Human - induced impact to the environment and changes in the geomorphology: Some examples of inland and coastal environments in Greece

Abstract

It has been observed that human activity in the form of engineering works, such as channelization (drainage pits and drainage dams, deepening and creation of canals), dam construction (hydroelectric power dams, irrigation dams and water supply dams), diversion and culverting (arrangement and redirection of river channels), as well as other human interventions and activities (intensification and development of agriculture projects, infrastructure works, embankments, exsiccation, wood cutting, deforestation, deforestation of riparian vegetation, fire wood collection, uncontrolled watering from surface water tables, uncontrolled pumping of underground waters, etc.), may seriously affect the environmental balance of wetlands. The aims of this paper are: 1) to report a synthesis of the environmental and geomorphological studies on the selected wetlands of Nestos, Sperchios, Arachthos river deltas and the estuaries of the river Louros and Alfeios as well as of the fen of Kalodiki and Katafourko lagoon in Greece, 2) to locate the main human activities, as well as the existing or planned infrastructure works, 3) to detect and survey as far as possible the impacts of the aforementioned human activities and the problems that follow, and affect these wetlands and 4) we will produce a manageable “tool” that will be used in order to make decisions relevant to the rational management of the natural resources and the environment in the earlier mentioned areas. Key words: Environmental impact, geomorphology, human activities, wetlands, lagoons, deltas.