Development of a pilot database for the organization and exploitation of environmental data on "NATURA 2000" lake ecosystems

Abstract

NATURA 2000 network of protected biotopes in Europe established under national and E.U. legislation. Lake ecosystems included in the network constitute sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems with vital value for the natural equilibrium and for people, as their protection and conservation is important for local and regional development. Irrational and excessive human interventions have a major impact in their two main characteristics, biodiversity and productivity. This paper describes the design and the implementation of a database for the Greek lake ecosystems that comprise the network 'NATURA 2000' within sustainable development and environmental monitoring. For the pilot version of the project, scientific registrations were used concerning the region of 'Central Macedonia' in North Greece, as the lake systems of Thessalonica prefecture as the lakes Volvi and Koronia (GR 1220001) and the former lake Lantza (GR 1220006), the lake Picrolimni (GR 1230001) and the lake Doirani (GR 1230002) of Kilkis prefecture, the artificial lake Kerkini (GR 1260008) of Serres prefecture and finally the lake Agra (GR 1240004) and the lakes Vegoritis & Petron (GR 1340004) of Pella prefecture. Data were collected from scientific references, relative studies and recent research programs and stored in a relational database that was especially developed for that purpose. There are descriptive, qualitative and quantitative information of the lakes such as hydrological, geomorphologic information, physico-chernical characteristics of the lakes, the flora and fauna, avifauna, fish fauna, the protection legal status, land and water uses, economic activities, information on fishery production and infrastructure, human interventions and also information on the active management plan and measures for the protection, rehabilitation and sustainable development of the lake ecosystems. The total organization, storage and retrieve of information take place through a Data Base Management System (D.B.M.S.) using multiple forms to support the control of information flow inside the Database. The organized storage of all the available information within a user-friendly data management process enables the identification of social, productive, economic and biological values of the lakes from any user, computer literate or not. Thus, it can positively contribute within the evaluation of alternative scenarios in order to support planning and development projects and decision-making purposes. The suggested application constitutes an effective tool in a pilot version for the design of the total lake management that will be based on local characteristics and aims in their sustainable exploitation.