
8
Squacco Heron
9
Spoonbill
10
The wide amplitude of water levels and the high
maximum levels during spring and early summer
threaten the biotope.

• Human activities that decrease the value of the
  site
• Illegal wood-cutting
• Illegal hunting
• Fishery by prohibited methods
• Visiting to the nesting areas
• Use of detergents and fertilizers have been found
  originating in the surrounding villages and
  cultivated areas.
• To preserve this wetland sensible water
  management is critical. The maximum level should
  not exceed 35m asl and alternative water sources
  should be used

11
Dare we once again close our eyes and cast this
precious gift away?
All photos are by Petrou, 1995