TOUR DU VALAT
A research centre for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands
Programs
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Integrated management of Mikri Prespa wet meadows
Project leader: François MESLEARD (See the CV)
Team:
Patrick Grillas, Alain Sandoz
The Prespa site constitutes a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. It has National Park status in Greece and is the subject of an International Park project with Albania and the FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). It is faced with major economic and agricultural challenges (intensive agriculture in Greece, ongoing development in Albania and Macedonia).
The Society for the Protection of Prespa is a vital element for the conservation and management. It is our permanent on-site partner. The Tour du Valat, which has been working on the site since the beginning of the 1980’s provides the SPP with scientific expertise regarding a range of scientific issues (priority bird species, fish, wet meadows, etc.).
Contents:
Issues :
This project addresses two issues:
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The impact of altered water management on the distribution of vegetation
Water management has long been a conflictive issue between farmers, fishermen and conservationists. Recently a new sluice has been installed for better control of the water level and the reduction of high levels in spring. High water levels and temporary fluctuations are needed for the maintenance of the wet meadows and their use by fish and birds. Furthermore, in Albania, water management projects in the Mikri Prespa catchment area could significantly modify the levels in the lake.
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The management of habitats for populations of rare bird species
In deep water, reedbeds (Phragmites australis) constitute an important breeding habitat for priority bird species (Dalmatian Pelican & Pygmy Cormorant), White Pelicans and some herons. For unknown reasons, in some parts of the lake, extensive Phragmites australis stands have been replaced by Typha angustifolia. This is identified as a threat for breeding Pelicans, for which Typha stands do not provide optimal breeding conditions.
On the fringes of the lake, the decline of extensive grazing during recent decades has led to a dramatic increase of reedbeds at the expense of wet meadows. The management of the wet meadows has long been a conservation and economic issue as wet meadows are used as spawning grounds for phytophilous and lithophytophilous fish species (traditional cooking), and as feeding grounds by water birds (priority species). They also support large numbers of invertebrates and are used by amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Potential grazers are cattle or buffaloes, the latter having successfully been experimented with for four years. Repeated mechanical harvesting of the vegetation could be an alternative management technique for reducing the encroachment of Phragmites.
Activities:
Over the course of the year 2006, the Tour du Valat has been involved in two main activities:
- Monitoring operations carried out on the vegetation (control of tall helophyte species by grazing and cutting to restore wet grasslands) within the LIFE steering committee (extended for one year)
- Analysis of land use and vegetation changes resulting from the diversion of the river Devolli, using satellite images and field data collected in 2005.
This has enabled the following to be described:
- Changes in the emergent vegetation of the Albanian part of Mikri Prespa between 1984 and 2001
- Developments in land use around the lake and in the upper catchment of the river Devolli.
Partners:
- Society for the Protection of Prespa (Greek version)
