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Forests
The forests of
Cyprus cover 18,96% of the total area of the
island. Most of the forest area 161.833 ha, is
State Land and is divided into Main and Minor
State Forests. The Main State Forests - 146.100
ha - are situated mostly on the mountain ranges
and are classified into Permanent Forest
Reserves, National Forest Parks and Nature
Reserves. The Minor State Forests (15.733 ha)
are multiple-use forest areas, communal and
municipal forests, nurseries and grazing
grounds. Private forests cover an area of about
13.578 ha and belong to private individuals,
churches and monasteries.
Cyprus was famous
for its forests in ancient times and timber
from them was used for the building of the
fleets of sea powers of the eastern
Mediterranean at the time. Forest fires,
uncontrolled grazing and felling throughout the
years have reduced the forest areas, while the
Turkish invasion of 1974 and the malicious
bombing of the forests by the Turkish air force
have resulted in the burning of about 16% of
the total forest area. After this large-scale
destruction of the forests, the Department of
Forests undertook the project of reforesting
the burnt areas.
Cyprus forests are
natural with the exception of some areas, which
were established through reforestation in the
burnt areas and on degraded government land.
The main species are Brutia pine (Pinus
brutia), while the Black pine (Pinus nigra)
covers the higher slopes of the Troodos Range.
Other species are Cypress, Juniper, Plane,
Alder and Golden oak (Quercus alnifolia), which
is endemic, etc. Cedars (Cedrus brevifolia),
also an endemic species, are found in the
Paphos Forest.
The Department of
Forests, under the Ministry of Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environment, with the
assistance of FAO experts in 1998 initiated the
preparation of a “National Forest
Programme%26rdquo; for Cyprus Forests. The main
objectives of the Programme are: the forest
development, the forest management on a
sustainable basis, the rationalist and prudent
multiple use of forests and the harmonisation
of Forest Policy with that of the European
Union.
Recent statistics
show that during the period 1991-2000 an area
of 3,213 ha of Main State Forest has been
reforested, and efforts are being made to
increase the overall forest area.
The Department of
Forests is responsible for the creation,
improvement and extension of picnic and camping
places in the state forest. During the recent
years many nature trails were established at
Akamas Forest, Paphos Forest, Troodos,
Limassol, Adelphi and at Cavo Greco. The nature
trails attracted many walkers both from Cyprus
and abroad.
Besides the
extension and the betterment of the facilities
in the picnic sites, Troodos forest has been
declared a National Forest Park. Cavo Greco,
Athalassa and the Pedagogical Academy were also
declared National Forest Parks for which
development plans were prepared and implemented
and are in full use by the public.
Considerable
progress has been achieved in the protection of
forests from fires, which constitute the
biggest single hazard in the preservation of
Cyprus%26rsquo; forests. The fire fighting
capacity of the Forestry Department has been
strengthened through the acquisition of more
fire engines and better radiotelephone systems
and the construction of more roads. During the
period 1989-1998 the average area of forests
burnt was reduced to 0,08% of the total area of
the State Forests, compared to an average of
0,13% in the period 1979-1988. It is worth
mentioning that 1999 was the best year with the
smallest area (about 4 ha) burnt since 1886
when records began.
The Cyprus Forestry College
has been in
operation since 1951 and has been functioning
at full capacity. In recent years, more than
40% of its students come from overseas
countries.
Water
Development
Throughout its
long history Cyprus has always been confronted
with the problem of water shortage and for this
reason the Government gives utmost priority
towards the optimum utilisation of all the
island%26rsquo;s water resources.
Until 1970,
underground water was the main source of water
for both drinking and irrigation purposes. As a
result almost all aquifers were seriously
depleted from over-pumping with coastal
aquifers suffering from sea
intrusion.
An increase in the
population, as well as in tourist and
industrial activities, have led to an increase
in the demand for water and have created an
acute shortage of potable water.
To combat this
problem the Cyprus government created dams and
more recently desalination plants. For more
information see the website of the Water Development Department
Mining
The mining
industry has been on the decline (practically
non-existent) for the last two decades.
