| Σχόλιο για τις αξίες |
The riparian forest stands have an important ecological role together with high historical and aesthetic value. The surrounding hills play a special ecological role in the structure and function of the conservation of the Kalamas wetland while the thickets of reed and tamarisk and the halophytic plant communities have special ecological characteristics. Taxa with motivation D are: Petrorhagia obcordata subsp. epirotica, which is a Balkan endemic distributed in Greece and Yugoslavia in Greece it occurs only in Epeiros and Thessaly. Azola filiculoides, a small aquatic free-floating fern widely distributed in Europe with an interesting distribution range in Greece, and Alnus glutinosa. The latter species is affected intensively by human pressure, resulting in the continuous decline of its population. The Quercus ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis constitutes remnant stands with special ecological value, which must be restored. The delta and the valley of Kalamas river is one of the most important areas in Greece from a zoological point of view. Some species mentioned in the 92/43/EEC Directive (Annex II), have been recorded in this site (see section 3.2). The otter Lutra lutra is rather locally frequent, indicating still, unpolluted waters. With the exception of Caretta caretta, whose presence in the broader area of sea water, around the mouth of the river is sporadic, the other reptile species of the site are present in dense populations. According to Economidis (pers. com.), the fish taxa valid for Greece, Pseudophoxinus stymphalicus is well ascribed by the Directive taxa Phoxinellus spp. Bothl of them are threatened in Greece, at least locally and is endemic to Greece (P. stymphalicus) Furthermore, many Other Important Taxa (section 3.3) have been known to live in this site. Among them, the water shrew Neomys anomalus is mentioned in the Greek Red Data Book under the threat category "Insufficiently Known". With the exception of Myocastor coypus, they are protected by the Bern Convention and are, therefore, eligible for motivation C. As far as the Wildcat, Felis silvestris is concerned, it receives motivation C as it is mentioned in the CITES Convention. The toads B. bufo and B. viridis, the frogs Hyla arborea and Rana dalmatina, the lizards Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta trilineata, the colubrid snakes Coluber gemonensis, C. najadum, Malpolon monspessulanus, Natrix natrix and N. tessellata, the hedgehog Erinaceus concolor, the shrews Crocidura suaveolens and Neomys anomalus, the weasel Mustela nivalis, and the polecat Mustela putorius, are mentioned in the Greek Presidential Decree and therefore justify motivation D. Motivation D is also allocated to the following taxa which have been evaluated by the CORINE-Biotopes Project: the amphibians Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana dalmatina, the reptiles Ablepharus kitaibelii, Natrix tessellata and the mammal Felis silvestris. Some Balkan endemics also receive motivation D: Rana epeirotica, Algyroides nigropunctatus, Podarcis taurica ionica, Coluber gemonensis, Microtus thomasi, and the two Apodemus taxa. Finally, motivation D is given to the noutria Myocastor coypus (which is considered a good indicator of well-conserved wetlands), and the generally rare and cryptic Wildcat Felis silvestris. The zoological, ecological and aesthetic value of this site is evident when taking the very interesting local avifauna into account. Rare, threatened and even taxa in danger of extinction, occur in this EC Important Bird Area. The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation D are protected by the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981. Pieris krueperi is also included in the list of "Threatened Rhopalocera (butterflies) of Europe. |
