SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ndash A bdquoGREENrdquo FUTURE FOR EUROPE
2014 ŠIAULIAI
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN LITHUANIA LATVIJA GREECE PORTUGAL SPAIN ROMANIA CHECH REPUBLICK CATALOGUE
2
CONTENT
AN INTRODUCTION 3
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA 5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA 9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE 16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA 23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL 32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
SPAIN 35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
CHECH REPUBLICK 45
3
AN INTRODUCTION
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team The main aim of this project entitled
Sustainable Development-A Green Future for Europerdquo is to promote knowledge care and respect
for the environment We want to raise awareness of the necessity of recycling renewable energy
sources environmentally friendly products energy buildings environmentally friendly commuting
and travelling As many of the schools involved work with pupils who have to face various
problems another goal of this project is to help these students gain ability to become integrated
personalities with principles and values which will be based on mutual respect for the individuality
of the people of each country The main target group is our students and the other members of the
community as well The issue will be dealt with indifferent manners because of the wide variety of
target group members Theoretical knowledge will join with practical activities (performed in open
air or during visits) Each partner will gather material information and data both collected locally
and given by the other participant countries and will produce final work which will show how to
reduce our impact on the environment (scientific field studies report articles video exhibition
posters and slide show) Then all the products will be shared and presented during Exhibitions
Meetings Special Events (Earth Weekhellip) In order to disseminate the ongoing result of the project
and all its activities a website and a newsletter will be produced We expect that all the common
activities the exchange of opinions and good practice examples will help the participants to realize
that environmental care and sustainability may be global issues but the solutions are in individual
behaviors and choices It is time to respect our Earth time to adopt a green lifestyle That is why
our Comenius Project is so important
We have entered the 21st century and the rapidly growing of urbanization and
expanding infrastructure through intensive resource depletion pollution industrial needs and
modern lifestyle are very damaging to ecosystems biodiversity and have led to environmental
hazards that threaten the life of citizens disturb the harmony and balance of the surrounding nature
and its ecosystems and put the life of future generations at stake Most problems were created
during the past few decades and people are still far from being environmentally conscious
Ecology is a really fragile issue in the world Our countries set goals towards a more environmental
policy In order to achieve this we should become more active citizens eliminating the bad habits
of the past and we certainly need to raise awareness of young people the active citizens of the
4
future Schools projects such as Sustainable Development ndash a lsquogreenrsquo future for Europe can
certainly have a great and positive contribution to this
Through their participation in our Comenius project the students teachers and parents
had the opportunity to be informed about burning environmental issues and become more active in
searching for causes and possible solutions In their last project task they had to make a thorough
research concerning endangered species in our country and tremendous natural disasters that we
have suffered the last years
They had the chance to realize that human negligence was and still is the main cause
of problems and the most negative impact on the environment Anthropogenic mortality the
development of large infrastructure pollution poaching and natural disasters are the basic factors
for their imminent extinction
SCHOOLS WHICH ARE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT
Siauliai Normundas Velteris Youth School Siauliai Lithuania
Riga Secondary Night Shift School Nordm 9 Riga Latvia
1st Evening Vocational High School Trikala Greek
Colegiul Technic Energetic ldquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva Romania
Agrupamento de escolas August Barreiro Portuguese
Instituto Ensentildeanza Secundaria Maria Pacheco Toledo Spain
Obchodni Akademie Karvina Czech Republic
5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LITHUANIA
Lithuanian climate is formed and is affected by global factors and local geographical
circumstances
In Lithuania Natural disasters influence distribution of animals and population The
most common natural disasters in Lithuania are fires floods and drought
During flooding nature bears heavy losses drowns animals material and spiritual
values are ruined houses are damaged There are a lot of flooding factors contamination of the
underground water sewer and rubbish spread infectious diseases cultivated fields overflow and
yield dies Lithuania frequently suffers from floods Nemunas
Forest fires bring devastation - not only biodiversity nests insects are devastated but
tress and leaves are attacked by pests
6
Drought impacts to broad-leaved plants because they are mostly sensitive to drought
In general the drought could affect fir trees which are not adapted to drought The chain is very
long the plant and insect species including birds The tree is used by Woodpeckers birds pigmy
owls honey buzzard and others So we can see interrelationship between natural disasters and
endangered species
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
2
CONTENT
AN INTRODUCTION 3
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA 5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA 9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE 16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA 23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL 32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
SPAIN 35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
CHECH REPUBLICK 45
3
AN INTRODUCTION
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team The main aim of this project entitled
Sustainable Development-A Green Future for Europerdquo is to promote knowledge care and respect
for the environment We want to raise awareness of the necessity of recycling renewable energy
sources environmentally friendly products energy buildings environmentally friendly commuting
and travelling As many of the schools involved work with pupils who have to face various
problems another goal of this project is to help these students gain ability to become integrated
personalities with principles and values which will be based on mutual respect for the individuality
of the people of each country The main target group is our students and the other members of the
community as well The issue will be dealt with indifferent manners because of the wide variety of
target group members Theoretical knowledge will join with practical activities (performed in open
air or during visits) Each partner will gather material information and data both collected locally
and given by the other participant countries and will produce final work which will show how to
reduce our impact on the environment (scientific field studies report articles video exhibition
posters and slide show) Then all the products will be shared and presented during Exhibitions
Meetings Special Events (Earth Weekhellip) In order to disseminate the ongoing result of the project
and all its activities a website and a newsletter will be produced We expect that all the common
activities the exchange of opinions and good practice examples will help the participants to realize
that environmental care and sustainability may be global issues but the solutions are in individual
behaviors and choices It is time to respect our Earth time to adopt a green lifestyle That is why
our Comenius Project is so important
We have entered the 21st century and the rapidly growing of urbanization and
