Project Areas

Protection of Nesting activity in Peloponnesus

The Gulf of Kyparissia

Kyparissiakos Bay is the second biggest Mediterranean reproduction habitat of the Caretta caretta sea turtle. It is situated in West Peloponnesse, and extends from Katakolo cape, in the north, to Kounelos cape in the south. The magnificent sandy beach is 46 km long and it is only interrupted by Alfios River and two smaller ones - Neda and Arkadikos. The really magnificent scenery is characterized by the pine trees coastal forest all along the upper part of the beach, by the biggest and richest zone of sand dunes in Greece and by the intense ripple of the Ionian Sea that offers moments of peace and relaxation.

In Kyparissiakos Bay there are almost 700 Caretta caretta nests on a yearly basis, the majority of which (86%) is mainly found in the southest part of the bay, and more specifically, in a 10 km area, between Neda estuary and Kalo Horio village, which constitutes the heart of the habitat. This area has been included in the European network Natura 2000 under the code GR2550005 "Thines Kyparissias: Noehori - Kyparissia" mainly due to the reproduction of the sea turtles and the protected flora in the sand dunes zone. The sea area round the bay has also been included in the same network of protected areas under the code GR2330008 "Kyparissia bay sea area: Katakolo cape - Kyparissia" due to the existence of widespread Poseidonia meadows which constitute feeding and reproduction places for plenty and various organisms.

Since 1983 ARCHELON conducts a project of recording and protecting reproduction activity in the area between Neda estuaries and Kalo Horio village. Reproduction period starts late May and lasts till October. During this period, and more specifically from May 15 till September 30, with the participation of volunteers all over the world, ARCHELON runs the following activities:

• Morning observation, during which reproductive activity is recorded daily.
• Night observation and marking of adult sea turtles
• Nest protection from human activity and predation by mammals (foxes, dogs etc), which is done by enclosing and marking the nests and by shading them, where necessary.
• Excavation of nests after the exit of the hatchlings in order to estimate the number of them that left the nest.
• Public awareness by operating a seasonal information station in Kalo Nero village, by organizing information slide shows in tourist facilities and camping of the area, as well as by conducting beach patrols in order to raise the bathers' awareness.
  

In the frame of the European Community LIFE - Nature program, conducted in the area by ARCHELON, two main actions should be noted:

• A special Environmental Study and Managerial Project for the coastal zone have been worked out in the aim of promoting - in collaboration with local society - a sustainable management for the efficient protection of the physical environment and the controlled development of the local economy
• A Scientific and Environmental Station has been founded in Agiannakis area which, in the range of environmental education program, organizes guided tours for schools and visitors.