PROGRAM “BLUE FLAG “

Activity 5

Activity title:

“Visits of student groups to the wildlife observatory of Amvrakikos -Tsopeli”

Αctivity goal:

Briefing  and sensitization of group of students about the Amvrakikos Gulf.

Activities of the Municipality of Preveza for the environment

Ιn the framework of the cooperation of the Municipality of Preveza with the Management Body of Amvrakikos gulf – Lefkada and due to the restrictive measures COVID -19, the Planning Department of the Municipality of Preveza will provide all the information about the specific activity through its Tourist website www.discover.preveza. gr.

More information in general about the great wetland of Amvrakikos is provided by the website of the Management Body of Amvrakikos Gulf-Lefkada https://amvrakikos.eu

The main objectives of the cooperation of the Municipality of Preveza with the Management Body of Amvrakikos – Lefkada are:

The improvement of the environmental consciousness mainly of the children -students of the Municipality of Preveza and consequently of the children- students of the rest of Greece for the great wetland of Amvrakikos and especially for the Tsopeli lagoon.

For the specific activity and the information of the interested parties, the Municipality of Preveza sent a relevant document to the media of Preveza and to the Directorates of Primary and

TSOPELI   LAGOON

Tsopeli is a lagoon located in the Amvrakikos Wetlands National Park. Here we meet the most diverse mosaic of wetlands in Greece. The Amvrakikos gulf communicates with the Ionian Sea through the Strait of Preveza (or Aktio), 600 meters wide and up to 10 meters deep. The existence of the large system of the Delta of the rivers Louros and Arachthos in its northern part, has created with their carried materials, more than 20 lagoons, mudflats, extensive reeds and swamps. Some elements of Amvrakikos are not found anywhere else in Greece.

All these elements need special treatment in order to protect such an environment with rich biodiversity. That is why a set of rules (legal status) has been established for the conservation and protection of areas with high and significant biodiversity, taking into account the social, economic and cultural peculiarities. The legal framework on which the management and protection of the Amvrakikos National Wetlands Park is based is determined by the Natura 2000 Network (birds) and the Ramsar Convention (wetlands).

Of the 17 natural habitat types found in the area, one is a priority. These are the lagoons which are more than 20. The Amvrakikos National Wetlands Park is characterized as the largest single wetland in Greece, offering shelter, food, rest and nesting places to a wide variety of birds, confirming its exceptional importance for birds and birds in Europe. level. It is a major migration route of many kinds. 296 species of birds find shelter here, of which 230 occur each year and 78 species occur throughout the year. Of the birds in the area, 126 species are listed as protected, while 6 of them are globally endangered.

The most famous to the general public and to the visitors of the lagoon in Tsopeli, is the Silver Pelican. A species that stands out with its imposing size thanks to the wingspan that exceeds 3 meters. He comes to the lagoon to feed and rest on the small islands that exist.

In Tsopeli you can meet herons, such as Cinderella and White Egret. The wider area is known for its exceptional importance for birdlife at European and international level. Going around the lagoon we reach the estuary of the river Louros having the opportunity depending on the season to observe many species of birds such as ducks (Whistles, Spoonbills, Teals, Greenheads). Also Chouliaromites, Kalamokanades, Voutichtaria, Alkyones, Coots, Cormorants and Lagones. Among all this, the beautiful Phoenix (Flamingo) have a prominent place, which get this pink color by eating small shrimp that they find at the bottom of the lagoon.

We can also see predators such as Gerakines, Kalamokirkous, Kragagaetos which is a summer visitor of the wooded hills around the nearby swamp of Rhodia and Stiktaetos, which overwinters in the wetlands of Amvrakikos, looking for food in the area of ​​Kalamaliks and kangalistika.

In Tsopeli we find species of fish such as mullets, sea bream, sea bass. From the female mullet, the bafa, we get the roe, which after processing is a very expensive meze (about 80-100 euros per kilo). We also have eels, which to get here follow a huge route, since they are born in the Sargasso Sea in the Gulf of Mexico and following the currents they arrive after 4 years. The lagoon with a depth of less than one meter has intense biological activity, high productivity and huge biodiversity.

In Tsopeli the fishermen use the traditional way of fishing, the ivaria. In the openings of the lagoon to the sea, they have made doors, openings, muzzles as they are called, with metal grids and they control how the fish (brood) enter the lagoons. When it has “outlet” (the water comes out of the lagoon to the sea). The brood going against the current enters the lagoon (sodisma) where it grows naturally and they can easily catch them. For their movement, fishermen use traditional light boats that move in the shallow waters of the lagoons. Such are the priaias with a length of about six-seven meters, the gaiters and the single sticks or peaks. All the above boats are made of wood, have no keel and their bottom is flat.