expanding infrastructure through intensive resource depletion pollution industrial needs and
modern lifestyle are very damaging to ecosystems biodiversity and have led to environmental
hazards that threaten the life of citizens disturb the harmony and balance of the surrounding nature
and its ecosystems and put the life of future generations at stake Most problems were created
during the past few decades and people are still far from being environmentally conscious
Ecology is a really fragile issue in the world Our countries set goals towards a more environmental
policy In order to achieve this we should become more active citizens eliminating the bad habits
of the past and we certainly need to raise awareness of young people the active citizens of the
4
future Schools projects such as Sustainable Development ndash a lsquogreenrsquo future for Europe can
certainly have a great and positive contribution to this
Through their participation in our Comenius project the students teachers and parents
had the opportunity to be informed about burning environmental issues and become more active in
searching for causes and possible solutions In their last project task they had to make a thorough
research concerning endangered species in our country and tremendous natural disasters that we
have suffered the last years
They had the chance to realize that human negligence was and still is the main cause
of problems and the most negative impact on the environment Anthropogenic mortality the
development of large infrastructure pollution poaching and natural disasters are the basic factors
for their imminent extinction
SCHOOLS WHICH ARE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT
Siauliai Normundas Velteris Youth School Siauliai Lithuania
Riga Secondary Night Shift School Nordm 9 Riga Latvia
1st Evening Vocational High School Trikala Greek
Colegiul Technic Energetic ldquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva Romania
Agrupamento de escolas August Barreiro Portuguese
Instituto Ensentildeanza Secundaria Maria Pacheco Toledo Spain
Obchodni Akademie Karvina Czech Republic
5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LITHUANIA
Lithuanian climate is formed and is affected by global factors and local geographical
circumstances
In Lithuania Natural disasters influence distribution of animals and population The
most common natural disasters in Lithuania are fires floods and drought
During flooding nature bears heavy losses drowns animals material and spiritual
values are ruined houses are damaged There are a lot of flooding factors contamination of the
underground water sewer and rubbish spread infectious diseases cultivated fields overflow and
yield dies Lithuania frequently suffers from floods Nemunas
Forest fires bring devastation - not only biodiversity nests insects are devastated but
tress and leaves are attacked by pests
6
Drought impacts to broad-leaved plants because they are mostly sensitive to drought
In general the drought could affect fir trees which are not adapted to drought The chain is very
long the plant and insect species including birds The tree is used by Woodpeckers birds pigmy
owls honey buzzard and others So we can see interrelationship between natural disasters and
endangered species
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
3
AN INTRODUCTION
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team The main aim of this project entitled
Sustainable Development-A Green Future for Europerdquo is to promote knowledge care and respect
for the environment We want to raise awareness of the necessity of recycling renewable energy
sources environmentally friendly products energy buildings environmentally friendly commuting
and travelling As many of the schools involved work with pupils who have to face various
problems another goal of this project is to help these students gain ability to become integrated
personalities with principles and values which will be based on mutual respect for the individuality
of the people of each country The main target group is our students and the other members of the
community as well The issue will be dealt with indifferent manners because of the wide variety of
target group members Theoretical knowledge will join with practical activities (performed in open
air or during visits) Each partner will gather material information and data both collected locally
and given by the other participant countries and will produce final work which will show how to
reduce our impact on the environment (scientific field studies report articles video exhibition
posters and slide show) Then all the products will be shared and presented during Exhibitions
Meetings Special Events (Earth Weekhellip) In order to disseminate the ongoing result of the project
and all its activities a website and a newsletter will be produced We expect that all the common
activities the exchange of opinions and good practice examples will help the participants to realize
that environmental care and sustainability may be global issues but the solutions are in individual
behaviors and choices It is time to respect our Earth time to adopt a green lifestyle That is why
our Comenius Project is so important
We have entered the 21st century and the rapidly growing of urbanization and
expanding infrastructure through intensive resource depletion pollution industrial needs and
modern lifestyle are very damaging to ecosystems biodiversity and have led to environmental
hazards that threaten the life of citizens disturb the harmony and balance of the surrounding nature
and its ecosystems and put the life of future generations at stake Most problems were created
during the past few decades and people are still far from being environmentally conscious
Ecology is a really fragile issue in the world Our countries set goals towards a more environmental
policy In order to achieve this we should become more active citizens eliminating the bad habits
of the past and we certainly need to raise awareness of young people the active citizens of the
4
future Schools projects such as Sustainable Development ndash a lsquogreenrsquo future for Europe can
certainly have a great and positive contribution to this
Through their participation in our Comenius project the students teachers and parents
had the opportunity to be informed about burning environmental issues and become more active in
searching for causes and possible solutions In their last project task they had to make a thorough
research concerning endangered species in our country and tremendous natural disasters that we
have suffered the last years
They had the chance to realize that human negligence was and still is the main cause
of problems and the most negative impact on the environment Anthropogenic mortality the
development of large infrastructure pollution poaching and natural disasters are the basic factors
for their imminent extinction
SCHOOLS WHICH ARE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT
Siauliai Normundas Velteris Youth School Siauliai Lithuania
Riga Secondary Night Shift School Nordm 9 Riga Latvia
1st Evening Vocational High School Trikala Greek
Colegiul Technic Energetic ldquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva Romania
Agrupamento de escolas August Barreiro Portuguese
Instituto Ensentildeanza Secundaria Maria Pacheco Toledo Spain
Obchodni Akademie Karvina Czech Republic
5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LITHUANIA
Lithuanian climate is formed and is affected by global factors and local geographical
circumstances
In Lithuania Natural disasters influence distribution of animals and population The
most common natural disasters in Lithuania are fires floods and drought
During flooding nature bears heavy losses drowns animals material and spiritual
values are ruined houses are damaged There are a lot of flooding factors contamination of the
underground water sewer and rubbish spread infectious diseases cultivated fields overflow and
yield dies Lithuania frequently suffers from floods Nemunas
Forest fires bring devastation - not only biodiversity nests insects are devastated but
tress and leaves are attacked by pests
6
Drought impacts to broad-leaved plants because they are mostly sensitive to drought
In general the drought could affect fir trees which are not adapted to drought The chain is very