However, with the commencement of operations of
the mine at Skouriotissa by the Hellenic Copper
Mines in June 1996, there was a great interest
(by the Hellenic Copper Mines and other
companies) for prospecting for copper and other
minerals even in areas where prospecting has
taken place in the past.
In 2000, 5088 tons
of pure cathode copper at a value of C£ 5,58
million was exported, compared to 5260 tons at
a value of C£4.42 million in 1999.
There is extensive
quarrying in Cyprus - there are about 250
quarries for various materials, for local use
(sand and gravel aggregates, limestone, gypsum,
havara, clay, building stone, etc) and for
export (bentonite, umber and ochre, gypsum,
building stone, etc). There are four companies,
which produce bentonite. Nearly all the
production is exported. Only one company is
operating an activation plant, producing
qualities of bentonite for different uses (such
as drilling, civil engineering, pet litter,
filler, etc). There is also great interest for
prospecting for quarry materials.
Environment
The development of
the island in the last three decades and mainly
the rapid economic development of the country
since 1974, has led to pressures on the
environment, particularly in the coastal zone.
Environmental awareness, though overshadowed by
more pressing needs at various periods, is now
leading to a stronger policy for the protection
of the environment.
There are a number
of laws aiming at the protection of the
environment, the main ones being the Town and
Country Planning Law, the Fisheries Law, the
Forests Law, the Foreshore Protection Law and
the Streets and Buildings Law as well as the
various laws for the regulation of hunting. As
far as control and prevention of pollution is
concerned a major breakthrough was achieved
with the approval, in 1991, of the Laws on the
Control of Water and Atmospheric Pollution from
Industrial Sources as well as the Dangerous
Substances Law.
Several
international conventions for the protection of
the environment have also been ratified such as
the Convention for the Conservation of the
European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the
Convention on the International Trade of
Endangered Species (C.I.T.E.S.), the Convention
for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea
Against Pollution and its four Protocols, the
Global Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and
their Disposal, the Vienna Convention and the
Montreal Protocol on the Protection of the
Ozone Layer, the Climate Change Convention and
the Convention on EIA in a Transboundary
context and the Convention to Combat
Desertification.
Several major
studies and projects were also undertaken,
aiming at harmonization with the European
Union%26rsquo;s environmental policy, many of
them financed by the EU. Such studies have
covered the management of hazardous waste, the
use of environmental fiscal instruments, the
management of the Akamas Peninsula, rural
sanitation, recycling of domestic solid waste,
coastal protection, used machine oils, water
resources supply and demand management,
monitors up of mining waste, integrated
monitoring of surface waters, the establishment
of a sub regional contingency plan for marine
pollution incidents, etc.
Cyprus actively
participates in regional and global
environmental activities such as the
Mediterranean Action Plan, the Council of
Europe%26rsquo;s environmental programmes, the
environmental follow-up actions in the
framework of the Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe, the Mediterranean
Commission for Sustainable Development and the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership established by
the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial
Conference.
The Chapter on
Environment, which is currently being discussed
in the context of Cyprus' accession
negotiations with the European Union, is
expected to close by the end of July 2001.
Cyprus also places special importance to the
implementation of the National Programme for
the Adaptation of the Environmental Acquis,
which is now fully in place, and considerable
effort is devoted in implementing it within the
timetable adopted.
The Ministry of
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
is responsible for the rational management and
sustainable use of natural resources as well as
being the coordinating Ministry for the
protection of the island%26rsquo;s environment.
The institutional framework for environmental
planning and management in Cyprus has at its
apex the Council of Ministers, which has the
overall responsibility for the formulation of
environmental policy. It also includes the
Environment Council, which is an advisory body,
chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Natural
Resources and Environment; and the Environment
Committee, which deals with the formulation and
determination of environmental policy
objectives and is chaired by the Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Natural Resources and the
Environment.
The Environment
Service operates under the Ministry of
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment,
is the coordinating agency for Government
programmes for the protection of the
environment, heads thetechnical committee on
the environmental impact assessment of
projects, advises on environmental policy, is
mandated to ensure the implementation of the
environmental policy and provides secretariat
services to the environment Council and the
Environment Committee, also being the
administrative arm of the latter.
