A preliminary assessment of Important Areas for Ponds (IAPs) in the Mediterranean Basin and Alpine Arc

Abstract

The Important Areas for Ponds (IAPs) concept was developed to raise awareness of geographic
regions that support ponds of national or international biodiversity importance, and help focus
strategies for pond monitoring, protection and appropriate management and creation.
Ponds are vitally important for freshwater biodiversity and particularly recognised as stepping stone
habitats. They also provide a range of ecosystem services and have been used for centuries by local
communities. Ponds and pond networks are abundant across Europe and Northern Africa, in spite of
significant losses, but are not adequately protected by current legislation even within the European
legislative framework for nature conservation and water management. The information gathered
during the identification of IAPS will be used to encourage better protection measures for ponds at
the regional, national and international level, and their inclusion in biodiversity and water protection
strategies (e.g. Water Framework Directive, River Basin Management Plans).
In order to achieve greater protection for ponds in Europe there needs to be coordination between
countries. The European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN), as part of the ProPond Project
(Promoting Pond Conservation in Europe and the Mediterranean Region, a project supported by the
MAVA foundation), has begun this work by concentrating on two biogeographical regions – the
Mediterranean Basin and the Alpine Arc.
Selection of IAPs was based on a set of criteria including the presence of species or habitats of
conservation importance, pond density, and their socio‐economic importance (providing this did not
undermine their biodiversity value) and other factors such as important assemblages of species e.g.
dragonflies and macrocrustaceans. IAPs were identified using both GIS techniques and expert
knowledge from a wide range of pond workers including both researchers and practitioners.
For this first analysis, 140 proposed IAPs (pIAPs) have been identified in the Alpine Arc (30 pIAPs)
and in the Mediterranean region (110 pIAPs), the latter including sites both from Northern Africa
and the Middle East (28 pIAPs) and from Europe (82 pIAPs). A profile of each IAP has been produced
with information on its (i) location, (ii) biodiversity, historical and social value, and (iii) threats.
In the Mediterranean basin, pIAPs have been identified in 17 countries in Southern Europe, North
Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. The selected pIAPs reflect the heterogeneity of pond sites,
and range from individual ponds in Spain supporting 18 species of European conservation
importance to pond networks in Italy known to contain over 60 species of European conservation
importance. Many areas qualified as IAPs because of high pond density (e.g. over 15 ponds per km2
in Greece) whereas others qualified because they contained many ponds scattered over large areas
(e.g. 1613 ponds over 200000 ha in Morocco), representing a dispersed but highly significant
freshwater biodiversity resource in the region. The socio‐economic value of ponds was also
recognised in their identification as pIAPs: some such as in Israel show evidence of continuous use
since the Roman occupation.Many IAPs, particularly in Northern Africa and the
Eastern Mediterranean have no current
protection, in spite of the habitats and species of
conservation concern they support, and all are
under significant threat from the increasing
pressures of agriculture and development. Raising
the profile of these sites through designation as
IAPs will help to secure their protection and future
sustainable management
In the Alpine Arc, a total of 30 pIAPs were
proposed in the four main countries which made
up the region. Some had exceptionally high pond
densities (e.g. pIAPs with over 30 ponds per km2
in the French Alps), whereas others in the same region comprise a single pond with important
assemblages of species. Pond networks were also identified: some extended over large areas,
exceeding 2000 ha in Italy, whilst others (e.g. in Austria) were concentrated within an area of less
than 20ha.
The majority of pIAPs in the Alpine Arc contained species of European conservation importance but
also high altitude stenothermal species. However, these alpine ponds are not well represented in the
list of pond types given under the Habitats Directive leading to a lack of designation within the
European legislative framework of protected sites. The identification of networks of ponds in the
Alpine region as IAPs will provide greater recognition of their importance to biodiversity at an
international level. This is particularly relevant to high altitude sites, as they are under significant
threat from climate change, an issue which requires cooperation and implementation of
conservation initiatives at an international level. IAPs in the Alpine Arc also demonstrate the cultural
importance of ponds. Many have a long history of use particularly within the traditional pastoral
economy of the region. More recently pond networks are providing a valuable research and
educational tool for both the scientific community and the wider public.
This report is a preliminary assessment of IAPs in the Mediterranean and Alpine Arc region.
Proposed IAPs (pIAPs) will be reviewed through a public consultation process and either accepted as
a full IAP, modified or declined. The pIAPs identified as part of the ProPond Project will be published
on the EPCN website. This should ensure that the information is rapidly disseminated to pond
conservation practitioners and turned into positive action to protect and enhance the pond
biodiversity resource.
The pIAPs presented in this report incorporate the high quality ponds so far known: we anticipate
that, as the profile and knowledge of ponds grows, aided by the IAP process itself, considerably
more high quality pond will be found in these regions than have currently identified. The EPCN will
now continue to coordinate and facilitate this work, building on the momentum of the ProPond
project. A key role of the network and its members is now to disseminate the information presented
here as widely as possible as part of a consultation process, but also to inform international and
national policymakers.

Full text



Apreliminaryassessmentof
ImportantAreasforPonds(IAPs)
inthe
MediterraneanBasinandAlpineArc
TechnicalReport


GarganoandTremitiIslands,ItalyLacsdesGorgesduDorondeTermingnon
©DrGuiseppeAlfonso France
 ©http://www.destination‐termignon.com

CONSULTATIONDOCUMENT

Preparedforthe
EuropeanPondConservationNetwork(EPCN)

by
NaomiEwald1,PascaleNicolet1‐2,BeatOertli3ValentinaDellaBella2,LailaRhazi4,Anne‐Sophie
Reymond3,EliseMinssieux3,Er‐riyahiSaber5,MouhssineRhazi6,JeremyBiggs2,NicolaBressi2,Regis
Cereghino2,PatrickGrillas2,ThomasKalettka2,AndrewHull2,OlivierScher2andLauraSerrano2.

1PondConservation:TheWaterHabitatsTrust,c/oOxfordBrookesUniversity,GipsyLane,Oxford
OX30BP,UnitedKingdom
2EPCN,EuropeanPondConservationNetwork
3UniversityofAppliedSciencesWesternSwitzerland,hepia‐technology,architectureandlandscape
‐1254Jussy/Geneva,Switzerland
4LaboratoryofAquaticEcologyandEnvironment,HassanIIAïnChockUniversity,BP5366Maarif,
Casablanca,Morocco
5CEGA‐UMR«ESPACE»andUniversityofProvence,Aix‐MarseilleI,France
6DepartmentofBiology,FacultyofSciencesandTechniquesofErrachidia,MouslayIsmailUniversity,
BP509Boutalamine,Errachidia,Morocco
Thisreportshouldbecitedas:
EwaldN,NicoletP,OertliB,DellaBellaV,RhaziL,ReymondA‐S,MinssieuxE,SaberE,RhaziM,Biggs
J,BressiN,CereghinoR,GrillasP,KalettkaT,HullA,ScherOandSerranoL(2010)Apreliminary
assessmentofImportantAreasforPonds(IAPs)intheMediterraneanandAlpineArc.EPCN.




Thisworkispartoftheproject“PromotingpondconservationinEuropeandtheMediterranean
region(ProPond)”.FundingfortheProPondprojectwasprovidedbytheMAVAfoundation.