long the plant and insect species including birds The tree is used by Woodpeckers birds pigmy
owls honey buzzard and others So we can see interrelationship between natural disasters and
endangered species
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
4
future Schools projects such as Sustainable Development ndash a lsquogreenrsquo future for Europe can
certainly have a great and positive contribution to this
Through their participation in our Comenius project the students teachers and parents
had the opportunity to be informed about burning environmental issues and become more active in
searching for causes and possible solutions In their last project task they had to make a thorough
research concerning endangered species in our country and tremendous natural disasters that we
have suffered the last years
They had the chance to realize that human negligence was and still is the main cause
of problems and the most negative impact on the environment Anthropogenic mortality the
development of large infrastructure pollution poaching and natural disasters are the basic factors
for their imminent extinction
SCHOOLS WHICH ARE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT
Siauliai Normundas Velteris Youth School Siauliai Lithuania
Riga Secondary Night Shift School Nordm 9 Riga Latvia
1st Evening Vocational High School Trikala Greek
Colegiul Technic Energetic ldquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva Romania
Agrupamento de escolas August Barreiro Portuguese
Instituto Ensentildeanza Secundaria Maria Pacheco Toledo Spain
Obchodni Akademie Karvina Czech Republic
5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LITHUANIA
Lithuanian climate is formed and is affected by global factors and local geographical
circumstances
In Lithuania Natural disasters influence distribution of animals and population The
most common natural disasters in Lithuania are fires floods and drought
During flooding nature bears heavy losses drowns animals material and spiritual
values are ruined houses are damaged There are a lot of flooding factors contamination of the
underground water sewer and rubbish spread infectious diseases cultivated fields overflow and
yield dies Lithuania frequently suffers from floods Nemunas
Forest fires bring devastation - not only biodiversity nests insects are devastated but
tress and leaves are attacked by pests
6
Drought impacts to broad-leaved plants because they are mostly sensitive to drought
In general the drought could affect fir trees which are not adapted to drought The chain is very
long the plant and insect species including birds The tree is used by Woodpeckers birds pigmy
owls honey buzzard and others So we can see interrelationship between natural disasters and
endangered species
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
5
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LITHUANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LITHUANIA
Lithuanian climate is formed and is affected by global factors and local geographical
circumstances
In Lithuania Natural disasters influence distribution of animals and population The
most common natural disasters in Lithuania are fires floods and drought
During flooding nature bears heavy losses drowns animals material and spiritual
values are ruined houses are damaged There are a lot of flooding factors contamination of the
underground water sewer and rubbish spread infectious diseases cultivated fields overflow and
yield dies Lithuania frequently suffers from floods Nemunas
Forest fires bring devastation - not only biodiversity nests insects are devastated but
tress and leaves are attacked by pests
6
Drought impacts to broad-leaved plants because they are mostly sensitive to drought
In general the drought could affect fir trees which are not adapted to drought The chain is very
long the plant and insect species including birds The tree is used by Woodpeckers birds pigmy
owls honey buzzard and others So we can see interrelationship between natural disasters and
endangered species
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
6
Drought impacts to broad-leaved plants because they are mostly sensitive to drought
In general the drought could affect fir trees which are not adapted to drought The chain is very
long the plant and insect species including birds The tree is used by Woodpeckers birds pigmy
owls honey buzzard and others So we can see interrelationship between natural disasters and
endangered species
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
7
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN LITHUANIA
There are hundreds of species of animals throughout Lithuania that are disappearing fast
due to hunting or man`s interference in their natural habitat The wild cat Flying Squirrel beavers
elk ferret ndash these are just few names of animals hunted nearly to extinction In the twentieth century
white black grouse and great spotted eagle disappeared Lynx otter and European mink are on the
borderline of extinction The Lithuanian Red Book included 18 mammals Trade in these species is
forbidden but some of these animals are killed and used for medical research others are hunted for
meat or adornment Lithuanian government banned killing of endangered species and establishes
nature reserves national parks and Natura 2000 territories for their protection The anti-fur
movement has become a part of some nature loverslsquo lives in our country
Growing of urbanization and expanding infrastructure through intensive resource
depletion pollution are very damaging ecosystems biodiversity This poses are threated to the
Lithuanian Fauna and Flora
WISENT
In the twentieth century wisent was likely to disappear Wisent is included in the
international and Lithuanian Red Books
These ancient animals are very sensitive to contaminated environment of genetically
modified plants
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
8
POND TURTLE
In Lithuania very rare species are included in the Red Book may be found in natural
reserves in Lazdijai and Alitus districts The Lithuanian Red Book included a number of reptiles - a
turtle pond toxic viper The reasons of declining of reptiles are deforestation fires and urbanization
SIMPLE VIPER
Simple Viper is the only poisonous snake in Lithuania It is difficult to indicate the
reasons of disappearing of Viper - Raccoon dogs which can catch them from the grass might have
contributed to their extinction
httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1YkEXTropO1Tyu7aV4C-
LlW5gbAp9YwWc8ctTyMh2fwgeditpli=1slide=idi34
httpltwikipediaorgwikiLietuvos_raudonoji_knyga
httpalkaslt20130103ar-gali-i-lietuva-sugrizti-miskiniai-katinai-vilpisiai
httpwwwlmnscltneigaliemsltBalinis_vezlys
httpgrynasdelfiltgamtalietuvos-bioivairove-paprastoji-angisdid=60187283
httpltwikipediaorgwikiStichinC497_nelaimC497
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
9
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
LATVIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN LATVIA PAST THREE YEARS
Possible natural disasters in Latvia
bull Storms
bull Snowfalls
bull Icing
bull Blizzards
bull Flooding
bull Forest and peat bog fires
bull Earthquakes (small)
Natural disasters breakdown
bull Atmospheric factors - such as fog storm hurricane typhoon heat or cold waves
bull Hydrosphere factors - such as floods avalanches dam bursts
bull Geological factors - such as earthquakes landslides volcanic eruptions
Hail
On 18th of May 2013 we had big storm with giant hail falling from sky the most of
it raged in the Eastern part of Riga reached
The size of hail 3 centimeters
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
10
Flooding
Plavinas flooding 2013 began on the night of 17 April 330 oclock when the water
began to flow into the city Already early in the morning it was surrounded by more than 10 private
local music schools and homes
15 Orsquoclock it reached 1350 meters above zero hydrological stations which is 240
meters above the critical flood boundaries
It was the highest water level since Pļaviņas after HES (Hydro electric stations) of
construction carried out hydrological observations The previous record was 1293 meters above the
zero station
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
11
Ice piles in Plavinas city was a two-stores house in height and the last year of the