Particular
activities in the field of environmental
conservation within the Ministry of
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
also include protection of the Cyprus Moufflon
(Ovis-gmelini ophion). This rare endemic animal
is strictly protected and its population has
revived from near extinction, at the beginning
of the century, to about 2.000 animals at
present.
Furthermore, a
successful conservation project was launched in
order to protect the Green and Loggerhead
turtles breeding on the island%26rsquo;s
beaches. It includes a hatchery programme and
it is a model project in the Mediterranean. The
Ministry%26rsquo;s activities also include the
control, prevention and combating of marine
pollution as well as research and monitoring,
much of which falls within the framework of
UNEP%26rsquo;s Mediterranean Action
Plan.
The setting up of
National Parks and Nature Reserves is now
receiving urgent attention. Areas under study
include the Akamas Peninsula, the Akrotiri Lake
and Phasouri marsh and the Platys Valley. Two
Forest Nature Reserves have already been
established at Tripilos, which includes the
Cedar Valley and at Troodos respectively, and
one Marine Reserve, the Lara-Toxeftra Reserve
for the protection of marine turtles and their
nesting beaches. Six national forest parks have
also been established in the last few years.
The areas of the Larnaca salt lake have been
declared as protected areas by a decision of
the Council of Ministers.
It is also worth
mentioning the work initiated for the
preparation of the Ecological Map of Cyprus.
The basic objective of this effort is to
survey, study and map all the basic
characteristics and parameters of the natural,
biological and cultural resources, to identify
the pressures threatening them and to put
forward suggestions and programmes for the
protection and enhancement of the ecological
and cultural endowment of the
island.
Flora and
Fauna
Cyprus is an
island with superb natural beauty and a
remarkable variety of landscapes and scenery.
Its rugged coastline alternates between rocky
shores, promontories and sandy bays while
extensive plains, rolling hills and forest-clad
mountains, scattered with picturesque villages,
cover the inland area.
The north coastal
plain, covered with olive and carob trees, is
backed by the steep and narrow Pentadaktylos
mountain range of limestone, rising at a height
of 3.300 feet above sea level. In the south the
extensive mountain massif of Troodos, covered
with pine, dwarf oak, cypress and cedar,
culminates in the peak of Mount Olympus, 6.400
feet above sea level. Between the two ranges is
the fertile plain of Mesaoria.
Cyprus, being an
island, has been adequately isolated to allow
the evolution of a strong endemic flowering
element. Being also surrounded by large
continents, it incorporates botanological
elements of the neighbouring
landmasses.
The flora or the
complement of indigenous plants and in
particular the endemics of the country,
constitute an outstanding biological and
aesthetic natural heritage. With its
approximately 1.900 species and subspecies or
flowering plants, of which 140 are endemic,
Cyprus is an extremely interesting place for
nature lovers and has all the attributes, which
make it a real botanist%26rsquo;s
paradise.
From its very
beginning, about 20 million years ago, Cyprus
has always been an island. The arrival of
animals in Cyprus has been a subject of
interest to zoologists. According to evidence,
the first arrivals were hippopotami and
elephants, both excellent swimmers. They
arrived about 1,5 million years ago and apart
from some shrews and mice, they were the only
land mammals roaming the island prior to
Man%26rsquo;s arrival, 9.000 years
ago.
Cyprus is used by
millions of birds as a stepping-stone during
their migration from Europe to Africa and back
again, something that has been observed since
Homeric times. Out of the sea creatures,
dolphins, turtles and seals are strictly
protected. Nevertheless, due to the rapid
development of the coastal zone of the island,
the population of monk seal has dramatically
decreased in the last decades. The two marine
turtles found in the island, the Green Turtle
(Chelonia mydas) and the Loggerhead Turtle
(Caretta Caretta), breed regularly on the
beaches of the Akamas Peninsula on the
northwest part of the island.
Wildlife
Protection of
wild life – Legislation
The three main
legislations regulating hunting, wildlife
management and protection of birds are the Laws
no. 39/1974, no. 158/1990, and no 38/1974.
