The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2006 in Greece

World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the third time through the LIFE-Nature project "Conservation Management of Kotychi-Strofylia" (LIFE2002NAT/GR/8491) that runs in the Ramsar site "Strofylia forest and Kotychi lagoon".

This year we organized a day devoted to wetlands for the Environmental Education team of the local Lyceum of Lappa village, which runs a year-round project about the protected area.

The day started at the Information Center with a presentation of the protected area as a Wetland of International Importance, followed by a presentation of the actions undertaken by the LIFE-Nature project aimed at the protection and management of the major lagoons of the area, Kotychi and Prokopos.

Then we all embarked on a field trip around Prokopos lagoon, in order to experience first-hand the beauty of the lagoon next to the umbrella-pine forest. The guided tour included a climb on the Black Mountains, the only hills in the area, where we enjoyed a panoramic view of the wetlands and forest and had the opportunity to discuss the formation and the functions of the wetlands.

Our next stop was at the Ecotourism Center by the lagoon, where we discussed the numerous values of wetlands and "discovered" their importance with the use of the informational material you have sent us, educational activities and, of course, bird-watching!

The day ended with the release of a shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), which had been found weak and was collected by the wardens of the LIFE-Nature project, in December. The duck has been successfully rehabilitated at the Aegean Wildlife Hospital in Paros island, before returning at Kotychi lagoon where she had been found.

Though a small-scale celebration, we believe that the students who attended WWD '06 are a very important "target group", as they reside inside or near the protected area and, as its future stakeholders, it is vital that they realize its importance. Their Environmental Education project will be presented during the celebration of World Environment Day 2006 on the 3rd of June.

We would like to thank you again for your support and the rich source of information that you provide us.

Best regards

Elissavet Tzovani
Public Awareness Officer
LIFE-Nature Project "Conservation Management of Kotychi-Strofylia"

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 4 May 2006, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.