reconstructed for million euros has failed to protect the city from flooding Luckily there was no
flood fatalities Vehicles and homes were damaged
Storms
Global warming these days is becoming more and more revident and autumn and
spring storms more powerful Latvia has experianced strong winds and even storms which reached
45msec in many places the strongest storms were in 1965 and 1974 Each year autumn storms
destroy large forest are4as and many ancient manor parks where are ancient large and mighty trees
On October 29 2013 there was a huge storm that was 28-32m sec and 70 000
households were left with no electricity cars were damaged tress fallen and roads were blocked
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
12
II ENDANGERED SPECIES IN LATVIA
Introduction
In Latvia there are 18 047 animals 5396 plants and 4000 mushroom species recorded
It is considered that 907 species or 3 3 are in endeared Our students will make a research on 3
kinds of endangered species a bird a moth and a reptile The linkage of all ecosystems is in vicious
circle if one of species disappears some other species may vanish as well
Content
bull The Europian Mursh Turtle
bull Black-Throated Diver
bull Stag beetle
The Europian mursh turtle
Emys orbicularis
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
13
Description
Black armor ndash olive colour brownish gray or black with yellow dots or dashes belly
light brown The tail legs and neck with yellow spots Total body length (together with the tail) can
be up to 32 cm tall
Living in lakes ponds old riverbeds channels and marshes Good flying and diving
trips long stay under water The main pond turtle enemies are foxes badgers and raccoon dogs in
digging up and devouring eggs Feed on fish amphibians aquatic invertebrates
Nearly all of Europe except the UK the Netherlands and Scandinavia as well as the Middle East
North Africa and Central Asia
Cause of extinction
Natural factors such as the relatively cold climate especially in the short and cool
summer early autumn which often make turtles hatch from eggs and predators who prey on small
turtles and are digging up the eggs
What should we do
Inform people in case finding these turtles call to the relevant authorities and let turtles breed
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
14
Description
Divers can be compared to the large ducks or small geese Most divers species have black gray and
white feathers Divers are like penguins their real coat grows down below
Spring is in transit through the territory of Latvia for Black-throated Diver that stays for a winter at
the Black Sea but only a small amount come to inland waters Nests up to 5 pairs During Summer
by the sea can be seen Immature specimens whose number reaches several hundred or even a few
thousand species
Black-throated Diver can be found in the Western Palearctic and further east to the Lena River
Wintering along the northwest coast as well as the Caspian Black and Mediterranean seas
Wintering in the Pacific northwest
Cause of extinction
A bird may get tangled up in the fishing nets when the bird dives after the food into the sea
as well as because they are being shot catch and held captive
How can we help
Do not disturb the birds in their nesting period
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
15
(Lucanidae)
Stag beetle
Description
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the
males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags There have been found only 6 species of
Stag beetles (gt1000 in the whole world) although the rarely seen Great Stag beetle (Lucanus
cervus Latvian Red list 1 category) definitely is one of the most beautiful bugs in Latvia
Great Stag beetle (Latin Lucanus cervus) mdash the biggest Stag beetle in Europe The last time it has
been spotted in Latvia was in the late 1960rsquos in Ieriķi Gauja National park It is one of the
protected species in territory of Latvia
Length Male 45 to 82 mm Female 25 to 57 mm Beetles found in different places
differ in their length Documented record of length (including antlers) is 95 mm
Beetle develops a complete transformation (development of four stages egg-
caterpillar-pupa-grown insect)
Did you know that in Poland the two zloty coin issued in series of World animals
contains the Great Stag beetle image
Cause of extinction
Adult stag beetles feed on nectar and tree juice do not catch them and allow to lay
eggs in parks and forests Beetles lay eggs on decaying wood keep decomposing trees in the
forests do not collector clean or incinerate in forests to let beetle reproduction
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
16
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
GREECE
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
FIRES
30 July 2013 Fire in Rhodes with 50000 acres of forest burned
The year 2014 according to NASA and NOAA is expected to be one of the warmest
years until now In conjunction with El Nintildeo global temperatures are expected to reach record
levels
More than 10 of the Greek territory is now covered by arid and rocky areas which
to a great extent is due to a repeated cycle of fires Fires become a natural phenomenon caused by a
bolt of lightning or the ignition of a combustible or explosive material due to the temperature
increase
Wildfires are part of the ecology of forest ecosystems of our country and are a
complex phenomenon that follows the laws of nature The complete elimination of forest fires is
considered a utopia even with the most perfect Fire-resistant measures
According to the map of Global Forests in Greece more than 150000 hectares of
forest areas equivalent to 1500 square kilometers have been destroyed since 2000 This number is
overly high considering that the total area of the country is approximately 130000 square
kilometers
FLOODS
In the Greek area flooding is due to torrential rains that accompany the passage of
depressions
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
17
The sudden flood is the result of atmospheric disturbances accompanied by heavy
rains with large amounts of rain in a short time
The flash floods occur within a short period of a few hours or less and result in a
rapid rise of water which can cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings bridges
etc to drift cars uprooted trees and many more The floods which are caused by rainfall can
cause devastating landslides (-mud slides) as well
THE ISLAND OF RHODES
The disaster which broke in Rhodes in November 2013 caused the death of three
people Extreme weather events that occurred on the island caused damage to homes and shops
which reached 5 million Euros The heavy rains caused the overflow of streams turning streets into
rivers and for some time many areas were plunged into darkness due to power failure
PYRGOS AND ANCIENT OLYMPIA
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
18
5 February 2012 Unimaginable destruction caused by flood in the Municipalities of
Pyrgos and Ancient Olympia regions of Western Greece
DROUGHT AND WATER SCARCITY
4 December 2011 Drought in Western Greece The second driest month of the past
80 years was this year in November for Athens and Western Greece as revealed by the data of the
National Observatory of Athens
Drought is decreased availability of water for long periods of time and in a large
geographic area compared to the normal conditions of a region The drought is classified among
the extreme climatic events and a phenomenon that affects large areas and has long lasting effects
It takes place in an indistinct time and appears to have no periodicity If the use of water and land
resources of an area is not prudent to ensure sustainability then drought leads to desertification It is
serious natural disaster with multiple impacts on society environment and economy
35 of Greek territory is threatened by desertification due to overexploitation of land
and water resources
In the high risk group are all the islands of the Aegean much of the Peloponnese and
Crete western Central Greece Evia and certain parts of Thessaly Epirus and Thrace One third of
Greece is at a high risk of desertification or has already undergone desertification while half of
Greece is in moderate risk of desertification
Conclusion
All the disasters mentioned above are due to climate change and extreme weather
