Wetlands of Patmos

Citizens intervention towards the Municipality of Patmos

Citizens intervention to the Municipality (24/08/2020) regarding

• Legislation concerning the protection of wetlands
• Information about the wetlands of Patmos
• The responsibilities of the Municipality
• Proposal for the wetland of “Aliki Grikou” (Petra)

The issues raised by the document remain unresolved.

     Patmos / Brussels, 24 August 2020

Application – Proposal

to ensure a basic level of protection of the
“Aliki Grikou (Petra)” wetland

“Aliki Grikou (Petra)”, a protected area

The Presidential Decree (PD) “Approval of a list of small island wetlands and determination of conditions and restrictions for the protection and promotion of the small coastal wetlands included therein”, was approved on 12 June 2012. It was published in the Official Gazette of the Hellenic Republic No. 229 of 19 June 2012 (Annex 1), and entered into force on the same day.

For better understanding, it is useful to mention the basic obligations imposed by the PD:

• Article 2 of the PD limits any activity within the protected area to that which is absolutely necessary for its maintenance, research and information of visitors. The following are expressly prohibited: a) construction works, b) the opening of roads, c) the clearing of natural vegetation, and d) any intervention that alters the landscape.
• Article 3 of the PD concerns the licensing of any activity outside the boundaries of the protected area that could have a negative impact on the area. It requires that the licensing decision must include special environmental conditions for the protection of the area. All studies necessary to draw up the special conditions are carried out under the responsibility of the competent authorities and services.

On November 1st 2013, the Environmental Planning Directorate of the General Directorate of Environment of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (ΥΠΕΚΑ) sent to all competent public authorities and services, including the Municipality of Patmos, a circular with Prot. Νο. 62617/2308 to inform them about the approval of the PD and the obligations arising from it (Annex 2).

Regarding Patmos, the protected wetlands in the list of the PD are five, one of which is “Aliki Grikou (Petras)” with code Y421PAT006. The topographic map of the protected area (Annex 3 of this) is included in the PD. It is a triangular area that indicatively has the following boundaries:

– north: from the end of the asphalt road from/to Grikos to the rock of Kallikatsou (the beach there overlooking the bay of Grikos is part of the protected zone);

– southeast: from the rock of Kallikatsou to approximately the wooden water sports platform (the beach facing Tragonisi is not part of the protected zone);

– west: from the aforementioned wooden platform to the northern point where the asphalt road from/to Grikos ends.

Current situation: serious degradation of the protected wetland

On the southeastern beach, the Municipality of Patmos has licensed the installation of sun loungers, umbrellas and the operation of a canteen selling drinks, sandwiches, etc. Mainly, but not only, during the summer season, this activity attracts a significant number of people who travel mostly by vehicle (cars, motorcycles, etc.). The beach is not included in the protected area, but is located right next to it. People who go to the beach pass through the protected area and park their vehicles behind the beach, i.e. inside the protected area. From time to time, visitors also use it for motocross.

This situation has caused the serious degradation of the protected area, as demonstrated in the presentation made in Patmos in April 2018 by a representative of WWF Greece (Appendix 4). The natural vegetation that delimits the area consists largely of shrubs of the “juncus” species (Greek: βούρλα). Behind the northern beach there is still a continuous line of shrubs. On the contrary, behind the southeastern beach the line of shrubs has been damaged by the passage and parking of vehicles. At the western limits of the protected area the line of shrubs has suffered serious damage from the passage of vehicles and pedestrians, which has led to the opening of a dirt road. In the center of the area the vegetation has been completely destroyed.

As underlined in the relevant circular of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, the Municipality of Patmos is responsible for the protected wetlands of the island and for the implementation of the provisions of the Presidential Decree. However, by not having taken measures against the alteration of the landscape, the destruction of vegetation and the opening of a dirt road, the Municipality does not comply with the provisions of Article 2 of the Presidential Decree. Furthermore, by not having proceeded with the preparation of the necessary studies and the imposition of special protection conditions in the beach concession permit, the Municipality violates Article 3 of the Presidential Decree.

Proposal

The degradation of the protected wetland “Aliki Grikou (Petra)” has been caused mainly by the passage of pedestrians and vehicles through the protected area and by the parking of vehicles within it. Therefore, the main priority is to ensure that the protected area is no longer used either as an access road to the beach or as a parking area. We therefore propose the following:

1. the placement of information signs that will inform visitors about the protection of the wetland, its perimeter, and the reasons for its protection. They will clearly state that pedestrians and vehicles are prohibited from crossing, as well as the use of the protected zone for stopping and parking vehicles. These signs should be placed a) at the northern point of the zone at the point where most pedestrians and vehicles enter the area, and b) behind the current organized beach where vehicles are parked,

2. the replanting of shrubs located outside the protected zone to restore the natural vegetation lines to the southeastern and western borders of the protected zone. To ensure that visitors to the organized beach do not use the protected zone, signs will indicate to vehicles and pedestrians that they should walk west of the newly formed bush line. They can park their vehicles on the asphalt road or the dirt road leading to Plaki, but definitely not in the protected area.

If the above proposal receives the approval of the competent authorities, including the Municipality of Patmos, we are available to assume the financial cost of the signs and the replanting of the bushes.

The proper protection and preservation of areas that combine natural beauty and archaeological interest such as “Aliki Grikou (Petra)”, constitutes a great opportunity for the further development of eco-tourism in Patmos, which is a priority of tourism policy at a national and regional level. There is already an extensive network of trails in Patmos, which attracts more and more nature-loving hikers (also via the internet, see e.g. the “Wikiloc” application).

Awaiting your response at your earliest convenience, 

With our best wishes,

Eleni Economidou                                      Jacqueline Délia-Bremond

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara           Willebrord Sluijters

Cc Mr. A. Giannakakis, WWF Greece

Annexes:

1) Presidential Decree (PD) “Approval of a list of small island wetlands and determination of conditions and restrictions for the protection and promotion of the small coastal wetlands included therein” of 12 June 2012 (Government Gazette 229 of 19 June 2012)

2) Circular No. Prot. 62617/2308 of 1 November 2013 of the Environmental Planning Directorate of the General Directorate of Environment of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change to competent authorities

3) Topographic map of the protected area “Aliki Grikou (Petra)” with code Y421PAT006

4) WWF Greece presentation of April 2018 regarding the protected wetlands of Patmos