PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The River Potamos, which runs into the sea 1,5 km North-East of Corfu town at the Potamos Bay, has a drainage basin covering an area of 3,617 Ha and is considered to be a rare Mediterranean ecosystem, unique in Greece. This is mainly because of the riverside canopy forests and the rare and endangered species of flora and fauna it supports. In recent years however, this unique resource has suffered deterioration due to flooding and intensive tourism activity.
OBJECTIVES
The fundamental aim of the project concerned the rehabilitation and conservation of the Potamos river for present and future generations through sustainable techniques and management methods which could be supported by the local community using their own financial and human resources. The project would comprise three basic sets of actions: - Preparatory actions (e.g. identification of agents participating in the management of the River Potamos, collection of data with the aim of obtaining, analysing and disseminating information); - Implementation actions (protection and repair work in the local environment, including relevant engineering and environmental studies); - Actions aimed at promoting and disseminating information. The project would apply (for the first time in Greece) the concept of “resources exchange”, a sustainable development approach at local level. It involves the exchange of resources such as land, manpower, raw materials and funds in an effort to bring about the sustained use of self-help in the maintenance and management of the ecosystem. The approach also promotes issues related to community cohesion, participation procedures, volunteering and environmental awareness.
RESULTS
Overall, the objectives of the project have been accomplished. The application of the “resources exchange programme” in the area in and around the Potamos river has contributed to the formulation of a new development model based on the integration of the environment in land-use planning and resources management, the protection of the estuarine and riverside forest, the provision of improved access to nature for the local population and increased environmental awareness among the locals and visitors. The project spearheaded a whole series of practical actions to rehabilitate and conserve the Potamos river including the lining of the riverbanks with wire netting to reduce erosion, construction of weirs to keep the riverbed stable, construction of jetties in the estuary and increasing the bridge span at Asyrmatos to allow for an unobstructed water flow, which is of great importance since the rainy season is exceptionally heavy in Corfu. In addition, training and information programmes were designed and implemented on the topics of environmental protection and ecosystem management of the Potamos river of Corfu and the application of Geographic Information Systems. The training was addressed to engineers, local authorities, public service employees, tour guides, educators, and residents. Other actions included the construction of a Kiosk, which will operate as an Environmental Information Centre, the development of a code of good conduct and the publication of a Good Practice Guide for residents and visitors to the Potamos district and the creation of web pages promoting the programme on the Internet. The LIFE project has initiated of a whole series of actions for which the Municipality of Corfu has committed itself to continue after the end of the programme such as the systematic cleaning of the river and maintenance of the works. Furthermore, the solutions proposed in the project’s base study, which examined options to solve the problem of flooding because of the blocking of the estuary from sediments, will be taken up after the end of the LIFE Project. Finally, the Municipality is also examining the issue of exchanging the land across the river which is currently private, in order to take further measures for the protection of the river and the surrounding area. The project has enhanced information, environmental awareness, public participation and community cohesion, and offered a catalyst for sustainable action. Local residents have acquired new skills and experience. Significantly, the participation of local people and authorities has been so wide that many of the actions planned at the outset were completed without the corresponding amount of the budget being spent. The “resource exchange” concept has been implemented with relative success: not only have local people expressed opinions and ideas, but they have also offered labour, equipment and financial resources to protect the river, improve its accessibility and clean its surroundings from solid waste. Many local institutions have stated their willingness to expand their contribution to the programme with further financial resources, labour, equipment and ideas. The project has resulted in the protection of an important wetland (Potamos estuary and riverside forest) that was until recently deteriorating. The upgrading of the natural environment may lead to future inclusion of the whole area in the Natura 2000 ecological network.