EuropeanPondConservationNetwork(EPCN)
c/oHepia
UniversityofAppliedSciencesWesternSwitzerland
1254Jussy/Geneva
Switzerland

www.europeanponds.org



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ThanksmustgotoallthecontributorswhohavevolunteeredtheirtimetoidentifyandreviewIAPs.
TheyarelistedinfullinAppendix1and2.




OVERVIEW

TheImportantAreasforPonds(IAPs)conceptwasdevelopedtoraiseawarenessofgeographic
regionsthatsupportpondsofnationalorinternationalbiodiversityimportance,andhelpfocus
strategiesforpondmonitoring,protectionandappropriatemanagementandcreation.
Pondsarevitallyimportantforfreshwaterbiodiversityandparticularlyrecognisedassteppingstone
habitats.Theyalsoprovidearangeofecosystemservicesandhavebeenusedforcenturiesbylocal
communities.PondsandpondnetworksareabundantacrossEuropeandNorthernAfrica,inspiteof
significantlosses,butarenotadequatelyprotectedbycurrentlegislationevenwithintheEuropean
legislativeframeworkfornatureconservationandwatermanagement.Theinformationgathered
duringtheidentificationofIAPSwillbeusedtoencouragebetterprotectionmeasuresforpondsat
theregional,nationalandinternationallevel,andtheirinclusioninbiodiversityandwaterprotection
strategies(e.g.WaterFrameworkDirective,RiverBasinManagementPlans).
InordertoachievegreaterprotectionforpondsinEuropethereneedstobecoordinationbetween
countries.TheEuropeanPondConservationNetwork(EPCN),aspartoftheProPondProject
(PromotingPondConservationinEuropeandtheMediterraneanRegion,aprojectsupportedbythe
MAVAfoundation),hasbegunthisworkbyconcentratingontwobiogeographicalregions–the
MediterraneanBasinandtheAlpineArc.
SelectionofIAPswasbasedonasetofcriteriaincludingthepresenceofspeciesorhabitatsof
conservationimportance,ponddensity,andtheirsocio‐economicimportance(providingthisdidnot
underminetheirbiodiversityvalue)andotherfactorssuchasimportantassemblagesofspeciese.g.
dragonfliesandmacrocrustaceans.IAPswereidentifiedusingbothGIStechniquesandexpert
knowledgefromawiderangeofpondworkersincludingbothresearchersandpractitioners.
Forthisfirstanalysis,140proposedIAPs(pIAPs)havebeenidentifiedintheAlpineArc(30pIAPs)
andintheMediterraneanregion(110pIAPs),thelatterincludingsitesbothfromNorthernAfrica
andtheMiddleEast(28pIAPs)andfromEurope(82pIAPs).AprofileofeachIAPhasbeenproduced
withinformationonits(i)location,(ii)biodiversity,historicalandsocialvalue,and(iii)threats.
IntheMediterraneanbasin,pIAPshavebeenidentifiedin17countriesinSouthernEurope,North
AfricaandtheEasternMediterranean.TheselectedpIAPsreflecttheheterogeneityofpondsites,
andrangefromindividualpondsinSpainsupporting18speciesofEuropeanconservation
importancetopondnetworksinItalyknowntocontainover60speciesofEuropeanconservation
importance.ManyareasqualifiedasIAPsbecauseofhighponddensity(e.g.over15pondsperkm2
inGreece)whereasothersqualifiedbecausetheycontainedmanypondsscatteredoverlargeareas
(e.g.1613pondsover200000hainMorocco),representingadispersedbuthighlysignificant
freshwaterbiodiversityresourceintheregion.Thesocio‐economicvalueofpondswasalso
recognisedintheiridentificationaspIAPs:somesuchasinIsraelshowevidenceofcontinuoususe
sincetheRomanoccupation.



TemporaryPondsinAltPalancia,Spain
ManyIAPs,particularlyinNorthernAfricaandthe
EasternMediterraneanhavenocurrent
protection,inspiteofthehabitatsandspeciesof
conservationconcerntheysupport,andallare
undersignificantthreatfromtheincreasing
pressuresofagricultureanddevelopment.Raising
theprofileofthesesitesthroughdesignationas
IAPswillhelptosecuretheirprotectionandfuture
sustainablemanagement
IntheAlpineArc,atotalof30pIAPswere
proposedinthefourmaincountrieswhichmade
uptheregion.Somehadexceptionallyhighpond
densities(e.g.pIAPswithover30pondsperkm2
intheFrenchAlps),whereasothersinthesameregioncompriseasinglepondwithimportant
assemblagesofspecies.Pondnetworkswerealsoidentified:someextendedoverlargeareas,
exceeding2000hainItaly,whilstothers(e.g.inAustria)wereconcentratedwithinanareaofless
than20ha.
ThemajorityofpIAPsintheAlpineArccontainedspeciesofEuropeanconservationimportancebut
alsohighaltitudestenothermalspecies.However,thesealpinepondsarenotwellrepresentedinthe
listofpondtypesgivenundertheHabitatsDirectiveleadingtoalackofdesignationwithinthe
Europeanlegislativeframeworkofprotectedsites.Theidentificationofnetworksofpondsinthe
AlpineregionasIAPswillprovidegreaterrecognitionoftheirimportancetobiodiversityatan
internationallevel.Thisisparticularlyrelevanttohighaltitudesites,astheyareundersignificant
threatfromclimatechange,anissuewhichrequirescooperationandimplementationof
conservationinitiativesataninternationallevel.IAPsintheAlpineArcalsodemonstratethecultural
importanceofponds.Manyhavealonghistoryofuseparticularlywithinthetraditionalpastoral
economyoftheregion.Morerecentlypondnetworksareprovidingavaluableresearchand
educationaltoolforboththescientificcommunityandthewiderpublic.
ThisreportisapreliminaryassessmentofIAPsintheMediterraneanandAlpineArcregion.
ProposedIAPs(pIAPs)willbereviewedthroughapublicconsultationprocessandeitheracceptedas
afullIAP,modifiedordeclined.ThepIAPsidentifiedaspartoftheProPondProjectwillbepublished
ontheEPCNwebsite.Thisshouldensurethattheinformationisrapidlydisseminatedtopond
conservationpractitionersandturnedintopositiveactiontoprotectandenhancethepond
biodiversityresource.
ThepIAPspresentedinthisreportincorporatethehighqualitypondssofarknown:weanticipate
that,astheprofileandknowledgeofpondsgrows,aidedbytheIAPprocessitself,considerably
morehighqualitypondwillbefoundintheseregionsthanhavecurrentlyidentified.TheEPCNwill
nowcontinuetocoordinateandfacilitatethiswork,buildingonthemomentumoftheProPond
project.Akeyroleofthenetworkanditsmembersisnowtodisseminatetheinformationpresented
hereaswidelyaspossibleaspartofaconsultationprocess,butalsotoinforminternationaland
nationalpolicymakers.

