Areas with sand dunes and impressive sea lilies as well as hundreds of Mediterranean turtles (Testudo hermannii) are included in the unique ecosystem of the Alyki Kitros Pieria, which needs constant protection.

With this aim, but also to discuss the challenges and threats facing the ecosystems of the coastal zone, a conference is being held today in Katerini, entitled “The precious sand dune system of Aliki Kitros and its protection”. The conference is organized by the Protected Areas Management Unit of Central Macedonia, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Organization (OFYPECA).

As the biologist – environmentalist Dimitris Bousbouras explained to APE-MPE, who presented at the conference the results of monitoring projects on the sand dunes of Aliki Kitros, among other things – 123 species of flora and one turtle, on average, per acrea number that confirms once again that this is the most important area for turtles in Europe.

“At the same time, in the area 5.5 kilometers long and 50 to 150 meters wide that we investigated in the period 2021-2022, we found that there was garbage on the surface of 3 – 15% of the sampled areas” said Mr. Bousbouras.

As he underlined, the most important threat to the ecosystem is man, as the access of vehicle users to the area destroys the sea lilies, while many turtles end up on the wheels of cars.

“Even if an area has been burned, lilies can regrow, but if it’s been trampled by humans, it’s very difficult. Very often we see turtles killed by cars, which literally “plow” the protected area illegally, moving off the rural roads. Usually these are people who go fishing, poaching or extracting worms for bait,” explains the researcher.

It is noted that sand dune ecosystems are important structural and functional elements of coastal Protected Areas, which in the last forty years have been degraded or destroyed throughout the Mediterranean. The uncontrolled tourist exploitation of the coasts, the uncontrolled building, the construction of roads, but also the worsening climate crisis lead to the limitation or even the disappearance of the sand dune systems and the irreparable alteration of the landscape.

The sand dunes of Aliki Kitros

The sandy area in the area of ​​Aliki Kitros is one of the largest in Greece, but according to a relevant announcement by the Central Macedonia Protected Areas Management Unit of OFYPEKA, there is degradation mainly due to the uncontrolled access of visitors and users of cars or heavy vehicles.

The extensive dune system, with a total length of approximately 7 km, is sandwiched between the sea, the lagoon and the wider wetland, creating a single, dynamic ecosystemwhich in addition to the beauty and welcoming habitats for reptile-amphibian, bird and mammal species, provides valuable services to human societies: it protects the beach from coastal erosion and sea-level rise, and the inland from flooding and the effects of strong waves and gale force winds.

Although the area does not receive strong pressures due to tourist exploitation, however, the reckless use, movement and parking of vehicles in and on the dunes by visitors or fishermen all year round and users of the beach during the summer months, causes significant changes in the sand-loving vegetation and fragmentation of fauna breeding, feeding and resting habitats.

With the completion of the monitoring projects on the sand dunes of Aliki Kitros, Mr. Bousbouras submitted proposals to improve the conservation status of the sand dune ecosystem.

“It is necessary to inform the citizens, to activate the police services and security services by imposing fines, to issue a Presidential Decree with regulations for the area and to restore the fences. An extensive clean-up and garbage removal project (outside the breeding season) must also be implemented, poaching must be controlled and illegal poachers’ huts must be removed.”