EUROPARC Federation

**Memorandum of Understanding**

**with the United States National Parks Service North East Region**

EUROPARC Members' Questionnaire

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Name:      | Kostas                                                  |
|            | Katselidis\_\_\_\_\_\                                   |
|            | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Position:  | Co-ordinator\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                           |
|            | _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Org        | ### National Marine Park of Zakynthos                   |
| anisation: |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Address:   | ktirio Dimotikou Diamerismatos                          |
|            |                                                         |
|            | GR-29100, Zakynthos                                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | Greece                                                  |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Tel:       | 0030 26950 29870                                        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Fax:       | 0030 26950 29870                                        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| E-mail:    | <info@mp-zak.org>; <kkatselidis@nmp-zak.org>            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Yes, we are interested in an exchange programme with a protected area in
the United States (North East Region).

No, we are not interested in an exchange programme with a protected area
in the United States (North East Region).

*Please state reason:*

**1. If yes, on which topics would you be interested in pursuing
cooperation?**

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  organisational development          ecotourism

  sustainability                      marketing

  transboundary management            education

  financing                           other (please state)
                                      \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

**2. If yes, what type of exchange would you be interested in ?**

at staff level (professional development)

at political level (Presidents, Board Members)

other stakeholders (e.g. farmers, tourism businesses)

*continued \....*

3\. If yes, please give a [short]{.underline} description of the
features of your park and main areas of current work:

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos (N.M.P.Z.) is the recently
established marine park situated at the southern most part of the island
of Zakynthos, Greece. The Presidential Decree for the establishment of
the N.M.P.Z. was signed on the 1st of December 1999 by the President of
the Greek Republic (Gov. Gazzette 906/D 22 December 1999).

The Marine Park\'s objectives are to preserve the natural environment
and conserve the ecological balance of the marine and coastal area of
Laganas Bay and the Strophadia Islands, at Zakynthos island.

Within the Marine Park is the most important loggerhead sea turtle
*Caretta caretta* nesting rookery in the Mediterranean, a habitat
essential for protection.

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos is the first of its kind in Greece
comprising of a Management Body and constitutes an example for other
areas in Greece requiring integrated management.

The Management Agency of the Marine Park was formed as a result of a
National Government Ministerial Decision on 20th July 2000.

The Management Board of the Management Agency has ten members who are
representatives of Zakynthian Society, the Regional Authority of Ionian
Islands, Environmental Organisations and the Greek Ministry of
Environment.

The Management Agency of the Marine Park is non-profit and is supervised
by the Greek Ministry of Environment.

During the 2002 period, the Management Agency of the National Marine
Park of Zakynthos (N.M.P.Z.), implemented a range of protection
activities. The objective of which was to ensure the protection of the
habitats in the Laganas region, including that of the loggerhead sea
turtle (*Caretta caretta*) nesting beaches.

These include:

-   Building control within the Park area

-   Wardening of the Nesting Beaches

-   Public Awareness

-   Beach Cleaning

-   Environmental Education Activities

-   Delineation of the Marine Area of the Park

-   Collaboration with local stakeholders

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  Signed:                             Date: 6^th^ March 2003

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Kostas Katselidis

National Marine Park of Zakynthos Co-ordinator