This document discusses wetlands on the Greek island of Samos. It describes several important wetland areas on the island, including Alyki, Mesokampos, Glyfada, and Potami. These wetlands provide habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including 127 recorded bird species. However, human activities are threatening the wetlands, and some species like flamingos are no longer able to breed there successfully. Protecting these important natural areas is important to preserve this unique ecosystem.

1. How Schoolchildren Can
Contribute To Keeping Our Planet
Green And Clean

2. Wetlands

3. Wetland is an area of land saturated with
water either permanently or seasonally.
It is characterised as having a water table
that stands near or at the land surface for a
long enough period to support aquatic life.
The Ramsar International Wetland
Conservation Treaty, an international
agreement signed by 160 countries, has
defined in clear terms what consists a
wetland.
The 2nd of February is World Wetlands day.

4. In Greece there are
more than 400
wetland areas.
There are 11 larger
wetlands that are
considered
protected areas
according to the
Ramsar Convention.

5. As Samos is unique in terms of
environmental characteristics, this
project will focus on the wetlands of
the island.

7. The
wetland in Alyki
is in the eastern
part of Samos
and very near
the coast of Asia
Minor. The
region has been
recognized
as biotope and
is included in
NATURA 2000

8. Nearby Alyki, is
the largest by far
wetland of
Mesokampos,
also known as
Valkamia, just 4.5
km east-
northeast of
Pythagorion. It
covers 1400 acres
and occupies the
eastern part of
Mesokampos,
approximately
half its surface.
The 800 acres
constitute
a permanent
marsh.

9. Small Glyfada has water all year long and
communicates with Big Glyfada with continuous flow.
Its formation is due to the existence of many small
springs that supply it with brackish water.

10. Samos hides a lot
of surprises and
one of them is
the waterfalls in
Potami,Karlovass
i.

12. The flora and fauna that is
found within the freshwater systems
and their surrounding areas in Samos is
diverse and ecologically important.

13. Each year, in the winter time the water
in the wetland lakes raises and a lot of
birds, flamingo, widgeons, swans and
herons gather there. In the summertime
the water disappears, the lake dries out
and the birds leave it. Totally have been
recorded 127 species of birds in the
biotope.

14. One of the most important
species is the flamingo. The
Flamingos normally arrive at
Alyki Wetland (the salt lake by
Mykali) in the beginning of
November and stay until
February/March.

15. The flamingos used to breed in the
wetlands of Samos but unfortunately
scientists have found that they no
longer manage to lay eggs here and
when they do the hatchlings do not
survive. This is due to human
intervention of various forms that has
limited the overall area of the wetlands.

16. Egretta garzetta – Little Egre
They can be found in freshwater, brackish,
or saline wetlands. Egretta garzetta has a
preference for shallow wetlands in open
sites where fish are close to the surface

17. Mammals of the biotope are hedgehogs,
hares, black mice, jackals, while the
amphibians and the reptiles are represented
by frogs, river turtles, Greek turtles,
chameleons, water snakes, lizards etc.

18. Human activities have taken their toll
around the wetland areas, so it is our duty
to actively protect this unique natural
heritage of ours and not allow the wetlands
to be destroyed.

19. Sources
Archipelagos NGO
Internet