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
CONTENTS
1.INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................1
1.1Theimportanceofponds........................................................................................................1
1.2Pondprotection.......................................................................................................................2
1.3Ponddefinition........................................................................................................................3
2.IMPORTANTAREASFORPONDS(IAP)...........................................................................................................4
2.1IdentifyingIAPs........................................................................................................................4
2.2Selectioncriteria......................................................................................................................5
2.3IAPselectionprocess...............................................................................................................7
3.THEMEDITERRANEANBASIN.........................................................................................................................
8
3.1Spain......................................................................................................................................10
3.2Portugal.................................................................................................................................12
3.3France....................................................................................................................................14
3.4ItalyandMalta.......................................................................................................................16
3.5BalkanStatesandCyprus.......................................................................................................18
3.6Morocco.................................................................................................................................20
3.7AlgeriaandTunisia.................................................................................................................22
3.8MiddleEast............................................................................................................................23
4.THEALPINEARC...........................................................................................................................................24
4.1France....................................................................................................................................26
4.2Switzerland............................................................................................................................27
4.3AustriaandItaly.....................................................................................................................29
5.RecommendationsandConclusions............................................................................................................30
6.References...................................................................................................................................................31
Appendix1ListofcontributorstotheMediterraneanIAPs............................................................................32
Appendix2ListofcontributorstotheAlpineArcIAPs....................................................................................34
Appendix3SpeciesassociatedwithpondsintheMediterraneanandAlpineArc..........................................35
Appendix4PondassociatedhabitatsandspeciesprotectedundertheHabitatsDirective...........................41



1

LacdesSaisies,France
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The importance of ponds
Pondsareimportantfreshwaterhabitatsthatplayasignificantroleinmaintainingfreshwater
biodiversityandprovideasignificantfreshwaterresource.Thereareover10millionsmallwater
bodies(lessthan10ha)inEurope,whosetotalsurfaceareaaccountsforalmost30%ofall
permanentsurfacewater(Oertlietal.2005).ThisisinspiteofsignificantlossesinsomeEuropean
countries‐upto90%inSwitzerlandandtheNetherlands,and50%inSwedenandPoland(EPCN
2008).InNorthernAfricatherearethousandsofpondsrecognisedfortheirbiodiversityvalue,but
underincreasingpressurefromurban,agriculturalandindustrialdevelopments(Rhazietal.2006).
Pondshavehighecologicalinterestbecauseofthefloraandfaunatheysupport,including
amphibians,invertebrates,vascularandlowerplantsandmicro‐organisms,withmanyprotected
specieswhicharethreatenedatbothnationalandinternationallevels.Thevalueofpondsalsolies
inthevariednetworkofhabitatsthattheyprovide,andataregionallevelpondsareoftenmore
importantinmaintainingfreshwaterbiodiversitythanothermoreextensivefreshwaterhabitats
(Williamsetal.2004,Daviesetal.2005).Theyalsoprovideconnectivityacrosslandscapesandare
recognisedassteppingstonesvitalforthedispersalofspecieswithinlandscapes(Cereghinoetal.
2008).Whenanumberofpondsarelocatedincloseproximitytheirbiodiversityvalueincreasesstill
further,allowingspeciestoexistasmetapopulations,strengtheninggeneticexchangeandbuffering
populationsfromextinctionevents.
Pondsareoftenofhighhistoricalandeconomicvalue,usedinagriculture,industryandasasource
offreshdrinkingwaterforbothlivestockandlocalpopulations.Pondsarealsousedforrecreation
andhaveanintrinsicvaluetomanypeoplebecauseoftheassociationbetweenpeopleandponds
forthousandsofyears.Therelationshipbetweenpeopleandpondsprovidestheopportunityto
engagewithlocalstakeholdersintheirmanagementandconservation(EPCN2008).
However,pondsarealsoavulnerablehabitattype.Theyexperiencealloftheimpactsthataffect
otherfreshwaters,andadditionallocalpressuresspecifictosmallwaterbodies.Theseinclude
changestofarmingpractices,includinglossof
traditionalmethodstomoreintensivetechniques,
changestothehydrologicalregimefromdrainageand
abstraction,developmentfromurbansprawlandroad
infrastructure,tourismandthecolonizationofponds
byinvasivespecies.Moregenerally,pondsare
especiallyvulnerabletopollutionstressesbecause
theirsmallsizegivesthemlimitedbufferingcapacity
comparedtoriversorlargerlakes.Asaresultof
widespreaddestruction,pondnumbersarenow
probablyclosetoanalltimelowacrossEurope
(Hull1997).

2

However,inspiteofthelossesandthreatsfacingponds,theyalsoprovideimportantopportunities
forconservingbiodiversity.Theirsmallsizeandhighlevelsofheterogeneitymakethemeasyto
createandmanageinalmosteveryhabitattype.Theyprovideimportantecosystemservicesand
connectwiththesustainablemanagementofenvironmentsatlocal,regionalandgloballevels.Inthe
rightdensityandifstrategicallyplaced,theycanprovidealinkbetweenimportantareasof
biodiversityaswellasbeinganimportantbiodiversityresourceintheirownright(EPCN2008).
Becausethebiodiversityinterestofpondsisoftenwidelygeographicallydistributed,andbecause
pondsfaceanexceptionalrangeofthreats,protectingthemisachallengeforpolicymakersand
managers.Pondsaregenerallytoosmalltofitthestandardmodelofsite‐basedprotectionandthey
donotfitthestandardmodelofconsent‐basedprotectiondesignedtoprotectwaterbodieslike
lakesandriversfromindustrialdischarges.Despitemuchinterestinthemanagementofcatchments,
effectiveprotectionofpondsthroughlandscapewidemeasuresisrarelyachieved(Section1.2).For
allthesereasons,newmodelsofprotectionarerequiredifwearetomaintainthebiodiversityand
historicalvalueofthesesmall,vulnerable,freshwaterhabitats.
TheEuropeanPondConservationNetwork(EPCN)wasestablishedin2004toaddresstheseissues,
andalreadyincludesover150membersfromalmosteverycountryinEuropeandNorthernAfrica.
ThemissionoftheEPCNistopromotetheawareness,understandingandconservationofpondsina
changingEuropeanlandscapeanditspondprotectionstrategyissetoutinthePondManifesto
(EPCN2008).TheEPCN,fundedbytheMAVAFoundation,hasundertakentheProPondprogramme:
PromotingPondConservationinEuropeandtheMediterraneanregionasitsfirstmajorprogramme
ofworktoimplementaEuropeanconservationstrategyforponds.Aspartofthis,theEPCN,in
collaborationwithotherpondworkers,hasbeguntheprocessofidentifyingImportantAreasfor
Ponds(IAPs)intheMediterraneanandAlpineArcregions,providingaprotocolwhichcanbeapplied
totherestofEurope.

