ACCOLAGOONS PROJECTPublic opinion survey

1st phase October 2012

Survey identity

Company: interview

Methodology:Personal interviews with Epanomi and Aggelochori residents (Face to Face method), based on a structured questionnaire Venues: Epanomi, Aggelochori hamlets

Sample size, holding period200 questionnairesHolding period: October 2012

Survey’s purpose

Evaluating the degree of knowledge of residents about the environmental value of the area Knowledge of the implemented projects in order to protect the area Investigate the desire of residents to participate in actions to protect the area

Question 1: What do you know about the NATURA 2000 network sites?(area integrated into a European network for protected sites)

Age Gender Areas

16/35 36/55 56/65 Male Female Epanomi Aggelochori

Yes 28,4% 64,1% 70,7% 50,0% 46,8% 45,8% 55,4%

No 71,6% 25,9% 29,3% 50,0% 52,3% 54,2% 44,6%

No51%

Yes49%

Age Gender Areas

16/35 36/55 56/65 Male Female Epanomi Aggelochori

Yes 70,4% 75,6% 69,0% 62,3% 84,1% 68,2% 80,6%

No 29,6% 24,4% 31,0% 37,7% 15,9% 31,8% 19,4%

Question 2: Did you know that Epanomi and Aggelochori lagoons and their coastal zones (Potamos, Navagio, Faros, Alikes Touzla) are integrated in the NATURA 2000 network sites and are protected by national, European and international law;

No28%

Yes72%

Question 3: Did you know that due to the protection of your area a project named Life ACCOLAGOONS is accomplished?

No87%

Yes13%

Age Gender Areas

16/35 36/55 56/65 Male Female Epanomi Aggelochori

Yes 13,7% 12,5% 9,8% 15,1% 9,6% 14,6% 7,1%

No 86,3% 87,5% 90,2% 84,9% 90,4% 85,4% 92,9%

Question 4: Where did you learn about the Project?   (ONLY if you answered Yes to the question 3)

PercentageProject’s website 13,6%The actions that are already implemented and the signage in the area

27,3%

Discussions with the relatives, friends or my professional network

50,0%

Other 9,1%

Age Gender Area16/35 36/55 56/65 Male Female Epanomi Aggelochori

Yes 81,1% 84,4% 85,4% 83,0% 83,0% 78,5% 94,6%

No 18,9% 15,6% 14,6% 17,0% 17,0% 21,5% 5,4%

ProfessionHousehold Retired Student Farmer

BreederFisherman

Civil servantPrivate sector

employee

Unemployed Self employed

Yes 97,1% 87,1% 80,3% 87,5% 79,2% 63,6% 90,0%

No 8,3% 12,9% 19,7% 12,5% 20,8% 36,4% 10,0%

No17%

Yes83%

Question 5: Did you know that your area is very important for the birds and it should be protected?

Question 6: From the protected species listed below, please choose those that you know or have heard something about? (multiple choise answer):

Total Area

Epanomi AggelochoriPosidonion oceanicae 17,5% 18,8% 14,3%

Lagoons 72,5% 62,5% 98,2%

Dunes 19,0% 19,4% 17,9%

Sea daffodils (Pancratium maritimum) 33,0% 34,0% 30,4%

I don’t know anything 20,5% 27,8% 1,8%

Profession

Household Retired Student FarmerBreeder

Fisherman

Civil servantPrivate sector

employee

Unemployed Self employed

Posidonion oceanicae

16,7% 12,9% 22,4% 12,5% 16,7% 18,2% 13,3%

Lagoon 91,7% 90,3% 52,6% 81,3% 87,5% 90,9% 73,3%

Dunes 41,7% 29,0% 10,5% 6,3% 41,7% 9,1% 13,3%

Sea Daffodils Pancratium maritimum)

41,7% 45,2% 23,7% 31,3% 54,2% 27,3% 26,7%

None of the above 8,3% 9,7% 32,9% 12,5% 8,3% 9,1% 23,3%

Question 7: Due to your opinion, which is the most important environmental problem to the area (up to 3 choices)

Total AreaEpanomi Aggelochori

Cultivation 8,5% 9,0% 7,1%

Pasture 6,0% 4,9% 8,9%Aquaculture 6,0% 7,6% 1,8%Salt production 6,0% 3,5% 15,5%Fishing (professional, amateur) 9,5% 7,6% 14,3%Illegal hunting 38,5% 33,3% 51,8%Passing vehicles through the habitats and the dunes 35,5% 38,9% 26,8%

Noises (etc. bars, vehicles etc)8,5% 9,7% 5,4%

Construction activity (urban expansion)17,5% 20,1% 10,7%

Uncontrolled disposal of waste and wastewater68,0% 66,7% 71,4%

Daily touristic activities (swimming, restaurants, beach bar) 10,5% 14,6% 0,0%

I don’t know 8,5% 9,7% 5,4%

Question 8: As a resident of the area, how do you evaluate the existing situation of lagoons and coastal zones (Epanomi and Aggelochori respectively) :