conditions Climate change will cause widespread damage to populations ecosystems and
resources as well as to infrastructure and living conditions ranging from an increase in mortality
and disease linked to changes in temperature damage caused by more frequent flooding and a rise
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
19
in sea level increasing desertification in Southern countries and scarcer fresh water resources The
battle against climate change can only be won through global action International negotiations must
move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN GREECE
ANIMALS
BROWN BEAR
URSUS ARCTOS
Summary The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L) range in Greece consists of two geographically
distinct populations located in Pindos mountain range (NW Greece) and Rodopi mountain complex
(NE Greece) The total area of continuous bear range is 13500 km2 The Pindos population
encompasses two regional sub-population units one close to the Albanian and FYROM border and
a larger one in the main trunk of Pindos range During the last 15 years Brown Bear populations in
Pindos exhibit a clear trend of expansion towards the eastern and southern parts of the species
former range forming at least two meta-populations in Voras and South Pindos mts Population
size is estimated between 190-260 individuals and appears generally stabilized Core habitat
consists of natural broadleaved coniferous and mixed forests Known losses due to poaching reach
7 of the average estimated population Forest fires poaching over-logging poisoned baits and
development of large infrastructure (ie highways dams) are among the major threats upon the
species Bear-human conflicts need systematic monitoring and tackling through compensation and
preventive measures whereas the National Bear Action Plan remains to be validated and enforced
The species is considered Endangered
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
20
Existing Conservation measures the brown bear is a totally protected species under
national legislation It is also included in Annex II of the Bern Convention as a species under strict
protection while its trade is prohibited under the CITES Convention
Conservation measures requested
- Information campaigns to persuade local producers to reduce deliberate
extermination
- Stringent environmental control in infrastructure projects affecting the habitat
- Stricter supervision of allocation areas to combat poaching and forest fires
- Creation of special emergency groups (bear emergency teams) with appropriately trained
personnel from forest or other services
WOLF
CANIS LUPUS
Summary The Wolf in Greece is still considered as a vulnerable species
Approximately 600 wolves inhabit a variety of habitats in semi-mountainous and mountainous
areas Distribution exceeds 45000 km2 Livestock still encompass the major food source for the
species due to low wild ungulate abundance Major threats include human caused mortality
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
21
combined with continuous reduction of food availability (free ranging livestock) and ongoing
habitat fragmentation due to the construction of closed highways
Threats anthropogenic mortality reduced food availability throughout the
distribution range of the species due to the reduction of extensive livestock production combined
with relatively low densities of wild ungulates and fragmentation of habitat from the construction of
major roads and other transport infrastructure
Existing Conservation measures a great number of Greek populations of wolves are
included in Annexes II V and IV of the Habitats Directive (9243EEC) The protection of habitat
in accordance with the Berne Convention (Annex II) is also required while international trade of
individuals of this species is strictly controlled under the CITES Convention
Necessary conservation measures
Increase of the availability of natural prey of wolves (wild ungulates) both in number of species
and in numbers
Measures restricting the geographical isolation due to construction of roads
Maintenance and intensification of traditional methods of keeping herds
THE LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE
CARETTA CARETTA
The turtle Caretta - Caretta is a reptile that is biologically adapted to the marine
environment
It is the only sea turtle species in the Mediterranean that breeds in Greece We meet
them in Zakynthos Crete Rhodes and the Peloponnese
It lays its eggs in the sand After growing up females return to their own birthplace to
lay their eggs This usually happens during the summer months Newborn turtles about 100 in each
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
22
nest have a length of 5 cm and weigh 17 grams Once hatched (2 months after birth) they climb on
the sand together and run to the sea immediately
The development of tourism has put them in danger of losing the quiet nesting beaches
in the Mediterranean
Another reason for their loss is that people use the turtles for food They hunt them
for their meat or to make turtle soup Their fat is used for making soaps and cosmetics Also from
their shells they make combs brushes eyeglass frames buttons and even jewelry This material is
called tortoise shell From their skin they make purses or shoes
Untended fishing gear is also responsible for many loggerhead deaths Turtles may
suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) have been
implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing the turtle an escape route In particular sea
turtles can be caught when bottom trawling is used by the commercial shrimp fishing industry In
order to catch shrimp a fine meshed trawl net is needed This results in large amounts of other
marine organisms being also caught as bycatch When a turtle gets caught or entangled in a trawl
net it becomes trapped and is unable to return to the surface
Since sea turtles are air-breathing creatures with lungs they eventually drown
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
Conservation measures requested
All nesting beaches should be protected by law and touristic development should be
prohibited in these areas
All artificial lighting visible from the beach should be eliminated so that turtles donrsquot
get discouraged from nesting on the beach
There should be cooperation with local fishermen and strict measures so that fishing
does not entail risks for mortality among turtles
People should reduce the amount of garbage they produce and clean up trash they see
on the beach Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water
Discarded items such as fishing lines balloons and plastic bags may also be confused for food and
eaten by sea turtles often resulting in injury or death
Conclusion
All endangered species suffer from anthropogenic factors There should be strict
legislation for the protection of their habitats and the prohibition of their trade There should be
protection on international levels as well
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
23
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
ROMANIA
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN ROMANIA
Colegiul Tehnic Energetic bdquoDragomir Hurmuzescurdquo Deva
Romania
Comenius Team
ldquoTo form a team itrsquos just the beginning to stay together itrsquos progress to work together
itrsquos successrdquo
This sentence describes well our Comenius Team At first we started as a few teachers and students
with a title for our project ldquoSustainable Development ndash A Green Future for Europerdquo We had to
think what this means objectives aim and activities of the project So we decided to stay and work
together as a team And this teamwork is really successful because we have results we realized that
information and prevention is the best strategy in changing our way of thinking regarding global
warming energy saving endangered species and natural diseasters
That is why our Comenius Project is so important All the activities that took place
emphasised on the importance of being a responsable nature loving citizens Through this project
we have the chance to inform students parents teachers and simple people of our comunity and
also to involve them in taking steps which can limit the consequnces of pollution and natural
disasters consequences that affect us the nature and the future genarations
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