1.2 Pond protection
IntheEU,oneofthemosteffectivemeasurestoensurehabitatprotectionisthedesignationofa
sitewithinthelegislativeframeworkofprotectedsites.Twopiecesoflegislationareparticularly
relevanttoponds:theHabitatsDirective(92/43/EEC)andtheWaterFrameworkDirective
(2000/60/EC).UndertheHabitatsDirective,memberstateshaveinternationalobligationsfora
rangeofspeciesfoundinponds.Annex1oftheDirectivealsolistsseven“habitatsofhigh
conservationimportance”thateitherpartlyorwhollyincludeponds(Appendix4).Inaddition,ponds
arenotedinArticle10asstepping‐stonehabitats,whichmemberstatesneedtoconsiderintheir
planningpoliciestoencourageecologicalcoherenceoftheNatura2000network.
TheotherpieceofEUlegislationrelevanttopondsistheWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD),whichis
intendedtoprotecttheecologicalqualityofallwatersinacatchmentcontext.However,most
nationaladministrationshaveadoptedalowersizelimitof50hectaresfortheidentificationof
standingwaterbodiestobemonitoredaspartoftheWFDimplementation.ThereforeEurope’smost
powerfulpieceofwaterlegislation,ascurrentlybeingimplemented,islikelytobringlittleprotection
forponds.

3

PresidentialEstateofCastelporziano,Italy
OutsideoftheEUlegislativeFramework,pondscanreceivesomeprotectioniftheyareonsites
designatedthroughinternationallaworinitiatives.Ofthese,theEmeraldNetworkinitiative,
launchedbytheCouncilofEuropeundertheBernConvention,ispotentiallythemostimportantfor
ponds.Thisnetworkidentifiesareasofspecialconservationinterestandrepresentsthedefacto
extensionofNatura2000sitestonon‐EUcountries,althoughitisnotlegallybinding.The
concentrationofMediterraneanTemporaryPonds,asdefinedbyNatura2000,withinNorthern
AfricashouldqualifymanysitesidentifiedaspartoftheIAPprocessforinclusionintheEmerald
Network.Severalotherinternationaldesignationsmayalsoaffordpondsitessomeprotection,
althoughdesignationstendtobenon‐legallybinding,includinge.g.BiosphereReserves(UNESCO)
andImportantAreasforBirds(IBAs).
TheIAPprocesswillhelpincreaseawarenessoftheimportanceofthepondresourcegenerally,and
ofIAPpondsitesinparticular.Itcanbeusedtoencouragebetterprotectionmeasuresforthese
sitesattheregional,nationalandinternationalscale,andtheirinclusioninbiodiversityandwater
protectionstrategies.IAPsshouldbeconsideredinallstrategicplanswhichaimtoachievethe
sustainablemanagementandprotectionofbiodiversityatregional,nationalandlocaladministrative
levels.

1.3 Pond definition
Inordertoprotectaresourceitisnecessarytodefinethehabitattype.Pondshavebeenpartof
humancivilizationforthousandsofyearsbuttheirvariabilityintypeanddifferencesinusehaveled
tomultipledefinitionsbasedonvariousaspectsoftheirsize,depth,typeofwatersupply,use,
geographicallocation,formation,andwaterquality(seeBiggsetal.2005forareviewofpond
definitions).
TheEPCN(EPCN2008)hastakenabroaddefinitionofwhatconstitutesapondwhichwillapply
acrossadministrativeboundariestoincludethefullrangeofpondhabitattype.

“Atemporaryorpermanentstandingwaterbodybetween1m2and5hectares
insurfacearea.”


4

2. IMPORTANTAREASFORPONDS(IAP)
2.1 Identifying IAPs
TheImportantAreasforPonds(IAP)conceptwasproposedanddevelopedbyPondConservationto
raiseawarenessofgeographicregionsthatsupportpondsofnationalorinternationalbiodiversity
importance.TheprojectwassuccessfullypilotedinWales,UK(Nicoletetal.2007)andhassince
beenappliedtotwootherregionsintheUK.Identifyingareasthatareimportantforbiodiversityisa
conceptwhichhasbeenappliedattheglobalscale‐BiodiversityHotspots(Myersetal.2007),within
Europe‐KeyBiodiversityAreas(Edgeretal.2008)andfordifferenttaxonomicgroups(Areasof
Importance,includingbirdsandplants).
Aswiththeponddefinitionabove,theEPCNhasagreedabroaddefinitionforIAPswhichcanbe
appliedtoarangeofgeographicalscaledependingonthecharacteristicsofthepondsofinterest.
“AnIAPisageographicalareawhichsupportsapondsiteornetworkofhighbiological,
socialoreconomicimportance.”
TheaimofIAPsistoidentifynetworksofthemostimportantpondsandtheirbiodiversity.These
areascanthenbeusedtohelpfocusstrategiesforpondmonitoring,protectionandappropriate
managementandcreation.Specifically,knowledgeofIAPswill:

• HighlightIAPsforpractitioners(includingconservationagencies,governmentauthoritiesand
non‐governmentalorganisations),creatingabetterunderstandingandrecognitionofthepond
resource.
• Increaseawarenessoftheimportanceofspecialandoftenoverlookedpondtypes(e.g.
temporaryponds),andthespeciestheyprotect.IAPscanalsobeusedasaguidetobest
practiceinpondconservationandmanagement.
• Helptoprotectpondnetworksandpreventfragmentationoffreshwaterresources.Sitesshould
beviewedaspartofthewiderlandscape,withmanagementseekingtoprotectandextend
pondhabitats.
•Informregulatoryagenciesofareaswherepondsshouldbegivenparticularprotection.Thiscan
beachievedbyusingexistinglegislationmoreeffectively,influencingpolicydevelopmentand
integratingIAPsinlocaldevelopmentstrategies.
 Giveasenseofownershiptolocalcommunitiesandhelptoensurethattheprofileofpondsis
raisedinthepublicconsciousness.



5

2.2 Selection criteria
Theselectionofimportantareasisbasedonasetofcriteriatoprovidearobustjustificationfortheir
designation.Thesecriteriacanbequalitative,basedonthepresenceofprotectedhabitatsorthe
presenceofprotectedspecies,ortheymaybequantitative,forexample,thesizeofanareaor
numberofhabitatunitswithinagivenarea.Subjectivemeasuresalsoincludetheimportancewhich
localcommunitiesgivetothepondresource.Intheabsenceofpublisheddata,pondpractitioners
canalsouseexpertpersonalknowledgetoidentifyimportantpondswithinaregion.
TheEPCNhasdevelopedthefollowingfivecriteriatoidentifyIAPs(Table1):
 Aregionwithahighdensityofpondsinterconnectedatthelandscapelevel(pondnetwork).
AmethodologytoidentifypondnetworksusingGISandremotesensingtechniqueswasdeveloped
inSwitzerland(Reymond2008,Minssieux2008)andhasprovedtobeaneffectivetechniquein
identifyingpondclustersintheAlpineArcandinthesomepartofMorocco.However,remote
sensingtechniquesareoftenlesseffectiveforpondswhicharesmallinsize,temporary,within
densevegetationorhiddenundertrees.Insuchcases,andwheredetailedremotesensinganalysis
wasnotpossibleforotherreasons,andintheabsenceofsetthresholdfiguresonponddensity,
expertknowledgeandtheuseofothercriteriawereusedtoidentifypondnetworks.
 OneorseveralHighQualityPond(s).AHQPisapondwithahighbiologicalvaluebecauseofthe
rarityofhabitatandspeciestheysupport.
PondssupportingpopulationsofEuropeanprotected,rare,threatenedorendemicspeciesqualifyas
aHQP.AlistofallspeciesusedintheidentificationofIAPshasbeenincludedinAppendix3.
Identificationofpondsbasedonspeciesreliesongoodqualityandaccessibledata,somethingwhich
islackingformanyofthetaxonomicgroupsassociatedwithpondsinmanycountries.Thebest
availabledatahasbeencollatedforonlyafewgroupsincludingplants,amphibians,Odonataandin
theMediterranean,macrocrustaceans.
PondswhichsupporthabitatsofEuropeanimportancealsoqualityasHQPs(aslistedinAnnex1of
theHabitatsDirective).ThehabitatsusedintheidentificationofIAPsarelistedinAppendix4.In
NorthernAfricaandtheMiddleEast,thepresenceofAnnex1habitatswasalsousedtoassesssites,
asintheEmeraldNetwork.
 Placesrecognisedfortheirpresentorhistoricalsocialinterest(e.g.placesoftourism,swimming
ponds,fishfarmingpond,recreationalanglingpools,pondsrecognisedfortheirscenicbeauty,
etc.).
Ithasbeenshownthatpondswithhighsocio‐economicvalueareoftenmanagedmoresustainably
thansiteswhichareundervaluedorneglected.InFrancearegistryexistsforsiteshaving‘artistic,
historical,scientific,legendaryorpicturesquevalue’.Switzerlandhasafederalinventoryofnatural
andculturalheritage.ThepondswithinMoroccoarerelieduponbylocalcommunitiesforfresh
waterforlivestockandvillagers.Itwasimportanthoweverthattheseusesremainedcompatible
withthebiodiversityimportanceofthesite.

