| Σχόλιο για τις αξίες |
Significant formations of Juniperus phoenicea exist on the sand-dunes and calcareous rocky ecosystems of the island of Sfaktiria, where they may grow to a considerable height. The phrygana vegetation ecosystems around Pylos offer shelter to some very rare endemic plant taxa with significant phytogeographical and biological interest. Many noteworthy non-bird vertebrates are known to live in this site. Some reptiles are species of the Directive 92/43 EEC (Annex II) among which, Caretta caretta is a priority species (section 3.2). All seven taxa are protected by the Bern Convention and the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981; C.caretta an "Endangered" species according to the Greek Red Data Book, is also protected by the CITES Convention, as well as, other Greek Presidential Decrees and Ministerial Decisions. The "closed" Pylos Gulf is probably used by this turtle as a favourable area for the lodging and development of juveniles and young, and for an adult feeding ground. However, the nesting activity in this site is low showing values smaller than 5 nests per km. Of the remaining taxa evaluated as Other and Greek Important species according to the motivation system of section 3.3, the most notable is the Mediterranean Chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon. This distinctive lizard has a very limited distribution in Europe, being confined to the southern ends of the Iberian and Balkan Peninsula. In Greece this species is considered as threatened, placed in the category "Rare". The present site is the only one in the Greek mainland where a small chameleon population presently lives (older records from Peloponnisos-Mani Peninsula and the area of Kalamata- have not been verified). Other Greek populations of the Chamaeleo occur on the islands of Chios, Samos and Kriti. Remarkable species are also the lacertid lizards Lacerta graeca and Podarcis peloponnesiaca, which are endemic to Peloponnisos (motivation B), the legless skink lizard Ophiomorus punctatissimus which has the westernmost area of its distribution in Peloponnisos (it occurs only in S.Greece and SW Turkey) and the colubrid snake Coluber gemonensis which are both Balkan endemics (motivation D). All Other Important taxa of the taxa obtain the C motivation as being mentioned in the Bern Convention's lists; chameleon and the boid snake Eryx jaculus are also protected by the CITES Convention. Most taxa of these two sections are moreover listed in the catalogue of the Greek Presidential Decree 67/1981 (motivation D); exceptions concern Ophisaurus apodus, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Eryx jaculus and Martes foina. The Divari lagoon is also important from an ornithological point of view since it seems to be a valuable resting place for migratory species. Herons (Ardea purpurea and Ardeola ralloides), egrets (Egretta garzetta), bitterns (Ixobrychis minutus), storks (C.ciconis), ducks (T.tadorna), flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), waders (H.himantopus) and pratincoles (Glareola pratincola) are among them. Rollers(Circaetus gallicus, Circus aeruginosus, B.buteo, Tyto alba, Coracias garrulus), waders (Charadrins alexandrinus, Tringa totanus), rails (Rallus aquaticus), gulls (Larus melanocephalus), terns (Gelochelidon nilotica, Sterna albifrons) and other forms compose the local avifauna. Some species are threatened, for example Ardea purpurea ("Vulnerable"), Phoenicopterus ruber ("Rare"), T.tadorna ("Vulnerable"), Circus aeruginosus ("Vulnerable"), H.himantopus ("Vulnerable"), Gelochelidon nilotica("Endangered"), Larus melanocephalus ("Vulnerable"), Coracias garrulus ("Vulnerable"). The presence of such a rich avifauna in this site, has led to it being classed as an EC Important Bird Area. The invertebrate species listed in section 3.3 with motivation C is 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. |