Through these statutes of legislation the
framework of hunting policy is set and measures
include monitoring of game reserve areas,
managing the game species and protected
species, patrolling to combat poaching,
protecting and maintaining of biotopes, banning
all-large scale or non-selective methods of
taking, setting bag limits, setting hunting
permits (minimum legal age over 21),
controlling hunting guns (only single or double
shot allowed) etc. According to the Cyprus
legislation (Law no. 39/74, Article 15 and
158/1990) the use of the following devices or
methods is strictly prohibited: nets, lime
sticks, lights, any kind of traps, poison
baits, tape recorders and any game callers,
artificial light sources, motor vehicles and
any other non-selective method of taking is
strictly prohibited in Cyprus and violators are
prosecuted to the Court.
The Republic of
Cyprus has signed and ratified the Bern
Convention (Convention on European Wildlife and
Natural Habitats) in 1988 (Law no. 24/88), and
according to this law all non-game birds are
strictly protected fauna species.
The Cyprus Council
of Ministers has also decided to proceed with
the ratification of the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn
Convention) and is expected to become a law in
the Republic within the year 2001.
New, more
enforceable and strict legislation is under way
to fully transpose the EU environmental acquis
into Cypriot law. Measures will include higher
penalties, fines- on-the-spot for minor
offences, a more comprehensive approach in
habitat protection, hunters education and
public awareness, confiscation of all equipment
used in poaching, habitat protection of
endangered and vulnerable species
etc.
Enforcement of
legislation
Through the Game
Fund Service, the Ministry of Interior enforces
the relevant legislation (Laws no. 39/74,
38/74, 158/1990 and 24/88). The service is
presently staffed with approximately 100 game
wardens that are responsible for enforcing the
game and wildlife laws in general as well as
qualified officers who contact research and
surveys on wildlife species.
The Cyprus Game
Fund Service assures that illegal trapping of
birds is a major concern. In the last five
years (1996-2000) the Game Fund Service has
reported 1.070 cases of poaching including
illegal trapping operations. Only in the year
2000, 241 cases of poaching were reported and
prosecuted to the Court.
Harmonization
with the European Environmental
Acquis
Cyprus is now in
the process to formally transpose the EU
environmental acquis correctly and completely
into Cyprus law, as well as to implement it in
practice. Cyprus has agreed to comply with all
relevant legislation related to the protection
of nature by 01.01.2003. Cyprus gives great
emphasis on the transposition of the two most
important legislation regarding nature
protection:
The Habitats
Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive
(79/409/EEC). Work regarding these two
Directives is well in progress and preliminary
“Natura 2000%26rdquo; sites have been
proposed to the European Commission. A
significant amount of the island%26rsquo;s
surface area is proposed to be included in the
“Natura 2000%26rdquo; Network. Cyprus%3f
proposals include all Important Bird Areas
(IBAs) identified by Bird Life International in
their latest publication (No.8 Important Bird
Areas in Europe: Priority sites for
conservation by M. F. Heath and M.I. Evans,
2000, Vol. 2: Southern Europe). Cyprus is
committed to protect these sites effectively
by: a) coordinated conservation and management
plans, b) research of the ecology and
population dynamics of the migratory species,
and c) enforce measures based on sound
ecological principles to control and manage the
taking of the migratory species.
What game and
which season in Cyprus.
All game species
of Cyprus are legal game species in the
European Community. These include the game
migratory birds as well. See table
below:
| Open season. |
Game involved. |
| November-December (Wednesdays and
Sundays only, 16-18 hunting
days). |
Hare, chukar partridge, black
francolin, thrushes, woodpigeon,
woodcock. |
| January-February (Wednesdays and
Sundays only). |
Thrushes, woodpigeon, woodcock,
ducks and geese. |
| End of August (3-4 hunting days)
only in the inland of the
island. |
Woodpigeon, turtledove. |
| September (very limited areas in
the coastal regions not exceeding 40 km2,
daily, 10-12 hunting days). |
Woodpigeon, turtledove,
quail. |
Note: Quotas (bag limits). November -
December season. 2 hares, 5 partridges per
hunter per hunting day or 2 hares, 4 partridges
and one francolin per hunter / per hunting
day.