24
Floods
Romania is known as one of the most flood-prone countries in Europe The 1970
floods in Romania brought on by river swelling caused by torrential rains high winds and a heat
wave that melted snow in the Carpathian Mountains were the worst in modern Romanian history in
loss of life In 2012 the extreme floods in May were among the most devastating natural disasters
from recent Romanian climate history The extent of the damage and the number of evacuated
people surpassed by far the floods of 1970 one of the worst floods that hit Romania Romanian
officials ordered the controlled flooding of thousands of hectares of unused agricultural spaces to
prevent further damage in cities across Romania Deva was heavily flooded in 1926 and 1970 when
the river Mures burst its banks and caused major damage to buildings and roads and even loss of
life
Some of the main factors enhancing naturersquos protest against global warming are
poor sewage within the towns illegal deforestation of hills or mountain slopes dirty river banks
lack of citizensrsquo education and responsibility slow communication between different authorities
absence of specialized equipment and in some cases political or economical interests Romanian
authorities having in mind the floods in 2005 and 2006 try to prevent these disasters or to mitigate
their effects but up to now there has been a big gap between theory and practice mainly because of
the complexity of the actions to be taken which require time and money
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
25
Landslides
Landslides represent a common geomorphic hazard in Romania threatening property
and infrastructure mainly in the Carpathian Mountains and hilly regions which account for more
than 60 of the territory In this regard Romania represents one of the countries most affected by
landslides in Europe Landslides are often associated with other major natural hazards such as flood
and earthquake Although in Romania the number of human victims of this natural hazard is very
low landslide causes substantial damage to human property in affected regions An increase in
landslide frequency and magnitude has been observed in recent years related to extreme rainfall
resulting from climate change
Earthquakes
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
26
The worst earthquake in Romania took place in 1977 Vrancea and affected the entire
country including part of Bulgaria and was felt throughout the Balkans It had a magnitude of 72
with an epicenter in Vrancea County the most active seismic area in Romania in the Eastern
Carpathians at a depth of 94 kilometers The earthquake killed about 1578 people (1424 in
Bucharest) and wounded more than 11300 About 35000 buildings were damaged and the total
damage was estimated at more than 2 billion dollars Most of the damage was concentrated in the
capital where about 33 large buildings collapsed Most of those buildings were built before World
War II and were not reinforced
In September 2013 an earthquake with a magnitude of 41 with the epicenter in an
area of 5 km from Hateg shook Hunedoara County It was followed by an aftershock with a
magnitude of 47 Its effects were felt by the surrounding towns and villages including Deva ndash 32
km from its epicenter There were no victims or damage of buildings or infrastructure reported
During the last 1000 years according to historical data it is thought that 17
earthquakes with 7 and over magnitude have occurred which suggests a mean for unleashing the
energy of every 58 years Statistically the magnitude 6 and over earthquakes in the Vrancea area
occur approximately every 10 years magnitude 7 every 33 years while those with 75 magnitude
every 80 years
References
1 ^ httpwwwziarecomstiriinundatiibilantul-guvernului-420-de-localitati-afectate-de-
inundatii-si-12-500-persoane-evacuate-1026401
2 ^ a b c Ministrul Agriculturii vrea mai multe fonduri europene pentru infrastructura afectata de
inundatii 7 Iulie 2010 wall-stretro accesat la 21 august 2010
3 ^ bdquoRain and severe floods kill at least 20 in Romaniardquo BBC 30 iunie 2010
httpnewsbbccouk2hiworldeurope10465678stm Accesat la 30 iunie 2010
4 ^ bdquoRomania flood death toll climbs to 16rdquo Yahoo News 29 iunie 2010
httpaunewsyahoocoma-world7484911romania-flood-death-toll-climbs-to-16 Accesat
la 29 iunie 2010
5 ^ bdquoFloods rains kill 21 in eastern Romaniardquo Reuters 29 iunie 2010
httpukreuterscomarticleidUKLDE65S1CB_CH_2420 Accesat la 29 iunie 2010
6 httprowikipediaorgwikiAlunecare_de_teren
7 ^ a b c Cacircnd Pămacircntul se mișcă 7 martie 2010 Anca Aldea Jurnalul Național accesat la 7 iulie
2012
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
27
8 ^ Prima zi a catastrofei din Japonia
9 ^ Magnitude 89 (Mw) - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan Potsdam - Earthquake Bulletin
(geofongfz-potsdamde)
10 ^ Magnitude 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (earthquakeusgsgov)
11 ^ Magnitude Mw 89 - Near East Coast of Honshu Japan (emsc-csemorg)
12 ^ httpgeofongfz-potsdamdeeqinfoeventphpid=gfz2011utuo
13 ^ Magnitude 85 (Mw) - Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
28
I ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN ROMANIA
The Europian Bison - Bison bonasus
The European bison is the heaviest surviving wild land animal in Europe a typical European bison
is about 21 to 35 m (7 to 10 ft) long not counting a tail of 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) long and 16
to 2 m (5 to 7 ft) tall At birth calves are quite small weighing between 15 and 35 kg (33 and
77 lb) In the free-ranging population of the Białowieża Forest of Belarus and Poland body masses
among adults (aged 6 and over) are 634 kg (1398 lb) on average in the cases of males with a range
of 436 to 840 kg (961 to 1852 lb) and of 424 kg (935 lb) among females with a range of 340 to
540 kg (750 to 1190 lb)[2]
An occasional big bull European bison can weigh up to 1000 kg
(2200 lb) or more On average it is slightly lighter in body mass and yet taller at the shoulder than
the American bison (Bison bison) Compared to the American species the wisent has shorter hair
on the neck head and forequarters but longer tail and horns
The Aspinall Foundation working in collaboration with four animal parks in the UK and Ireland
has successfully translocated six European bison to the wild in Romania as part of a conservation
effort to save Europersquos largest land mammal from extinction
In Western Europe the European bison disappeared in the 19th
century In Moldavia the last bison
was killed in 1762 and in Transylvania in 1790 The last wild European bison was killed in Poland
in 1919 The last wild European bison in the world was killed by poachers in 1927 in the western
Caucasus By that year fewer than 50 remained all held by zoos With the advance of agriculture
vast tracts of the European bisons habitat were lost and their range became massively restricted
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
29
These animals were also persecuted by hunting and in 1927 the species finally became Extinct in
the Wild
The European bison is a herd animal which lives in both mixed and solely male
groups Mixed groups consist of adult females calves young aged 2ndash3 years and young adult
bulls The average herd size is dependent on environmental factors though on average they number
8-13 animals per herd
Beginning in 1951 European bison have been reintroduced into the wild Free-ranging
herds are currently found in Poland Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Romania Russia Slovakia
Latvia Kyrgyzstan and Germany and in forest preserves in the Western Caucasus
On 23rd
April 2014 six female captive-bred bison from Port Lympne and Howletts
Wild Animal Parks (Kent) Highland Wildlife Park (Inverness-shire) and Fota Wildlife Park (Cork)
were transported to the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania There the bison will be monitored
using radio-collars and will join an existing herd of European bison who were introduced into the
park from captive populations in Germany Sweden and Switzerland
Romania has now almost 70 European bisons on its territory
The Carpathian Chamois - Rupicapra rupicapra
The chamois is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe including the
Carpathian Mountains of Romania the Pyrenees the European Alps the Tatra Mountains the
