Abstract
Over 35% of the wetlands of Greece have been lost in recent years, and destruction due to pollution from agriculture and urban sources and to development continues at an alarming rate. Little information exists on their location and basic ecosystem characteristics. Most of the 124 wetlands identified in this survey occur in the north and central part of the country, and they range from coastal lagoons to peatlands. Emergent freshwater marshes and coastal lagoons are the most common wetland types. Greek wetlands are invaluable nesting and resting habitats for waterfowl, as they are located along the major north-south migratory corridors. The 1971 international convention in Ramsar, Iran, identified twelve wetlands of international importance to waterfowl. Without exception, the wetlands of Greece are in need of protection, and the first step in that direction should be the development of a comprehensive national wetland inventory.
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Heliotis, F.D. An inventory and review of the wetland resources of Greece. Wetlands 8, 15–31 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160806
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160806