Combining conflicting, economic, and environmental pressures: Evaluation of the restored Lake Karla (Thessaly-Greece)

Abstract

In this paper, the restoration of Lake Karla's ecosystem is studied through the evaluation of its current status. Lake Karla was one of the most important wetlands of Greece with many benefits not only to biodiversity preservation, to water balance of the watershed, but also to local economy in terms of fisheries. Its drainage, in 1962, created a lot of environmental problems and led to the local economy shrinking. After its refilling, the newly re-established water body is considered a vital aquatic ecosystem since it is listed in the network of Natura 2000. The monitoring results, the pressures and their causes that affected the restoration effort are presented. The assessment of the water quality is achieved by evaluating the results of the monitoring and fieldwork programs that Management Body of Eco-development Area of Lake Karla has performed during the last four years funded by the European Union. The results indicate strong eutrophication along with threats to biodiversity. The delay of implementation of Lake Karla reconstruction project, the decline from the proposed Environmental Terms and the lack of environmental policy are the most important causes of pressures.