MONITORING WETLANDS ALONG THE ‘WESTERN-GREEK BIRD MIGRATION ROUTE’ Spatio-temporal change detection using remote sensing and GIS in Logarou Lagoon, Western Greece: a pilot study Algemene Plantkunde en Natuurbeheer - Plant Biology and Nature Management By Ruth Lagring Currently working for MUMM – Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models Promoter Prof. Nico Koedam Co-Promoter Ronny Merken

Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 2 Population of long-distance migratory birds is declining worldwide An important cause is the loss of suitable stopover-sites during migration FACTS [Berthold, 2001; Birdlife International; Marchant et al., 1990; Çagan et al., 2004; Sanderson et al., 2006; Robbins et al., 1989; Fletcher, 2003] [Berthold, 2001; Çağan et al., 2004; Davidson et al., 1996; Malcolm et al., 2002]

Souce: Stopover ‘Area with the needed resources and environmental conditions that support temporary occupancy by individuals of that species’ [Scott et al., 2002] Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 3 Winter Breeding

[ Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 4 Winter Breeding

International Conventions [ ] Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 5

[ European Union  Natura 2000 Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 6

Wetlands [ Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 7 Western-Greek Bird Migration Route ‘Flyway of birds following the western coast of the Greek mainland during their migration’

Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 8 Wetlands as stopover habitats ‘Areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine waters, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.’ [Ramsar Convention, 1971] Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat Logarou Lagoon, April 2007  2/3rd of the Greek wetland area has been drained (20 th century)  Further degradation needs to be prevented

Hypothesis and objectives Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Loss and/or deterioration of wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ can result in a critical lack of suitable stopover sites for migrating birds HYPOTHESIS Obj. 1Screening legal instruments and their implementation in the Greek legislation (literature study) Obj. 2Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ p. 9

Obj. 1Screening legal instruments and their implementation in the Greek legislation (liturature study, in parallel with Bazigou) p. 10 Conclusions  Legislation to protect migrating birds and wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ is not sufficient and the one existing is not implemented [Bazigou, 2007].  No control to prevent ecological change from occuring in wetlands Hypothesis and objectives Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future

Obj. 2Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ 1. Inventory (including small wetlands) 2. Monitoring ecological change in wetlands  Localisation  Protection or legal status (IBA, RAMSAR, Natura 2000,...) or other (including ‘none’)  Characteristics  Importance to migrating waterfowl  Types of ecological change that can be monitored  Technique for change detection in wetland area Hypothesis and objectives Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 11

Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future The Mediterranean Initiative of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Monitoring ecological change in wetlands 1. Monitoring schedule (MedWet) p. 12

Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Monitoring ecological change in wetlands 1. Monitoring schedule (MedWet) The Mediterranean Initiative of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands p. 13

Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future  Detection of changes in wetland area  Spatial indicator: surface area of habitat types  Using remote sensing and GIS (satellite images) Monitoring ecological change in wetlands 2. Method: Spatio-temporal change detection 1.Hybrid Unsupervised-Supervised Classification (1977, 1989, 2000) [Tağil, 2007] 2.Post-classification comparison  Data comparison  Matrix analyses (Raster GIS) ( , , ) [Haack, 2006]  Post-classification change detection using satellite images p. 14

Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future  Global Orthorectified Landsat Data Set (NASA)  Orthorectified and co-registered Landsat images  Landsat MSS (1970s), TM (1990s), ETM+ (ca 2000)  High spatial accuracy  Freely available from GLCF [ Monitoring ecological change in wetlands 3. Material: Landsat imagery  Available since 1972 till 2003 = historical database  Medium resolution (30 – 80 m 2 )  Scene size 185 x 185 km 2 [ p. 15

Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future [ University of Maryland, 2004] 1 (1972) 2 (1975) 3 (1978) 4 (1982) 5 (1984) 6 (failed) 7 (1999) Landsat imageryGlobal Orthorectified Landsat Data Set [Source: Tucker et al., 2004] p. 16

Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Monitoring ecological change in wetlands Blue/Green/Near-InfraRed False colour composites Landsat ETM Pilot study: Study area: Logarou Lagoon Amvrakikos Gulf Ramsar, IBA, Natura 2000 (National park) Logarou Lagoon 4900 ha [ p. 17

p Hybrid Unsupervised-Supervised Classification Selected classes Classification schedule (MedWet-guide, field campaign, aerial photos ‘45-’85, satellite imagery, Life Habitat map) Aerial photo 85 Habitat map ‘85 MedWet-guide Unsupervised Supervised 8 classes 20 classes Signature editing Asigning classes (20  8) Materials and methods Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Results Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future 1977

Results Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Supervised classified images 2. Post-classification comparison 1 Water surface I 2 Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal split 3 Aquatic Bed 4 Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human construction 5 Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil) 6 Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.) 7 Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha spp.) 8 Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated p. 19

Results Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Post-classification comparison 1 Water surface I 2 Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal split 3 Aquatic Bed 4 Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human construction 5 Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil) 6 Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.) 7 Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha spp.) 8 Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated p. 20

p. 21 Matrix analyses: Results Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future 1 Water surface I 2 Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal split 3 Aquatic Bed 4 Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human construction 5 Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil) 6 Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.) 7 Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha spp.) 8 Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated Black = change Logarou Lagoon Change Detection Matrix Post-classification comparison

Class (24%) (30%) (38%) = = Class 3 > Class 3 > Class 3 < Class 3 < = Class 3 > Class 3 < Class (24%) (19%) (13%) = = Class 1 > Class 1 > Class 1 < Class 1 < = Class 1 > Class 1 < Class 2 < Results Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future 1 Water surface I 2 Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal split 3 Aquatic Bed 4 Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human construction 5 Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil) 6 Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.) 7 Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha spp.) 8 Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated p. 22  Dynamism of wetland system  Ecological change has been monitored 2. Post-classification comparison

Blue/Green/Near-InfraRed False colour composite Lake 1 The lake is full of rubbish. The panel states (in Greek) ‘Garbage disposal is prohibited’ [Source: Nico Koedam, 19/04/2007] Lake 3 The lake is full of dumped tyres [Source: Nico Koedam, 19/04/2007] Results Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 23 Inventory: small wetlands

Conclusions Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future p. 24 Obj. 1Screening legal instruments and their implementation in the Greek legislation (liturature study, in parallel with Bazigou) 1.Legislation to protect migrating birds and wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ is not sufficient [Bazigou, 2007]. 2. The legislation existing is not implemented [Bazigou, 2007]. 3.No control to prevent ecological change from occurring in wetlands.

Conclusions Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future 1. Inventory 2. Monitoring ecological change in wetlands  Localisation of all wetlands possible, including small wetlands  Technique for detecting change in wetland area has been designed  Pilot study: change can be detected using this method  Cost- and labour-effective, reliable for its purpose and feasible Obj. 2Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ p. 25

Conclusions Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future Natura 2000 newsletter Lack of political will [Bazigou, 2007] The possibility to improve is there Why is Greece not doing more? THERE IS NO EXCUSE p. 26

Future Recommendations Introduction Hypothesis and objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions Future  Further Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’, using the images of the Global Orthorectified Landsat Data Set  Creating inventory  Post-classification change detection  More detailed ground truthing  Investigating biological impact of change  Other ecological changes of wetlands, e.g. pollution p. 27

Thank you for your attention… Sheep: “I’m afraid you’re in the wrong place. In winter, swallows should be in Africa.“ Bird: “No, YOU are in the wrong place. I’m not a swallow, I’m a penguin.“ p. 28