Hunting Policy
in Cyprus
Sound wildlife
management has been essential for the
sustainability of game species in Cyprus.
Cyprus supports an approximate number of
45,000-48,000 hunters (figure fluctuates
depending on year) or 7% of the population of
the island. Traditionally, hunting has been an
important part of the people and the culture of
Cyprus. Today, sport hunting is an important
socio-economic activity and probably the most
popular sport in the island. About 25% of adult
males in the island are hunters.
Game management in
Cyprus involves a multiple system of management
focusing on two main themes:
I) Protection
of species
Conservation of
species is controlled under provisions of the
legislations relevant to wildlife management
and protection of wild fauna. Under these
legislations all protected species mentioned in
the Bern Convention are protected and only
designated game species may be taken during
specific seasons.
ii) Protection
and Conservation of habitats and sustainability
with respect to wildlife
management
There are two
kinds of game reserves (no hunting areas) used
in order to ensure protection of habitats and
sustainability with respect to wildlife
management:
Distinctive
habitats have been designated as Permanent Game
Reserves (no hunting areas). These account to
about 900 km2 of the Government controlled area
and include the Paphos State Forest area, all
wetlands, significant migration corridors
etc.
The second reserve
category that serves the sustainability to
wildlife management is the designation of Game
Reserve areas (no hunting areas). Other
sustainability measures include the monitoring
of bag limits, regulation of the hunting
season, etc.
The management of
Game Reserve areas (no hunting areas) is one of
the major tools used in Cyprus so as to provide
the means by which areas are reserved and
managed for the conservation of wild stock.
These areas act as wildlife reservoirs or
“banks%26rdquo; allowing wild-bred fauna
to disperse into neighbouring areas and in
effect restocking them guaranteeing the
long-run sustainability of game species. During
the hunting of migratory species additional
areas are designated as no hunting areas so
that corridors, and passage migrants are well
protected. Also some game reserves are
specifically designated for the conservation of
certain species like the Bonelli%26rsquo;s
eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), the Black
francolin (Francolinus francolinus), and the
Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus).
Game Reserves (no
hunting areas) are well interspersed all over
the hunting areas to ensure sustainability
objectives. It is estimated that an additional
1,200 km2 of the Government controlled area is
designated as Game Reserve areas (no hunting
areas). The total area designated as Game
Reserves amounts to about 35% of the Government
controlled surface area.
During the hunting
of migratory species, additional areas are
designated as no hunting areas so that
corridors and passage migrants are well
protected.
It has been
observed that this system has worked very well
for Cyprus and led to an increase in the
numbers of some native avian species. For
instance, the case of the Black Francolin is a
classic example where game reserve management
has led to a rapid increase of the population
of the species. In 1987, the Game Reserve
management system was used in the southwest for
protecting the core breeding habitats of the
species (the river valleys of Ezousa, Xeros,
& Diarizos, and Kouklia & Acheleia
areas). Since then hunting is only permitted in
the surrounding areas -
‘non-core%26rsquo; habitats of the
francolin. This has led to a significant
increase of the population of the species with
surveys showing an approximate number of 36,000
birds in the Paphos district and annual bags of
about 6,000-6,500 birds. The black francolin
has also been expanding its range due to
various management and conservation measures
undertaken by the Republic%26rsquo;s
authorities.
Use of hunting
funds
All funds from
hunting licenses are used to support programmes
related to wildlife management, protection of
endangered species, re-establishment of
wildlife populations, etc. The hunting license
in Cyprus is CY 35 pounds (60 EURO) per year.
Some activities supported by the hunting
licenses appear below:
Patrolling the
countryside.
Research and
survey programmes, i.e. surveys on the Black
Francolin, harvest surveys, and monitoring of
the Cyprus mouflon population.
Conservation and
management of the Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini
ophion).
Habitat
improvement: Provision of watering devices,
cleaning and maintaining natural springs,
establishing food plots for wildlife
etc.
Re-establishment
of wildlife populations.
Wildlife
rehabilitation centre, and Game Reserve area
management.
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