ASSESSMENT OF RIPARIAN ZONE AND RIVER ISLAND CONDITIONS IN A TRANS-BOUNDARY GREENBELT: THE EVROS/MERI? RIVER (GREECE-TURKEY)

摘要

Satellite imagery is vital for assessing river riparian conditions in areas that are inaccessible or rarely visited by scientists. The lower Evros/Meri? River, shared by Greece and Turkey, is one of the most heavily militarized river borders in Europe and access to the river corridor is strictly restricted. This 218 km proposed green-belt conservation area has never been completely surveyed for its riparian biodiversity values. Here we provide an assessment and evidence for green-belt conservation justification for the entire portion of the Greek-Turkish river corridor for the first time. We employ satellite imagery to assess riparian corridor conditions and the distribution of natural habitat refuge environments focusing on riparian woodlands and river islands. The analysis found that nearly half of the area of the riparian green-belt is under cultivation; approximately 22% of the riparian zone is wooded, while some of these woodlands are taken over by artificial poplar plantations. The natural woodland areas are severely fragmented and usually small in extent and width being affected by frequent logging and clearing. The most extensive remaining woodlands are mapped; most of the 12 largest contiguous natural woodland are in the northern half of the river valley. Important natural habitat refuges are the river’s islands; 219 such island features are mapped from recent satellite images, and most are heavily wooded, again most are found in the northern half of the river valley. Based on bestavailable information we interpret these patterns and encourage an international green-belt conservation initiative.