6

 Otherqualitativeandquantitativemeasures.
AlthoughitisdesirabletoselectIAPsusingstandardizedcriteriasomeareas,whichexpertjudgment
clearlyindicatetobeimportant,lackthedatanecessarytoqualifyusingtheformalcriteria.Toavoid
theexclusionofsuchsitesIAPsmayalsobeselectedonthebasisofothercriteriabasedonexpert
knowledgeaboutasiteorregion.TheidentificationofIAPsinthiscategoryshouldincludea
descriptionofthequalifyingothercriteriawithanaimtofillinmissingdataasitbecomesavailable.
Table1summarisesthecriteriausedintheselectionofIAPs.Formoreinformationonthe
developmentofthecriteriarefertoReymond(2008)andMinssieux(2008).
Table1:SelectioncriteriaforIAPsintheMediterraneanBasinandAlpineArcregions.

Criteriatypes

Selectioncriteria
A.SiteswithahighponddensityPondcomplexesorclusterswhicharelikelytosupport
metapopulationsofpond‐associatedplantsandanimals
B.SiteswithhabitatsofEuropean
orMediterraneanimportance

HabitatslistedinAnnexIoftheHabitatDirective


C.SiteswithspeciesofEuropean
orMediterraneanconservation
importance
B.1.Siteshostingspeciesprotectedbyinternationalor
Europeanlegislation:
I. SpecieslistedinAnnexI,IIandIIIoftheBerneConvention
II. SpecieslistedinAnnexIIandIVoftheHabitatDirective

B.2.Sitehostingthreatenedspeciesatinternationalor
Europeanlevel:
I. SpecieslistedontheIUCNRedList
II. SpecieslistedontheEuropeanRedList

B.3.Siteshostingendemicspecies:
SpecieswhichareuniquetoEuropeortheMediterranean
regionandarefoundnowhereelseintheworld

B.4.Otherstatus:specieswithoutparticularstatusbut
potentiallythreatened:
I. Specieswhichsmalllocalisedpopulations
II. Relictspecies
D.Sitesofhighsocial(historical,
culturalorscientific)oreconomic
importance
Pondsiteswhichrepresentexceptionalexamplesofthesocial
oreconomicusesofponds

E.Otherselectioncriteria

PondsiteswhichdonotqualifyundercriteriaAtoDabove,but
whicharedeemedofexceptionalimportanceforotherreasons:
forexamplebecauseoftheirhighspeciesdiversityatnational
level,theirgeomorphology,etc.


7

2.3 IAP selection process
Insummary,theselectionofIAPsisathreestepprocess(Figure1)whichbeginswiththe
identificationof(i)pondsqualifyingasHighQualityPonds,basedonthepresenceofspeciesor
habitatsofconservationimportance,(ii)areaswithahighponddensity,or(iii)pondsitesof
particularsocio‐economicimportance.ThisleadstotheidentificationofproposedIAPs(pIAPs)
whicharethenreviewedthroughaconsultationprocessandtheneitherconfirmedorrejectedas
IAPs.Inpractice,ponddataarenotavailableoratleastdifficulttoaccessinmanycountries,and
expertknowledgewasheavilyreliedupontoidentifyIAPs.TheselectionofIAPsandcollationof
proposedIAPswascoordinatedwithineachregionbymembersoftheEPCN.

Figure1:TheIAPselectionprocess

AprofileofeachpIAPhasbeenproducedwithinformationonits(i)location,(ii)biodiversity,
historicalandsocialvalue,and(iii)threats.Thesesiteprofilesarecollatedinaseparatedocument
whichisavailableontheEPCNwebsite(www.europeanponds.org).Hereweprovideasummaryof
thepIAPsidentifiedineachcountrywithintheMediterraneanBasinandAlpineArc,includingamap
ofpIAPlocationsandacross‐referencetothepagenumbersofeachpIAPsiteprofileinthe
accompanyingdocument.

8

3. THEMEDITERRANEANBASIN

TheMediterraneanregionisdefinedbyitsclimate.Duringthesummeritreceivessubtropicaldry
andwarmair,whilstinthewintertheregionexperiencescyclonicmaritimestormsfromthePolar
Regions.Thisisoftendescribedasawinter‐rain,summer‐dryclimate.
Therigoursoflivinginthistypeofextremeclimatehaveresultedinahighdegreeofendemismin
thearea.Thisisreflectedinthenumberofpriorityspecies(Natura2000)recordedhere(59%ofall
priorityspeciesonAnnexII).Theclimatealsopromotestheformationoftemporaryponds.In
NorthernAfricathesearethepredominantpondtype,supportingauniqueanddiverseplantand
animalcommunity.Temporaryponds,however,donotconstituteahomogeneousgroupandvary
considerablydependingonlocalphysico‐chemicalcharacteristicssuchassoilsandsurfacearea.The
dayasofMorocco,forexample,oftenhaveasurfaceareaofseveralhectares,whereasthecupular
poolsofSicilycanbelessthanonesquaremetre.
ThepondsoftheMediterraneanregionalsohaveahugesignificanceforlocalpopulationsasa
sourceoffreshwater.InNorthAfricatheyareoftenlocatedinorneartowadis,dryriverbedswhich
onlyfillduringheavyrainfall.Thepondspersistlongerthantheriverwaterandbecomeoasesfor
grazinganimals.
ThreatstopondsintheMediterraneanregion
aresimilartothosefacedbysmallwaterbodies
everywhere,buttheirvulnerabilityisgreater.
Thepoolsareshallowandoftensmallinarea
andvolume.Thismakesthemexceptionally
susceptibletopollution,drainageand
destructionbyman.InSouthernEuropethese
threatsincludetheabandonmentofagricultural
practices,eutrophicationduetoagricultureand
inappropriatemanagement(Medailetal.1998).
Mediterraneantemporarypondsprotected
undertheEUHabitatsDirectiveincludeonlya
smallproportionofalltemporarypools:
specificallythosewhichhaveoligotrophicwater
andsupportparticularplantandinvertebrate,
mammalandbirdcommunities.Other
temporarypondsreceivelittleornoprotection
undernationalorinternationallegislation.Asa
resultidentificationofIAPsisessentialtoraise
theprofileoftheseimportanthabitatsand
ensuretheirrecognitioninwatermanagement
strategies.
MassifduBouhachem,Morocco
MalladasdelaDevesa,Spain

