Solar Saltworks: A multi-exploitable, profitable wetland

Transcription

1 The Economic Value of Biodiversity in Solar Salt Works Sicily, Italy 3-4 June 2014 Solar Saltworks: A multi-exploitable, profitable wetland Nikolaos A. Korovessis Production & Development Director Hellenic Saltworks S.A.

2 Nature produces salt When man began searching for salt, he must have found it where it is still produced by nature. That is in coastal concavities or lagoons where seawater trapped and deposit salt as it evaporates in the sun. It can be reasonably deduced that he eventually copied nature and began producing sea salt in quantities meeting his increasing personal and social needs

3 Solar Sea Salt Production Process Evolution

4 Physical Process In Stage I the salinity gradient changes with respect to time whereas in Stage III it changes with respect to area. Moving from Stage I to Stage III we have transformed a transient and batch process into a steady state and continuous process. Those are the structural elements of the unique saline coastal ecosystem: The current Solar Saltworks.

5 Biological Process Surprisingly enough despite rising salinity, life in Saltworks does not stop. An extremely important chain of microorganisms develops in all evaporating ponds and crystallizers composed of benthic and planktonic communities and covering all three domains of life, Eukaryotes, Bacteria and Archaea! That constitutes the biological process of Solar Saltworks.

6 The ecological importance of Solar Saltworks is also connected to their ornithological interest as shelters to avifauna.

7 Biodiversity & Solar Saltworks Biodiversity generally refers to plants and animals ranging from algae to trees for the former and from insects to polar bears for the latter. In fact, there is an effort to describe all known plants and animals, under the Biodiversity Inventories Program. While this seems like a daunting task in itself, if one considers the neglected microbial component it becomes an impossible task. It simply is not known or even well estimated how many species/genera there are of the microscopic algae, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Thus the study of the microbial diversity and community characteristics of extreme environments such as solar salt works is vital to beginning to estimate this major compartment of biodiversity. Carol Litchfield, 2nd CEISSA Merida Mexico

8 Exploitation ways arising from wetland function & historical value of salt Salt Museums are created to show to the general public the salt production methods and techniques along with the cultural values of the salt making sites. Bird watchers visit solar saltworks at specific seasons for avifauna observation and recording. That develops strong waves of ecotourism in Solar Saltworks that furthermore affects the local economy and development. The high density ponds of Solar Saltworks are widely used for therapeutic baths and also people cover their skin with mud from the ponds bottom for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Products with high commercial value can be produced in Solar Saltworks such as β-carotene, artemia and cosmetics. Environmental Education Centers (EEC) are established by Solar Saltworks and Local authorities,

9 All these side ways of Saltworks exploitation develop spontaneously, in some cases, by local population and institutions: Kalloni Saltworks: Strong wave of eco-tourism Kitros Saltworks: saline baths and skin treatment with mud for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes Messologhi Saltworks: saline baths, mud treatment and the local authority EEC uses exclusively Saltworks for environmental education purposes.

10 Since for many years unconfirmed information reported the effectiveness of Messologhi Saltworks mud compresses for osteoarthritis treatment: We Concentrate on effectiveness of high salinity sea mud of this particular area, as a treatment for osteoarthritis and also cellulitis.

11 Clay quality study Initially a study curried out to evaluate the quality of clay sediments in order to indentify its therapeutic peloids. Zagana E 1, Lemesios I. 1, Charalampopoulos S. 1, Katsanou K. 1, Stamatis G. 2 and Lambrakis N. 1 1 University of Patras & 2 Agricultural University of Athens

12

13 Physicochemical parameters of clay Sampling sites samples Moisture Organic EC ph content content TOC TON (μs/cm) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Τ Τ Τ Τ Τ Τ Τ5Α Τ Τ Τ Τ Τ Τ Humus Content

14 Trace elements in clay samples (mg/l) T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T5A T10 T11 T13 T14 MIN MAX MEAN As Ag Ba Cd Co Cr Cu Ga Li Fe Mn Mo Pb Sr U V Zn Hg Hf

15 Clay effectiveness Study Objective: Estimate the efficacy of high salinity sea mud compresses from Messologhi Saltworks as a treatment for osteoarthritis symptoms on neck, shoulder, arm, lower back, hip and knee joints. Pneumatikatos S. Physiotherapist M.Sc. Tsougrana C. Physiotherapist (TEI Athens) Papadas T. - Physiotherapist (TEI Athens) Kintziou E. - professor of aesthetics and cosmetology

16 How clay acts on the body Mechanicaly Thermaly Chemicaly (most effective with clay) most effective with clay)

17 Methodology 240 patients with osteoarthritis accepted to participate in the research. They got assigned into six different groups according to their osteoarthritic joint. An initial evaluation was performed using the appropriate questionnaires for pain, functionality of the joint and estimation of the general health status of the patient. After the completion of the treatment the patients filled the same questionnaires at the end of each subsequent month and for a period of four months.

18 Treatment procedure Application of a thin layer of sea mud ( 3mm) covering the joint in a uniform way Exposure to sunlight for thirty (30) minutes taking care that all parts of the joint received the same amount of sunlight. At the end of the 30 min. period the patients washed off the mud at the sea. They repeated the same procedure for fifteen (15) consecutive days.

19

20 Results Data analysis shows a significant reduction of pain Neck Shoulder Back Arm Hip Knee P=0,037 P=0,003 P=0,001 P=0,001 P=0,004 P=0,004

21 Results cont. Data analysis shows improvement of joint functionality Neck P=0,001 Shoulder Back Arm Hip Knee P=0,006 P=0,001 P=0,004 P=0,039 P=0,001

22 Results cont. Data analysis shows improvement in general health status of patients Neck P=0,001 Shoulder Back Arm Hip Knee P=0,001 P=0,003 P=0,001 P=0,016 P=0,001

23 Results cont. In conclusion the application of sea mud compresses from Messologhi sea lagoon can an effective treatment of osteoarthritis

24 Effect of sea mud compresses as a treatment on cellulite. Pneumatikatos S. Physiotherapist M.Sc. Kintziou E. - professor of aesthetics and cosmetology Varvaresou A. Dept. of aesthetics and cosmetology, TEI Athens Papageorgiou S. Dept. of aesthetics and cosmetology, TEI Athens Protopapa E. Dept. of aesthetics and cosmetology, TEI Athens Kefala V. Dept. of aesthetics and cosmetology, TEI Athens

25 Methodology A total of 30 female patients exhibiting the same degree of cellulite, lifestyle and activity level were recruited and divided into two groups, A and B. Group A left untreated and group B received a sea mud therapy for fifteen consecutive days. The degree of difference was determined measuring the circumference in the middle of the thigh. The application method was the same.

26 Results Group A: No change was observed (p> 0.05) Group B: The mean stage of cellulitis was decreased from 2,4000 to 1,9333 (p=0,004) The perimeter of each thigh diminished (p=0,001, 0,002) The perimeter of waist also improved from 82,3333 to 81,8667 (p=0,004) No irritating effects (redness or itching) reported.

27 Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, Messologhi Saltworks mud when applied as reported can be described as SAFE RAPID FAIRLY EFFICACIOUS In the treatment of osteoarthritis and cellulitis

28 Promoting the Ecological Importance of Solar Saltworks Journal Volume 11 No. 1, March 2009 Issue on the Ecological Importance of Solar Saltworks

29 WEBSITE

30