| Σχόλιο για τις αξίες |
As mentioned 4.1, the Lake Korission area is a complex and more or less still well-conserved ecosytem of high biological, aesthetic and, as a consequence, economic value, unusual for an island such as Kerkyra which has been so greatly altered by tourist development. As for the main wetland in the island of Kerkyra, Korission Lake is an important site for wildlife protection in the area, and especially for bird migration and breeding, the survival of the protected species Lutra lutra and conservation of the natural vegetation types existing in the area. A status of a protective legal frame is necessary for this site. Strict law abiding to the existing legal frame is also required. On the other hand, the site needs further studies to develop a sustainable management programme and the development of activities, which would be friendly to the environment. The presence of coniferous representatives as elements of low altitude Mediterranean types of vegetation is not very common and very often existing Juniperus phoenicea's clusters are considered as remnants of old and more extensive forests. Moreover Juniperus clusters, as those observed in sandy beaches of SW Kerkyra (Korission Lake's area), are very rare in Greece. The occurrence of the otter Lutra lutra in Lake Korission is uncertain. Some more taxa recorded in the area are listed as either Other Important Species (section 3.3). Among them the jackal Canis aureus is threatened in Greece (threat category "Vulnerable"); it is very rare throughout the island of Kerkyra which, together with the island of Samos, is the only Greek island still maintaining small jackal populations. All listed species in section 3.3 are protected by the Bern Convention and therefore receive the C motivation. The same motivation is addditionally given to the boid snake Eryx jaculus since it is also protected by the CITES Convention. Most taxa of the site which fall under the C motivation category also receive the D motivation because they are protected by Greek legislation; namely with the exceptions of the frogs Rana epeirotica and R. ridibunda, the legless lizard Ophisaurus apodus, the snakes Typhlops vermicularis, Eryx jaculus and Vipera ammodytes, and the Beech Marten Martes foina, all the remaining are protected by the Presidential Decree 67/1981. Moreover, the D motivation is given to the frog Rana dalmatina and the colubrid snakes Elaphe longissima and Natrix tessellata since they are mentioned in the handbook of the CORINE-Biotopes Project. Finally, the D motivation is given to four Balkan endemic taxa: the frog Rana epeirotica, the lacertid lizards Alygyroides nigropunctatus and Podarcis taurica ionica and the colubrid snake Coluber gemonensis.The fauna of this wetland also includes a large number of birds sedentary and migratory taxa. For its role in bird migration and breeding, this site has been characterized as an EC Important Bird Area. Taking into consideration the diversity and composition of the local fauna, we can say that it sufficiently contributes to the overall ecological value of the site. The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation C are protected by the Bern Convention. The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation C are protected by the Bern Convention. The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation D are protected by the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981. Anthocharis damone and Pieris krueperi are also included in the IUCN Red List. Additionally, Heodes alciphron is included in the IUCN Red List. Pieris ergane is also included in the "Listing of biotopes in Europe according to their significance for invertebrates".Saturnia pyri is protected by the IUCN Red List and the European Red List of Globally Threatened Animals and Plants and it is included in the "Listing of biotopes in Europe according to their significance for invertebrates". |
