Hi everybody -
For your information, a news release from the RSPB (Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds - the BirdLife partner in the UK).
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OLYMPIC PLANS MUST GIVE WILDLIFE A SPORTING CHANCE TOO, SAYS RSPB
Today, on World Wetlands Day [Friday 2 February], the RSPB is calling on a
variety of sporting organisations, including the British Olympic
Association, to use their influence to prevent Schinias marsh, an
internationally important wetland for wildlife, from being illegally
destroyed ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games to create a rowing and
canoeing centre.
Schinias marsh, on the coast of Attica east of Athens, is next to the site
of the legendary Battle of Marathon in 490BC. Current development
proposals at the site, which should be protected under European
environmental legislation because of its international importance, include
the creation of artificial rowing lakes, a helicopter pad, and parking and
seating facilities for 40,000 spectators. Plans for after-use of the site
also include a golf course and tourist facilities.
Alistair Gammell, the RSPB's international director, said: "Surely the
Olympics is not about destroying our heritage but celebrating it?
Conservationists look to sporting organisations with a direct interest in
this Olympic venue to press the Greek authorities for immediate action to
move this facility to a less damaging location. Bulldozers were seen
moving on to the site on Wednesday of this week, so the matter is urgent.
"We know opportunities exist to use alternative sites that won't compromise
either the glories of the Games or the nation's considerable wildlife
heritage. However, should our complaints to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Organising Committee and the Greek Government be rejected we will continue
to fight to save this fabulous natural area. This may lead to a situation
where the facilities are not completed by 2004."
Among the 176 species of bird known to use the site regularly,
internationally important numbers of glossy ibis, a bird declining
throughout its range in Europe, pass through Schinias on migration. Rare
species of tree and a kind of fish found nowhere else in the world also
occur there. This wetland, one of the most important in the south-east
mainland of Greece, qualifies as a candidate Special Area of Conservation
under the European Union Habitats Directive because of its special wildlife.
Kevin Standring, the RSPB country programmes manager responsible for
Greece, said: "The Greek Government's track record in protecting its
wetlands is dire. Over several decades, many internationally important
jewels have been lost. Schinias is the only one of any note left within
easy commuting distance of Athens.
"A pending decision by the Greek Government to designate the Schinias-
Marathon area as a national park makes no sense, given the plan to destroy
the heart of the site. It is scandalous to attempt to justify this
damaging scheme as a project that has environmental merit. This is
patently untrue. It devalues the internationally accepted role of national
parks that has the backing of the United Nations.
"We shall also be quizzing the European Commission about whether European
Union structural funds are being used to to finance the destruction of the
special ecological importance of Schinias in contravention of EU
environmental policies."
This week, the RSPB has written letters of concern to the Amateur Rowing
Association, the British Canoe Union, the British Olympic Association, the
International Canoe Federation, the International Rowing Federation, the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee and the European Olympic
Committee.
ends
For further information and to arrange a local interview please telephone:
Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577. Mobile: 07702 196902
Out of hours contact: 01234 295870. Kevin Standring, RSPB country
programmes officer for Greece, on 01767 680551
Notes
1. World Wetlands Day is a global celebration of the signing of the Ramsar
Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance.
The convention this year celebrates its 30th anniversary. The convention
was first agreed at Ramsar, Iran on 2 February 1971. The UK and Greece are
signatories. The convention charges governments to use their wetlands
wisely and to take special measures to protect named sites by adding them
to the `Ramsar List'. Greece has so far Ramsar-listed 10 wetlands,
compared to 151 in the UK. Although qualifying for listing, Schinias marsh
has not been notified to the Ramsar Bureau by the Greek authorities.
2. The RSPB, Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity, and the
Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) are the respective national partners
for the UK and Greece of BirdLife International. BirdLife International, a
worldwide partnership of bird conservation organisations, has identified
Schinias marsh as one of 3,619 areas in Europe essential to maintain the
current numbers and diversity of wild birds Europe-wide.
3. Wetlands in Greece are in long-term decline, a feature that has
accelerated in the 20 years since Greece joined the European Union.
Nevertheless, the remaining wetlands together are of notable importance for
nine species of globally threatened bird - Dalmatian pelican, white-headed
duck, lesser white-fronted and red-breasted geese, ferruginous duck, and
slender-billed curlew, and white-tailed, greater spotted and imperial eagles.
----------------------------------------------------
Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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