9

Atotalof110IAPshavebeenidentifiedintheMediterraneanregion(Figure3).Theavailabilityof
dataandlevelsofinformationtosupporttheirselectionvariedgreatlydependingonthecountry.
ForexamplethelocationofFrenchIAPswasbasedpredominantlyonliteraturereview,whilstthe
locationofpIAPsinAlbaniawasbasedonanalysisofGIStoidentifypondclusters.InMenorcaa
remarkableLIFEBASSESprojecthassurveyedandmappedthetemporarypondsonthewholeisland
providingdetailedinformationonallaspectsoftheseponds(FragaiiArguimbau2010).Thisexample
shouldbeusedasabestpracticecasestudybecauseofthequantityandqualityofMediterranean
TemporaryPondsfoundthere.

Figure2:OverviewofthelocationofpIAPsintheMediterraneanRegion.
InNorthernAfricaandtheEasternMediterraneanmanypotentiallydegradingactivitiesoccurredin
oraroundthepoolsineachoftheIAPsidentified.Manyoftheseweretheresultofagriculture
(includinggrazingandcropping),butalsoincludeddisruptionofthehydrologicalregime(complete
lossofwaterduetoabstraction,irrigation,climatechange,etc.).VeryfewpondsintheseIAPs
carriedanyformofinternationalrecognition(2IAPs)andonly25%werecoveredbyanational
conservationdesignation.IntheEuropeanMediterraneanregionthelevelofprotectionwasmuch
greater.However,interestinglythenumberofreportedthreatsfortheseIAPswasashighasthosein
Africainspiteofthelevelofprotectionaffordedtothem.

SPAIN
FRANCE
PORTUGALITALY
MOROCCO
ALGERIAMALTA
LIBYA LEBANON
EGYPT
CYPRUS
GREECE
MONTENEGRO
ALBANIA
ISRAEL

10

LavajodeAbajodeSinarcas,Spain
3.1 Spain

InSpain27pIAPshavebeenidentified.This
reflectsthecombinationofbedrockand
climate,whichresultsindevelopmentof
numeroustemporaryponds,butalsothe
numberofpondworkersinthiscountry.
Thepondssupportalargenumberof
specialistspecies,manyofwhichare
endemictothisregion.
TherewasanotabledifferenceinthepIAPsidentifiedinthisregion.Somecompriseoutstanding
examplesofhighqualityponds(e.g.DonanaandMenorca)wheredetailedinformationexistsonthe
presenceofspeciesfromawiderangeoftaxonomicgroupsandprioritypondhabitats.Projectsare
on‐goinginthesepIAPstomaintainandenhancethepondresource.ForotherpIAPs(e.g.Douro
Basin),informationexistsonthepresenceofprioritypondhabitatsbutthereisalackofinformation
undertheotherIAPcriteria.Thesesitesareunderahighlevelofthreatduetotheirlackof
recognitionandurgentactionisrequiredtoensuretheirprotection.EvenatsitessuchasDonana,
whicharedesignatedundermanyinternationalandnationalschemes,temporarypondsare
threatenedbywaterabstraction,intensificationofagricultureinvasivespeciesandpressuresfrom
tourism.ThesethreatsarecommontoallvirtuallyallMediterraneanpIAPs,illustratingtheneedto
increasetheprotectionaffordedtothesehabitats.


11

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
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SP01ElAbalariopondcomplex 1
SP02TemporarypondsinAltMaestrat 4
SP03TemporarypondsinAltPalancia 6
SP04BassadelCavall9
SP05Campiñasurponds 11
SP06Cardenaponds13
SP07Donanatemporaryponds 15
SP08ElPalancosopond20
SP09FuentedePiedraponds 22
SP10LaGitanillapond24
SP11LaNavapond26
SP12LaRocapond28
SP13LavajodeAbajodeSinarcas 30
SP14Lebrija‐LasCabezasponds 33
SP15LosArenalesponds 35
SP16MalladasdelaDevesa 37
SP17Menorca39
SP18RedondaorMelchorGomezpond 43
SP19SantaOlallaPonds45
SP20CompejoLagunarCarsticodeCuenca 47
SP21HoyadeBezas49
SP22Trujillanapond51
SP23VeigadePontellinares53
SP24DouroBasin56

12

Galeado,SWPortugalPonds
3.2 Portugal

AtthewesternlimitoftheEuropean
Mediterraneanbiogeographicregion5pIAPs
wereidentifiedinmainlandPortugal.These
rangedfromaltitudesof50m(Galeado)toover
2000ma.s.l.(SMiguel).ThepIAPsrangedinsize
from12.8hato3200haandcontainedoneor
morepriorityhabitatsassociatedwithor
surroundingtheponds.Somesitesalsoqualified
onthebasisofponddensitywithupto8ponds
perkm2(Malhao).
Inspiteofthislevelofbiodiversityvalueonly
onesite(SagresPonds)isaffordedprotection
underEUlegislation.Howevertheothersites
wereaffordedsomeprotectionattheNational
level.ThesepIAPsarethreatenedbya
combinationofhumanactivitiesincluding
changeinagriculturalpracticefromtraditional
grazingtointensiveagricultureandplantingof
crops,withassociateddrainageand
mismanagementofwaterresources,and
increasingpressurefromtouristdevelopments.
IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
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PT01SMiguel65
PT02SagresPonds68
PT03Malhao71

13

PT04Galeado74
PT05VilaDo Bispo77

14

MaredeCatcheou,France
3.3 France

TheFrenchMediterraneansupportsnumeroustemporary
pools(3170*),includingsiteswhicharebothman‐made
(Roque‐Haute)andnatural(Biot)inorigin.Atotalof21pIAPs
havebeenidentifiedinthisarea,basedonthedensityof
ponds,thepresenceofprotectedplantspeciesand
identificationofprioritypondhabitats.Allthesitesincludedin
thispreliminaryassessmentareaffordedprotectionwithinthe
Natura2000network.AsinSpainmanyofthesesitesarestill
threatenedfromintensificationofagricultureand
development.
TheMediterraneanregionofFranceisunderpressurefrom
development,drainageandintensificationoflanduse.Thisis
leadingtothedegradationofpIAPsitesbecauseofisolation
andhabitatfragmentation.Thereisaneedtoimprovethe
statusofpondsinFrancethroughcollationanddissemination
ofknowledgeaboutpondbiodiversity,sustainable
managementofpondsandlegislationtoprotectthepond
resource.