TotalArea

Epanomi AggelochoriGood 19,0% 19,4% 17,9%

Satisfactory/Average 17,5% 21,5% 7,1%

Bad 47,5% 45,1% 53,6%

Don’t Know 16,0% 14,0% 21,4%

Age Gender

16/35 36/55 56/65 Male Female

Good 20,0% 15,6% 22,0% 23,6% 13,8%

Satisfactory/Average 23,2% 10,9% 14,6% 19,8% 14,9%

Bad 38,9% 54,7% 56,1% 42,5% 53,2%

Don’t Know 17,9% 18,8% 7,3% 14,1% 18,1%

Profession

Household Retired Student FarmerBreeder

Fisherman

Civil servantPrivate sector

employee

Unemployed Self employed

Good 8,3% 25,8% 23,7% 12,5% 12,5% 9,1% 16,7%

Satisfactory/Average

0,0% 16,1% 27,6% 6,3% 12,5% 36,4% 3,3%

Bad 75,0% 54,8% 27,6% 68,8% 58,3% 45,5% 60,0%

Don’t Know 16,7% 3,2% 21,1% 12,5% 16,7% 9,1% 20,0%

TotalArea

Epanomi Aggelochori

Good 19,0% 19,4% 17,9%

Satisfactory/Average 17,5% 21,5% 7,1%

Bad 47,5% 45,1% 53,6%

Don’t Know 16,0% 14,0% 21,4%

Question 8: As a resident of the area, how do you evaluate the state of lagoons and costal zones (Epanomi and Aggelochori respectively) :

Question 9: Does your activity have negative environmental impact?

Don't Know25%

No59%

Yes16%

Age Gender Area16/35 36/55 56/65 Male Female Epanomi Aggelochori

Yes 21,1% 10,9% 9,8% 21,7% 8,5% 19,4% 5,4%

No 62,1% 62,5% 48,8% 57,5% 61,7% 54,2% 73,2%

Don’t Know16,8% 26,6% 41,4% 20,8% 29,8% 26,4% 21,4%

Does your activity have negative environmental

impact?

Profession

Household Retired Student FarmerBreeder

Fisherman

Civil servantPrivate sector

employee

Unemployed Self employed

Yes 0,0% 12,9% 22,4% 0,0% 8,3% 9,1% 23,3%

No 66,7% 48,4% 60,5% 75,0% 66,7% 72,7% 46,7%

Don’t know 33,3% 38,7% 17,1% 25,0% 25,0% 18,2% 30,0%

Question 9: Does your activity have negative environmental impact?

Question 10: If you become aware that somebody’s activity (fisherman, farmer, breeder, tourist, etc), harms the lagoon or coastal zone, which of the following are you going to do ;

Total AreaEpanomi Aggelochori

I inform him that this activity harms the environment and I advice him to stop or to fix the damage 52,0% 49,3% 58,9%

I file a complain 21,0% 20,8% 21,4%

I do nothing 14,5% 16,0% 10,8%

I don’t know what to do 12,5% 13,9% 8,9%

Question 11: In which of the following activities would you participate in order to protect the lagoon? (up to 3 choices)

Total AreaEpanomi Aggelochori

Voluntary activities (ex. Regularly cleaning of the coasts, guarding) 50,0% 47,2% 57,1%

Join clubs or organizations that aim to the lagoons and coastal zones protection 19,5% 17,4% 25,0%

Participate in activities to inform the public about the value and importance of the lagoon and coastal zones

28,5% 29,9% 25,0%

economic contribution (ex. Money donation 1€, 2€)

26,5% 23,6% 33,9%

Wouldn’t participate in any activity13,0% 16,0% 5,4%

Question 12: How would you like to be informed for the Project’s action in the area? (up to 2 choises)

Total Area

Epanomi Aggelochori

Website 26,0% 26,8% 23,9%

e mail 15,5% 16,7% 12,5%

SMS 9,0% 11,1% 3,6%

Post 8,0% 4,2% 17,9%

Info days 16,0% 16,0% 16,1%

Advertising (posters) 49,5% 50,0% 48,2%

Comments | Conclusions 

• More than one in two residents of Epanomi/ Aggelochori don’t know about the NATURA 2000 network.

• The 56+ ages and the residents of Aggelochori are more informed.

• Of those who know about the NATURA 2000 (49%), the 72% are aware of the Epanomi/ Aggelochori participation in this project.

• Almost nine in ten residents of both areas don’ t know about the life ACCOLAGOONS project.

• Discussions among friends and family seems the most effective way to be informed for the project. Information definitely is fragmentary and incomplete anyway.

Comments | Conclusions

• Satisfactory seems to be the 83% of the residents that state to know that the area is important for the birds. The 56+ ages and the residents of Aggelochori once more are better informed.

• The most known protected specie is the lagoon. The word «lagoon», is more likely to be encountered and is most common in use. Posidonion oceanicae and pancratium maritimum comes next.

• The uncontrolled disposal of waste and wastewater is the mayor environmental problem, which the residents daily have to deal with and see it as evolves. The illegal hunting and the passing vehicles comes next.

• Almost one in two residents thinks that lagoons and coastal zone state is bad. The high recognition rate of the problem is a positive aspect and it could easily cause awareness.

Comments | Conclusions

• Almost six in ten believe that their activity doesn't harm the environment. The remarkable is that 75% of the farmers/ breeders/ fishermen believe that their activity has nothing to do with the environmental damage.

• Up to one in two would notice that somebody harms the environment with his activity. 21% would file a complain, 14,5% would do nothing and 12,5% wouldn’t know what to do

• Almost half of them would like to participate in voluntary activities and approximately three in ten would participate in public information activities for the lagoons and the coastal zone.

• Posters are suggested for the residents information as an advertising campaign.

Briefly

The residents of Epanomi and Aggelochori seems aware and quite informed about environment’s situation. Due to the fact that many of the actions are at initial stage and have not been assimilated by the local communities, their information is incomplete.

Encouraging is the fact that residents are willing to participate in activities in order to enhance environment’s protection. This disposal will be further increased when even more residents will know about the inestimable value of the area from the future actions and the information.