Activities and achievements since the establishment of the Association in 1976

Among other activities:

1. From the formation of Ioannina Environment Protection Association, numerous denunciations have been made concerning illegal fillings and arbitrary occupations of by the lake areas, which efficiently contributed to their restraint.

2. After our request in 1977, procedures began concerning the determination of lake boundaries. Over the past years Boundaries Committees have been repeatedly established and have set the boundaries of coastal area and beach, without however completiing of the procedure due to the lack of appropriate ratification by the Minister in charge.

At last the Boundary Committee which was established under the law 2971/2001 has begun in 2007 procedures in setting lake boundaries. Unfortunately in the Anatoli-Katsika area the Committee had set the lake boundary at the embankment which cut the communication between the lake and the huge (3,5 square kilometer) wetland of the area.

This decision is in contrast with the Environmental Study of Lake Pamvotis that the Ministry of Public Works and Environment had approved in 2001, and the Management Plan of Lake Pamvotis that was composed from the Hellenic Republic - Region of Epirus in 2004.

Our Association lodged in December 2007 an application for the redefinition of the boundary, which was rejected from the General Secretary of the Region of Epirus. Ioannina Environment Protection Association lodged an application for annulment against the decision of the Boundary Committee and the General Secretary of the Region of Epirus, at the Council of State (Symvoulion tis Epikrateias).

3. In February of 1973, Ioannina Environment Protection Association submitted a request at Ioannina District, for the establishment of Autonomous Organization of Ioannina Lake, with state law entity and executive authorities, for the protection and development of the Lake. The proposition was adopted by the District, the Municipality, numerous studies and drafts for the creation of the Organization had been composed.

Finally in 2002 the Pamvotis Lake Managmend Body (Foreas Diaxirisis Limnis Pamvotidas) has been established, an organization without any authority since it only has advisory role. From 2005 Ioannina Environment Protection Association participates on the Board of Pamvotis Lake Managmend Body.

4. Our Association takes actions to ensure the preservation of free public areas and city parks. In 1977 we achieved concerning the “Aigli” park (in front of the Courthouse) to remain a city park and not undergo end building construction in the area.

5. In the same concept we are fighting for the protection of St. Marina Street Market. According to a decision of the Municipality of Ioannina a new Town Hall is to be constructed in the area. Alternatively we have proposed the Municipality to be housed in today District and the District to be housed in a new building at Velissario Campus. We have appeal for the above to the regional court witch has sent the case to the Council of State (Symvoulion tis Epikrateias).

Even before the outcome of the case on the Council of State, our proposition have been adopted in the recent draft of the General Master Plan of Ioannina, which is being composed from the Ministry of Public Works and Environment.

6. In 1990 we managed to raise funds and 680 conifers trees 2,50 m in height were purchased from Germany and planted at the city of Ioannina and the University area.

7. In Septeber 2003 we lodged an application for annulment at the Council of State (Symvoulion tis Epikrateias), against the 22943 / 2003 Joint Ministerial Decision, which have been considered destructive, as it took no measure to protect the Lake, set its boundaries arbitrary, and allowed the construction of multistory buildings on the coast.

The Council of State accepted our request and with the 3595 / 2007 judgment revoked the above Joint Ministerial Decision.

The Ministry of Public Works and Environment is conducting a study consernig the composition of a Presidential Decree for the protection of the Lake.

8. In 2004 after many months of laborious actions, we revealed a serious error of Ioannina District. The lake area (wetlands) between the embankment and the former Community of Amfithea, was supposed to belong to the Community of Amfithea, when it actually is public property. With our action we managed to save a lake wetland area of 1,27 square kilometers.

9. Ioannina Environment Protection Association is deeply concerned for the future of Lake Pamvotis. Difficult and costly works must take place, such as the removal of the infected mud and sediment, which have made the lake shallower, the removal of the illegal arbitrary embankments, the restoration of the wetlands both on lakes Pamvotis and Lapsista, the construction of sewerage system around the Lake etc. We feel it is an opportunity for approval of such funding by the European Union, however the General Secretary of the Region of Epirus has denied such a proposition.

10. In February of 2009 we accused the District of Ioannina for the illegal construction of paved road for bicycles and pedestrians on top of the embankment of Anatoli – Katsika.

The work was executed and completed in contrast to the Environmental Study of Lake Pamvotis that the Ministry of Public Works and Environment had approved in 2001, and the Management Plan of Lake Pamvotis that was composed from the Hellenic Republic - Region of Epirus in 2004.

In a distinctive passage, the 2004 Management Plan of Lake Pamvotis notes in paragraph 6.2 A.6: “In future, operations that are going to completely destroy the remain habitats by the lake, is the design of paved road on the embankment. The road will legalize all the fillings of lake areas, will completely cut off the by the lake areas from the lake, and will destroy the wetlands”.

11. In August 2009 we have provided a report with our comments concerning the draft of the General Master Plan of Ioannina, which is now being composed by the Ministry of Public Works and Environment. Our concern is that the draft fails to protect and conserve the lake environment.