15

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
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FR01Agde80
FR02Beziers82
FR03Capelle84
FR04Centre‐Var86
FR05Costieres88
FR06Crau90
FR07Biot93
FR08MaredeCatcheou95
FR09Massifd'Esterel98
FR10PlainedesMauresandMassifdesMaures101
FR11Camargue104
FR12Pezenas107
FR13Rodes109
FR14Roque‐Haute111
FR15StEsteveetTorremila114
FR16Vendres116
FR17Agriates118
FR18Bonifacio121
FR19CapCorse124
FR20LittoralSWCorsica127
FR21PtoVecchio130

16

PortoCaleriCoastalPonds,Italy
3.4 Italy and Malta

WithinItaly,19pIAPswereidentified.ThepIAPswerewidely
distributedacrosstheItalianmainlandandadjacentislands
andasaresultwerehighlyvariablebecauseofchangesin
topographyandtheunderlyingbedrock.Sitesrangedin
altitudefromsealevel(IsolaGrandeePantanodiSan
Teodoro)to1096ma.s.l.(MonteCarcaci).Siteareawasalso
veryvariablefromonly3ha(StagnidellaMercareccia)to125
000ha(MonteMinervaWetArea).
AllsitesqualifiedasapIAPbecauseofthepresenceofprotectedspeciesorthepresenceofa
Europeanprotectedhabitat.AsaresultalmostallwereprotectedatEuropeanlevel.TheGargano
andTremitiIslandsareworthyofspecialmentionbecauseofthenumberofprotectedspeciesand
levelofprotectionaffordedtothem,representingaveryhighqualitypondresource.Somesites
werealsoselectedbecauseoftheirhistoricvalue,forexampletheFerrararettingpoollandscape.
ThepondresourceinItalyisunderimmensepressurefromurbanization,landcoverconversion,
changesinagriculturalpracticesandtourism.Recognitionoftheirimportanceinlocalplanning
policiesisessential.


17

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
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IT01Albegnaplainpondscomplex 133
IT02PresidentialEstateofCastelporziano 135
IT03CirceoForest141
IT04EasternSalento144
IT05FerraraRettingPoolLandscape 148
IT06FoglinoWood152
IT07GarganoandTremitiIslands 155
IT08IsolaGrandeandPantanodiSanTeodoro 159
IT09MonteCarcaci162
IT10MonteLauro165
IT11MonteMinervawetarea 168
IT12Nardoponds170
IT13NaturalReserveofMacchiatonda 172
IT14PantanidellaDoganella 175
IT15PaludediImbutillo177
IT16PortoCalericoastalponds 180
IT17SentinaNaturalRegionalReserve 183
IT18StagniDellaMercareccia 186
IT19WesternSalento188
MAL01SanPawltat‐Targapools 191

18

SchiniasMarathonPonds,Greece
3.5 Balkan States and Cyprus

IntheEasternMediterranean,7pIAPswere
identifiedinGreeceandCyprus.Thesesites
qualifiedbecauseofthepresenceofprotected
speciesandhabitats,andallwerewithinthe
Natura2000network,withtheexceptionof
KamposKarystoupIAP.ThesepIAPswere
predominantlyinlow‐lyingareaswhichputsthem
undersignificantpressurefromhumanactivities
includingdevelopment,extensiveagriculture,
overexploitationofwaterresourcesandtourism.
However,projectsarealreadyunderwayto
protectandenhancethepondresourceinthis
regione.g.theEuropeanLifefundedproject
"ActionfortheconservationofMediterranean
TemporaryPonds”inCrete.
FortheremainingBalkanstateswithintheMediterraneanfewpIAPshavebeenproposed.This
reflectsthelackofinformationonthepondresourceinthesecountries,ratherthanthequalityof
thepondresource.Montenegrohasproposed1pIAPwhichcontainsbothprotectedspeciesand
habitats,importantassemblagesofotherspeciesandwhichcontainsahighdensityofponds.Yet
thepondsofthispIAParecurrentlyaffordedonlyNationalprotection.Othercountriesareatthe
beginningoftheIAPselectionprocess.AlbaniahasidentifiedIAPsusingGIStechniques,whilst
Sloveniahasrequestedmoreinformationontheselectioncriteriasothatitcanfeedintotheprocess
atalaterdate.

19


IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
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MTG01Moromispond193
ALB01Albania195
GR01KamposKarystouPonds200
GR02MountOchiAreaPonds203
GR03Omalospond205
GR04SchiniasMarathonPonds208
GR05SperchiosValleyPonds210
CYP01OrokliniLakeSaltmarshPonds212
CYP02ParalimniLakePonds214

20

Chaouia,Morocco
3.6 Morocco

WithinMorocco,atotalof15pIAPshavebeenidentified.
Theserangedinsizefrom100ha(HautAtlas)to151000
ha(Mamora)andinaltitudefrom10mto770m.Allsites
qualifiedonthebasisofhabitatsofhighconservation
importance,andthepresenceofprotectedspecies.Sites
alsoqualifiedonthebasisofponddensity.Theseare
relativelylow(highdensity=0.2pondsperkm2,Haut
Atlas),reflectingthearidnatureoftheregion.The
freshwaterthesepondsprovideisamajorfactorinthe
highsocio‐economicimportanceaffordedtopondsinthe
pIAPs.
OnlyonesitewasaffordedrecognitionbyitsdesignationasaUNESCOBiosphereReserve(Massifdu
Bouhachem).Theothersreceivenoprotectionatall,inspiteofthepresenceofprotectedspecies
andimportanthabitattypes.
ThreatstothepondresourceinNorthernAfricaaresignificantincludingextractionofmineralsfrom
thepondbasin,excessivegrazingpressure,pollution,eutrophication,mismanagementofwater
resources,climatechangeandacombinationofalloftheabove.

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
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21

MR01BabBerred216
MR02Benslimane219
MR03MassifduBouhachem222
MR04Casablanca225
MR05Chaouia 228
MR06Doukkala‐Abda231
MR07Essaouira 234
MR08Gharb237
MR09Haouz‐Jbilets240
MR10HautAtlas243
MR11Mamora246
MR12MoyenAtlas249
MR13AinEch‐Chair252
MR14OuedCherrat255
MR15PeninsuleTingitane258

22

WesternNumidia,Algeria
3.7 Algeria and Tunisia

Only4pIAPswereidentifiedinAlgeria.Allqualified
becauseofthedensityofponds,presenceof
protectedspecies,habitatsofhighconservation
importance,andsocio‐economicvalue.pIAPsranged
insizefrom70805ha(WesternNumidia)to300000
ha(Alger).Thedensityofpondsintheseareaswas
veryhighforthisbiogeographicregionandin
commonwithMorocco,localcommunities
dependedonthesepondsforfreshwater,industry
andagriculture.Twosites,EasternandWestern
Numidia,weredesignatedasRamsarsiteswhilstthe
othertwopIAPswereaffordednolegislative
protection.
InTunisiaanother4pIAPswereselected.Thesevariedwidelyinsize,from0.6ha(MajenCoucha)to
30000ha(Kroumirie).Thesitesqualifiedundereverycriterionincludingtheimportanceandrarityof
wetlandhabitatwithinthisregion(CriteriaE‐Other).TwositesaredesignatedasRamsarwetlands
(KroumirieandMajen
Chitane)whilstthe
othertwositesreceive
noprotection.Threats
tothesepondsrelateto
humanactivitiesandan
increaseintheduration
ofsummerdrought,
duetoclimatechange.

