Near the village of Aloizianika, the small pond, which was created decades ago by clay extraction, has evolved into an important habitat for aquatic plants, frogs, and rare species, such as the Ranunculus trichophyllus, which was discovered by Swiss botanists. However, neglect and pollution have reduced its size, with trash cans and debris marring the landscape.
The «Kythera Green Citizens» Action” group has launched initiatives to save the site by removing trash bins, cleaning up the area, and installing informational signs. However, full restoration requires funding to remove the debris. Read the press release below.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE «LIMNOULAS» OF ALOIZIANIKA AND ITS PRESERVATION
Newsletter from the Kythera Green Citizens' Initiative, November 29, 2024
South of the municipal road leading from the main Potamos-Chora road toward the village of Aloizianika lies a site of particular environmental interest for Kythira. It consists of a network of three small freshwater ponds surrounded by reeds and low vegetation; though nearly dry at this time of year, they regularly come back to life with the first rains. According to Ms. Maria Samiou, a longtime resident of Aloizianika, the site was created many decades—perhaps even centuries—ago by Kythirians from the area who were digging there for a type of clay they used to waterproof the roofs of their homes. Over time, the pit gradually grew larger, while the clay collected and retained rainwater. Although man-made, the site quickly took on significant ecological importance: reeds and other aquatic plants began to grow, and Mrs. Samiou recalls that birds and animals would always gather there to drink and cool off.
Two distinguished Swiss botanists recently emphasized the importance of the site. Dr. Alex Kocyan (University of Zurich) and Jasmin Joshi (Hochschule für Technik), who have been studying the natural environment of Kythira for thirty years, recently discovered that the site is home to an extremely rare aquatic plant, the Ranunculus trichophyllus. It also provides a habitat for and protects the offspring of frogs, toads, and other amphibians, and, as the Ornithological Society has emphasized, it serves as an important stopover for migratory birds. Unfortunately, in recent years, a large trash bin was placed very close to it, inevitably leading to an accumulation of trash around the area, and more recently, the dumping of construction debris. As a result, only a small portion of the pond is now visible, dangerously choked with trash and reduced to less than a quarter of its normal size.
For these reasons, the Kythera Green Citizens’ Initiative decided to take on the task of cleaning up and protecting the area, which can still be saved, even at the last minute, through immediate and, above all, careful intervention. As a first step, the group contacted the Municipality of Kythera, which, recognizing the importance of the site, immediately removed the trash bin. Subsequently, a team of volunteers conducted an initial, superficial cleanup of the site the day before yesterday, and, at the expense of Kythera Green members and through their own labor, fenced off the area and installed informational signs in Greek and English.
The full restoration of the site will definitely require additional work to remove the large amount of debris that remains, which will necessitate the use of an excavator and a truck. To this end, the team is now seeking funding from friends of Kythira’s natural environment.
From: mail@kytheragreen.net
