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In comparison to other business plans, it was very interesting the business plan of Martin Nielsen. It's very analytical and well-built

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As i saw, in most of the coutries the threats are the same. I was really interested in Disease ecology, which i saw in Marley Gomez Herpetoarea and of the picture in Martin Nielsen herpetoarea, which show the phenomenon of the eutrophication.

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Design the business plan of a local voluntary organisation which aims to protect the local herpetofauna.

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http://www.biology.upatras.gr/faculty_elections/E.Papastergiadou/

http://www.lifestymfalia.gr/

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Restoring riparian vegetation, leaving adequate distances between disturbance and wetland or aquatic habitats.

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Producion of compost using the cut reeds of Lake Stymfalia and its distribution to the farmers of the region

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Raising awareness of residents, especially the farmers that use the area, regarding the effects of their farming to the Lake. The Environment Museum of Stymphalia, which is located in the mountainous area of the Regional Unit of Corinthia aims to show the interdependence of man and Nature and thus it focuses on their harmonious coexistence in the Stymphalian basin. The basic goals of the museum are to raise the public’s ecological awareness and preserve the knowledge relating to the region’s traditional technology. The museum’s permanent exhibition is developed in two units: the first concerns the environment in this region, while the second marks the manner in which the environment influenced the development of human activity and in particular that of traditional crafts.

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From time to time the lake is even totally drained. During the droughts of the 1990s, the lake was completely dry and was used for agricultural purposes by the inhabitants of the nearby villages. Natural karstic sewers reduce the water of the lake. Artificial drainage is also a common method used to acquire land for cultivation. Another more or less natural threat to the lake is the deposition of silt and the following development of reed bed vegetation and hence the reduction of the surface area of the lake  Agricultural pressures includes over-pumping of the water for irrigation, which has a detrimental effect on the hydrological balance; the application of high amounts of fertilizers and agrochemicals in adjacent fields causes water quality degradation, waste disposal; and the expansion of cultivations in the wetland area. Of course it's obvious that the climate change plays a major role in the degradation of the lake because of the warming of the planet.

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Finally, from the reptiles, important is the presence of two turtle species [Balkan Pond Turtle (Mauremys rivuleta), European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis)], as well as the Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) and the Leopard Snake (Zamenis situlus).

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Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

The Little Bittern is the smallest species of heron. It visits Greece in spring in order to breed (in Macedonia, Thrace and Epirus and locally in Peloponnese and some islands) and it is most commonly observed during migration. The species prefers freshwater wetlands, swamps, lakes with dense vegetation of tall reeds and trees (e.g. willows). Little Bittern feeds usually hidden at the dusk, with fishes, frogs, shrimps, spiders and insects. It is threatened by the loss and alteration of freshwater wetlands and the disturbance at the breeding habitats.
The species is listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC). It is also referred as a Least Concern (LC) species in the Red Data Book of the Endangered Animals of Greece.

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Purple heron (Ardea purpurea)

One of the largest and most spectacular species of herons, it breeds in a few wetlands (mainly in northern Greece) while it can be observed more frequently during migration. Lake Stymphalia is one of the few wetlands in southern Greece where the species breeds (and the southernmost in Europe). The Purple Heron mainly nests in dense and extensive reedbeds and occasionally in riparian or littoral forests and feeds (usually hidden in dense vegetation) on aquatic insects, amphibians and fishes. The species is threatened by water pollution and degradation of wetlands (especially freshwater wetlands, such as lakes and marshes).
The Purple Heron is listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC). Also, it is listed as Endangered (EN) in the Red Data Book of the Endangered Animals of Greece.

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Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)

The Ferruginous Duck is an important species, which arrives in Greece during spring in order to nest (mainly in wetlands of northern and western Greece), while it can also be observed during migration and rarely in winter. Breeds rarely in southern Greece and therefore, its presence in the wetlands of the Peloponnese (Stymphalia, Strofylia) is very important. The Ferruginous Duck mainly prefers lakes with freshwater marshes and coastal wetlands. Also, the Ferruginous Duck forages in the surface or dives in shallow waters near dense vegetation. The main pressures and threats that the species has to face in Greece are firstly, degradation of freshwater habitats (such as: drainage, poor water management, pollution, etc.) and secondly illegal hunting.
The Ferruginous Duck is a trigger species of this particular Natura site (SPA/SAC) and is included in Annex I of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC). Also, it is listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the Red Data Book of the Endangered Animals of Greece (

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Lake Stymfalia, located at Peloponnese, southern Greece, is an ancient wetland with a great ecological value. However, it has been severely degraded and transformed during the past 60 years. This site is a very important refuge for migratory birds and it is home of the endemic fish species Pseudophoxinus s. stymphalicus and the subspecies Leuciscus cephalus peloponnensis.

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“…Based on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and information on threats we came to the conclusion that thirty-nine percent of the data-sufficient Malagasy reptiles in our analyses are threatened with extinction. Areas in the north, west and south-east were identified as having more threatened species than expected and are therefore conservation priorities. Habitat degradation caused by wood harvesting and non-timber crops was the most pervasive threat. The direct removal of reptiles for international trade and human consumption threatened relatively few species, but were the primary threats for tortoises. Nine threatened reptile species are endemic to recently created protected areas…”.

The proposal is in the attached file!!

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Agricultural practices can result in conversion of the habitat of amphibians and reptiles