Lake Kerkini Information Centre
Region
Europe
Country
Greece
Flyway
East Atlantic flyway
Initiative
WLI Europe
About
Lake Kerkini Management Authority
Funding support: Regional Operational Programme of Macedonia – THRACE 2207-2013- management and operation of the protected area of the Lake Kerkini, NSRF 2007-2013
Programme for development, Co-financed by Greece and the European Union.
Number of staff
12
Number of visitors per year
3500
Overall aims of the centre
Conservation of the biodiversity
Conservation of the area’s ecosystems as regard their operational and structural capability
Protection and improvement of soil’s productivity and of aquatic ecosystems, in the frame of the sustainable management
Continuous guard of the protected area
Awareness and sensitization of public
Environmental education
Planning of projects concerning the environment’s protection
Description of the centre
Lake Kerkini National Park is situated in the northwest part of the prefecture of Serres, in northern Greece, next to the Greek-Bulgarian borders. The total protected area amounts to about 83,100 hectares. Lake Kerkini is an artificial one and it is one of the 10 Wetlands of International Importance in Greece (also known as Ramsar Wetlands).
It is one of the 196 Important Bird Areas in Greece (IBA) and a Special Protection Area (SPA- Directive 79/409/EEC as amended by Directive 2009/147/EEC), as well as an area of Natura 2000 Network (Directive 92/43/EEC).
According to Directive 92/43/EEC 22 different habitat types have been recorded. Regarding the biodiversity, there are about 1,300 different plant species, 4,300 insect species, 30 fish species, 26 species of reptiles, 58+ species of mammals, 11 species of amphibians and 300 + bird species.
Amongst the activities that the Management Authority runs, the most important are the following: Monitoring of specific habitat types, ornithofauna (waterbirds, predators), the species otter( Lutra lutra), the species jackal (Canis aureus),water quality parameters. Environmental education. Environmental awareness. Guarding of the area.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work areas
Programmes of environmental education for pupils of all grades
Participation in local, national and international exhibits with the aim of promoting the area
Producing written material (leaflets, books, newsletters, posters)
Organising seminars for the local people
Organising programmes for volunteers
Top three successes
Guarding the area (we limited the problem of poaching, illegal fishing)
Environmental education (the number of pupils that visit the centre is rising up every year)
Supporting the breeding of the species Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) by building two wooden platforms (it’s the first time that this species creates a new colony after 150 years- and this colony is in Lake Kerkini)
Top three challenges
Although we made a lot of efforts to clean the lake from the garbage, that Strymon river brings, the problem still exists because of the lack of cooperation between the Bulgarian and Greek authorities.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage; site information; Producing written materials
Visitor centres
Managing / creating habitat; Running a visitor centre; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Engaging young people; Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Early years education; Working with primary schools; Working with secondary schools; Developing resources / materials
General
PR and marketing;
Contact
Lake Kerkini Management Authority,
Address: Kerkini, 62055, Greece
dimaki@kerkini.gr, intzidou@kerkini.gr
Phone: 2327028004
Fax: 2327028005