Balkans parts of Turkey and the Caucasus
The chamois is a mid-sized bovid A fully grown chamois reaches a height of 70ndash
80 cm (28ndash31 in) and measures 107ndash137 cm (42ndash54 in) (the tail is not generally visible except
when defecating) Males which weigh 30ndash60 kg (66ndash132 lb) are slightly larger than females
which weigh 25ndash45 kg (55ndash99 lb) Both males and females have short straightish horns which are
hooked backwards near the tip the horn of the male being thicker In summer the fur has a rich
brown color which turns to a light grey in winter Distinct characteristics are white contrasting
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
30
marks on the sides of the head with pronounced black stripes below the eyes a white rump and a
black stripe along the back
They live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in precipitous rugged rocky
terrain They can be found at elevations of at least 2500 m
As their meat is considered tasty chamois are popular game animals Chamois leather traditionally
made from the hide of the chamois is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning
buffing and polishing because it produces no scratching Poaching remains a threat to many
populations particularly outside of protected areas
The Western Capercaillie - Tetrao urogallus
Male and female western capercailliemdashthe cocks and the hensmdashcan easily be
differentiated by their size and colouration The male bird (or cock) is much bigger than the female
(or hen) Both sexes have a white spot on the wing bow They have feathered legs especially in the
cold season for protection against cold Their toe rows of small elongated horn tacks provide a
snowshoe effect that led to the German family name Rauhfuszlighuumlhner literally translated as rough
feet chickens
These so-called courting tacks make a clear track in the snow in winter Both sexes
can be distinguished very easily by the size of their footprints
There is a bright red spot of naked skin above each eye In German hunters language
these are the so-called roses
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
31
The small chicks resemble the hen in their cryptic colouration which is a passive
protection against predators Additionally they wear black crown feathers At an age of about three
months in late summer they moult gradually towards the adult plumage of cocks and hens The
eggs are about the same size and form as chicken eggs but are more speckled with brown spots
It is a rare bird which lives in Piatra Craiului National Park It is the biggest pine needle consumer
and at the same time is the biggest game bird in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania It is a non-
migratory bird which moves to another place just to look for its favorite food
The main threats to the capercaillie are thought to be loss of habitat through
overgrazing by sheep and deer predation and collisions with deer fences Over-shooting may also
be a contributing factor and a succession of poor summers has affected the number of chicks
surviving infancy
Climate change is another threat for capercaillie population The fluctuation over both
the short and long term could have a significant impact as chick survival is highly dependent on
weather conditions A succession of years with wet and cold conditions can lead to serious
population declines The habitat of the species may also be affected in the longer term by climate
change
The capercaillie population has declined so rapidly that it is at very real risk of
extinction and is a Red List species
References
httpenwikipediaorgwikiEuropean_bison
httpenwikipediaorgwiki The Carpathian Chamois
httpenwikipediaorgwikiWestern_capercaillie
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
32
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES IN
PORTUGAL
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN POTUGAL
Portugal is a small country located in the southwestern corner of Europe We are in a
very special position in our continent in a crossroad between different environments Culturally
we share common values and heritage with our European partners particularly Spain (our big
neighbor to the East and North But we also have a very big historical influence from North Africa
But by far the biggest influence in our culture and our environment has been our western neighbor
the Atlantic Ocean
Our climate is blessed by the Atlantic
giving us mild winters But the ocean is a friend to
be aware of The sea has given us our livelihood
allowed us to go everywhere in the world but has
also brought tragedy ldquoOh salty sea How much is
your salt Comes from the tears of Portugalrdquo is a
very famous poem by Fernando Pessoa and brings
us back to the age of discoveries when thousands of Portuguese men and women would sail to
America and Asia and many not to return again
Today the sea is also the source of some natural disasters that have affected us In the last winter
several Atlantic Storms created large waves that hit our coast and caused extensive damage in the
coastal areas and als o caused massive erosion as you will be able to see in our presentations
We will also talk about a storm that happened in the island of Madeira with torrential
rains that caused disastrous mudslides that killed more than 50 persons in 2010
Both these events are examples of natural occurring
extreme phenomenae that are becoming more and
more frequent because of climate change We believe
that the only way to stop this climate change is through
behavioural change and this happens through
education I think that our project is a small step to
achieve this goal It is with many of these small steps
that change will occur
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
33
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN PORTUGAL
We also have problems more local to our country Destruction and fragmentation of
natural habitats overfishing and other human influences bring a stress into several species
particularly of large vertebrates In our presentation we will talk about three of them
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)
The Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila Adalberti)
Mediterranean Monk Seal or Sea Wolf (Monachus monachus)
The Iberian Lynx only occurs
naturally and historically in small regions of
Portugal in Spain It is listed as Critically
Endangered and is the rarest species of cat in the
world It is currently extinct in Portugal and there
are only two populations that are reproducing in
Spain (in Donantildea and Anduacutejar-Cardentildea) with an
estimate of only 150 adult individuals There is a joint programme between Spanish and
Portuguese authorities to promote reproduction in captivity and the reintroduction of the Lynx in
protected areas in the south of Portugal It is very vulnerable to destruction of habitat by forest
fires and diseases that have targeted the Lynxrsquos natural prey (rabbits and hares)
The Imp erial Eagle is a bird of prey exclusive to the western Mediterranean and it
worldwide population is about 230 couples with 3 to 5
living in Portugal This species is the target of several
conservation efforts that have allowed it to recover from
less than 100 couples in 1995 Its prefered habitat is the
Cork Oak Forest and this habitat is very fragmented and
this causes challenges to the recovery of this species
Also its main prey wild rabbits have been hit very hard
by diseases in the last decades
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
34
Finally the Sea Wolf has once been ubiquitous in all of the Mediterranean Sea and
in the Atlantic coasts and islands near the straits of
Gibraltar Today they have become very rare with only
450 individuals worldwide of which 23 live in the
Deserted Islands a small archipelago about 25 km south
of Madeira Island They have been hunted to the brink of
extinction in the past and are put in danger by
overfishing depleting their food source and the danger
of being caught in fishermenrsquos nets No fishing areas have been established in Madeira and also in
other clusters of Monk Seals population in the Sporades and Karpathos islands in Greece the
Turkish Mediterranean coast and Cabo Blanco in the western Saara There are also conservation
facilities that rescue and rehabilitate ophan and injured seals