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
Pageno
AL01Alger261
AL02Jijel264
AL03WesternNumidie267
AL04EasternNumidie 270
TN01Kroumirie273
TN02MajenChoucha276
TN03MajenChitane279
TN04GaraaSejnane282

23

BrichatSecherpool,Israel
3.8 Middle East

IntheMiddleEast,asinglepIAPwasidentifiedineachof
Libya,Syria,Lebanon,EgyptandIsrael.Allqualifiedbecause
ofthepresenceofprotectedspecies,includingSecherin
Israelwhichispartofacomplexofpondsprovidingbreeding
habitatformetapopulationsofseveraldifferentamphibian
species.ThisIAPisaffordedsomeprotectionatanational
level.
Intheothercountriesallsitesqualifiedunderthefourmain
criteria:presenceofaprotectedspeciesandhabitat,pond
densityandsocio‐economicimportance.However,noneof
thesesitesreceivedanyprotection.Asaresulttheyarevery
vulnerabletohighlevelsofthreatfromhumanactivities.

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
Pageno
EG01Nile285
IS01BrichatSecherpool288
LB01Bekaa291
LYB01Cyrenaique294
SYR01Homs297

24

ZonesHumidesdesMenuires,FrancePlatzierJoch,Austria
4. THEALPINEARC

TheAlpsarethemostsignificantmountainrangeinEuropecoveringanareaof190000km2.They
formacrescentaround1,200kmlongand200kmwide,resultingfromthecollisionbetweenAfrica
andEurope.Largedifferencesinclimatefromnorthtosouthandwithaltitudecreateacontinuum
ofdifferenthabitattypes.Thesehabitatssupportarichdiversityofplant(13000)andanimal(30000)
speciesmanyofwhichareendemictothisregion.However,theAlpsarealsohometo14million
peopleandasignificantnumberoftouristsyearround.
TheAlpineArcincludespartsorallofGermany,Austria,France,Italy,thePrincipalityof
Liechtenstein,thePrincipalityofMonaco,SloveniaandSwitzerland.Thesecountriesaresignatories
totheprotocolagreedattheAlpineConvention(1991)whichaimedtocreatea“nationalandcross‐
bordernetworkofprotectedareas,biotopesandotherenvironmentalassetsprotectedor
acknowledgedasworthyofprotection”.
AsaresultofthisinitiativetheAlpsisnowlargelyprotectedbynationalparksandnaturereserves
(25%oftheAlpineregion).However,eventhislevelofprotectionhasnotsecuredthesurvivalof
manyimportantpondswhichremainoutsideofprotectedareas.Theprimarythreatisfrom
degradationduetohabitatfragmentationresultinginisolatedpopulationswhichcannotbe
sustainedinthelong‐termeveniftheyarewithinaprotectedarea.Thisisespeciallytrueintheface
ofclimatechangewhichhashadandwillcontinuetohavenegativeeffectsonthesehighaltitude
sites.Pondsandlakesinthisregionprovidevitalsteepingstonesacrossthelandscapeaswellas
beinganimportantbiodiversityresourceintheirownright.
FortheidentificationofIAPsfourcountrieswithintheAlpineArcwereselected,Switzerland,France,
AustriaandItaly,concentratingonlandover1500m.Atthisaltitudethreehabitatzonescanbe
identified,subalpine,alpineandnival,wherepondssupportmanyspeciesadaptedtolow
temperatureslivingwithinanarrowtemperaturerange(stenothermalspecies).

25

Atotalof30IAPshavebeenidentifiedintheAlpineArcregion(Figure3).Thesepondclusterswere
identifiedusingbothGISremotesensingtechniquesandbiologicaldata,particularlythepresenceof
Odonataandamphibians.IntheAlpineregion,themainthreattoproposedIAPsislinkedtohigh
levelsoftouristactivity.Inadditionclimatechangeisasignificantthreattospeciesadaptedtohigh
altitudeecosystems(Rossetetal.2010),whichwillrequirethinkingbeyondprotectedsite
boundaries.

Figure3:OverviewofthelocationofpIAPsintheAlpineArcRegion.


AUSTRIA
ITALY
SWITZERLAND
FRANCE

26

DormillousePonds,France
4.1 France

IntheFrenchregionoftheAlpineArc,8
pIAPshavebeenidentified.Mostarelocated
withintheSavoiedistrict,intheRhône‐Alps
region.ThesepIAPsqualifiedbecauseofthe
presenceofpriorityspecies,orbecauseof
thepresenceofimportantassemblagesof
stenothermaldragonflies.DormillousePonds
alsoqualifiedbecauseofthepresenceof
priorityhabitats.Somesiteshadhighpond
densities,between10and50pondsperkm2,
whilstotherswereonlyformedof1pond.
Sizesrangedfrom16ha(LacdesSaisies)to
over1000ha(ZonesHumidesdesMenuires).

SitesalsoqualifiedasIAPsonthebasisof
theirsocio‐economicimportance,whichincluded
grazingandtourism.However,thesetwofactorsalso
representsignificantthreatstotheponds.TheseIAPs
receivedsomelevelofprotectionas“Zonesnaturelle
d'intérêtécologique,faunistiqueetfloristique”and5
werewithinNatura2000sites.However,thethreatof
climatechange,asignificantthreattothesehigh
altitudeecosystems,willneedtobeaddressedbeyond
thesedesignatedareas.

IAPcodeSitenameIAPSiteProfile
Pageno
FR01LacdesSaisies300
FR02ZoneshumidesdeslacsdelaTempêteetducol
delaLouze302
FR03ZoneshumidesdesMenuires304
FR04ZoneshumidesducoldesEncombres306
FR05LacsdegorgesduDorondeTermignon308
FR06ZoneshumidesdeslacsPotron310
FR07LacsduplateauduTaillefer312
FR08EtangsdeDormillouse314

27

Grimselpass,Totesee,Switzerland
4.2 Switzerland
IntheSwissregionoftheAlpineArc,14pIAPshavebeenidentified.Thetypesofpondrepresented
werealluvialwetlands,postglacialmargins,glacialcirques,orhighaltitudebogsandmarshes.This
regionisnotableinhavingallpIAPslocatedabove2000m,withtheexceptionofGolfSamedan
(1700m);onesite(LaisdaMacun)wasabove2650m.Asaresultthesesitessupportcold
stenothermalspecialists(includingOdonata),whichareatparticularriskofclimatechange.
TheSwisspIAPsiteswereidentifiedunderthecriteriaofponddensity,whichvariedbetween10‐30
pondsperkm2.ThehighestponddensitywasrecordedatGlacierdeTsanfleuron,Steiseeam
SustenpassandGrimselpass(Totesee).ThepIAPsinthisregionvariedinsurfaceareafrom81ha
(Rinderstock,Plattisee)to360ha(LaisdaMacun).Somesitesqualifiedbecauseofthepresenceof
protectedamphibians,butformanybiologicaldatawerenotavailable.