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
35
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN SPAIN
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN SPAIN DUE TO HUMAN ACTION
ANIMAL TRAFFIC
INTRODUCTION
It is the third biggest bussines in the world after drugs and weapons and it is one of
the main causes of the biodiversity loss in our planet
This trade generates 17 billions dolars anually
The traders offer
- live animals to use them as pets
- mounted animals as curiosities or award
- leather to make clothes
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
36
RESCUE ANIMALS
The majority of animals received in reception and rehabilitation centres arrive in
unhealthy conditions because of nutrition or hydration fault the inadecuate transport the mix of
species in the same jail
The autorities only can choose one of these three solutions
-The euthanasia
-The remittance to some zoos or theme parks
-The joining to a rehabilitation process for a later liberation to its natural habitat
CONSEQUENCES
The animal traffic is a direct threat against the harmony of the natural ecosystems of
the country It is so serious that it is the second reason of the extinction after the loss of its habitat
Many people end up leaving these animals in habitats that donacutet belong to them and
cause a competition between foreign and native species
HOW DID EVERYTHING START
Many people think that the illegal trade of animals is responsability of mafias but
considering percentages a 10 is zoologicals fault a 25 collectors and lovers a 30
biomedical studies Only a 35 is due to mafias
SOLUTIONS
bull Donacutet buy any animals Even if it is out of pity in one attempt to save them weacutere deeping into
the problem
bull Donacutet consume eggs or meat from wild animals
bull Make aware your family and friends
bull Report sellers of wild animals on roads or in pet shops
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
37
THE PRESTIGE
INTRODUCTION
The oil tanker Prestige had an accident in 2002 causing a spill of 77000 tonnes that
covered the Galician coasts of chapapote The vessel was sailing near Finisterre when it had the
accident The spill has become the third most expensive environmental accident in history which
cost 12000 million dollars
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
38
IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
IMPACT ON BIRDS
IMPACT ON TURTLES AND ACUATIC MAMMALS
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
39
IMPACT ON HEALTH
FOREIGN SPECIES
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
40
INTRODUCTION
From our Centre we develop some didactic trips one of them is The Ecological Path to Tajo river
In this route we can observe some foreign species
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
41
OPUNTIA TUNICATA AMERICAN ALOE
OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA
CONSEQUENCES
The introduction of these species has as primordial consequence the loss of the
autochthonous biodiversity There are foreign species that impede the development of the
autochthonous
RISKS
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
42
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN SPAIN
STAG BEETLE
bull It is the biggest beetle in Europe
bull Maleacutes size can rise 10 centimetres including its pincers
bull Females can reach 5 centimetres long
Despite its robust jaws the stag beetle its completely harmless and it feeds on
vegetables Its ldquohornsrdquo that only males have are used in figths against other males to get the
females
The females lay their eggs in holes made in trees The eclosion takes part in a period
of time of about two to four weeks after the egg- laying
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
As the larvs of this beetle last a long time to raise they become extremely vulnerable
to the trees cleanliness and the parks and gardens pruning Specially the tidiness of dead wood
This is believed to be the main reason why this amazing beetle seems to be disapearing
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
43
A threat can also be its capture for the trade
GRAELSIA ISABELAE
The most spread type of nocturn butterflies in Europe is the isabelae butterfly
Despite its tropical appearing it only and exclusively lives in some alpine forests in Spain and
France
Most time of the year they are hard to see because they usually hide above the top of
the trees but in May during the reproduction season males run long distances at nigth to localize
a female being lead because of its smell
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
It was endangered because of the fumigation of pine woods some years ago
The phytosanitaries treatments to figth the processionary caterpillar are one of the
main causes of their mortality
RIVER CRAB
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
44
The river crabs are ten legged crustacean that live in fresh water They breath by gills
that look like feathers and they are found in rivers that do not get frozen being plentiful where
they can hide of predators The majority of the crayfish do not tolerate polluted water except some
types like Procambarus clarkii that are tougher They feed of animals and living and dead plants
THE REASON OF THE ENDANGER
The common crayfish laquoAustropotamobius pallipesraquo is a fresh water crustacean very
common in Aragoacuten until the end of the 70acutes of the past century The extincion that has been
happening since then is because of the ldquocrab plaguerdquo epidemic and the loss of the habitats the
pollution and the introduction of exotic species
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
45
NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS`SPECIES
IN CHECH REPUBLICK
I NATURAL DISASTERS IN CHECH REPUBLICK
Floods in the Czech Republic
1997 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
49 people died
2151 houses were completely ruined
Damage of 2 billion EUR
The consequences of the floods in the village of Troubky
2002 ndash floods on the Morava and Odra rivers
17 people died
753 towns and villages hit
Damage of 25 billion EUR
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
46
March 2006
2013 ndash almost 1000 towns and villages hit
Several days of permanent rain
Large cities in Bohemia flooded
Czech government declared the bdquostate of emergencyldquo in Prague
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
47
The Labe River in Děčiacuten
The centre of Prague was flooded
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
48
Hailstorm in the Czech Republic
Big hailstorm in Prague in August 2010
Cars damaged by hails
Local flooding damaged trees
Disruption of transport
Frost in the Czech Republic
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
49
The bdquowinter of the centuryldquo
1929 temperature of -422oC measured
Cruel frost from January till April
In February the temperature of -30oC eight times
In March the temperature of
-25oC several times
Storms in the Czech Republic
Heavy storms appear from time to time in our country
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
50
Tornadoes in the Czech Republic
Tornadoes appear in our country only rarely
Earthquakes in the Czech Republic
This year we had one of the strongest earthquakes for us in the town of Cheb
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
51
II ENDANGERED ANIMALS IN THE CHECH REPUBLICK
HEDGEHOG
- occurs in almost all parts of the Czech Republic
- eats mostly insect or snails
- has spines
- night animal sleeps in winter
BROOK LAMPREY
- 20 cm long fish
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
52
- lives in small Czech rivers and streams
- after 3-5 years larvas change into lamprey
- in the past it was a delicious meal
LYNX
- the biggest European feline animal
- up to 120 cm and 35 kg
- predator
- about 70-100 animals in the Czech Rep
- The most active at dusk and at night
VIPER
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________
53
- 70 ndash 100 cm long poisonous snake
- lives up to 20 ndash 25 years
- extremely resistant to cold
- critically endangered in the Czech Rep
- eats mice lizards frogs eggs young birds
WOLF
- The biggest canine predator
- 150-190 cm long 65-80 cm tall
- permanently lives in the Beskydy mountains
- intelligent shy not dangerous for people
- predates deer fox dogs sometimes sheep
________________