Filenews 26 July 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Five protected areas that have joined the Natura 2000 network as Sites of Community Importance (CSC) are declared in Special Conservation Zones (SDS), under the Law on the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife. Priority measures shall also be adopted by decree for these areas. These are the areas National Forest Park Potamos Liopetriou, National Forest Park of Rizoeli, Akamas Peninsula, Oceani and Paphos Forest. The declaration of most of these areas of the Natura 2000 network was made in the current infringement procedure initiated by the European Commission against the Republic of Cyprus, due to the inadequate designation of areas for the protection of natural habitats as well as of wild flora and fauna.
It is noted that the Commission has targeted the Republic of Cyprus since it considered that it did not submit an exhaustive list of proposed areas and did not provide all the necessary information for each site. The greatest deficiencies identified by the Commission concern the characterisation and protection of coastal and offshore areas, both in CSFs for the conservation of natural habitats as well as in wild flora and fauna, and in Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the conservation of birdlife.
With the addition of these and other new areas as CSFs and SPAs, the Natura 2000 network in Cyprus is now expected to be completed. It is therefore considered from a Cypriot point of view that the Commission will not refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The approval for the declaration of the five CSOs in an EZD was made in accordance with the recommendations of the Scientific Committee and the opinion of the Department of the Environment.
It is noted that by notification from the Minister of Agriculture, the five CSOs adopted by the European Commission by the Commission's Executive Decision of 21 January 2021 approving the 14th updated list of CSOs for the Mediterranean biogeographical region are declared.
In addition, the Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, on the basis of the written opinions of the Scientific Committee, proceeded to adopt a decree establishing the priority measures for THEA.
Rizoelia National Forest Park
The priority measures for the EZD National Forest Park of Rizoeli are as follows:
(a) conservation in an excellent conservation state of habitats 1520* Gypsophiletalia and 6220* Dry grasslands of the Mediterranean with grasses and one-year-olds (Thero-Brachypodietea).
(b) conservation and/or improvement of habitat conservation status 5220* Thamnos with Ziziphus lotus and 5420 Toasts with Sarcopoterium spinosum.
(c) keeping the habitats of birdlife species observed in the ADR in a satisfactory state of conservation in order to ensure its presence and survival, in particular with regard to the species listed in Annex I to the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Laws of 2003 to 2020.
Paphos Forest
The priority measures for the EZD Paphos Forest are as follows:
(a) Conservation in an excellent conservation state of habitats 3290 Rivers of the Mediterranean with periodic flow; 5330 Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-steppic thammons, 5420 Toasts with Sarcopoterium spinosum (Cisto-Micromerietea), 6420 Mediterranean grasslands with high grasses and rushes (Molino-Holoschoenion), 8140 Eastern Mediterranean stones, 8220 Silicate rocky prane with hash vegetation, 92A0 Forests-stoes with Salix alba and Populus alba , 92C0 Adjacent forests with Alnus orientalis, 92D0 River lodges and clusters (Nerio-Tamaricetea) of the South, 9320 Olive and carob forests, 9390* Quercus alnifolia forests and forest clusters, 9540 Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mediterranean pine species and 9590* Cedrus brevifolia (Cedrustum brevifoliae).
(b) Conservation and/or improvement of habitat conservation status 6220* Dry grasslands of the Mediterranean with grasses and one-year (Thero-Brachypodietea) and 93A0 - Forest clusters of Quercus infectoria (Anagyro foetidae-Quercetum infectoriae).
(c) Conservation of the species Arabis kennedyae, Coluber cypriensis, Euplaggia quadripunctaria, Minioptius schreibersii, Obis orientalis ophion, Phlomis cypria, Propomacrus cypriacus, Ranculus kykkoensis, Rhinolophus blasii and Rhinolophus euryale in excellent conservation condition.
(d) Conservation and/or improvement of conservation status of Myotis emarginatus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros.
(e) Conservation of the habitats of birdlife species observed in the EZD in a satisfactory conservation state in order to ensure its presence and survival, in particular with regard to the species listed in Annex I to the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Laws of 2003 to 2020.
(f) Restriction and/or prohibition of actions and/or nuisances and/or activities, as resulting from the Forests Laws of 2012 and 2018, within the EZD which may have a significant negative impact on the EZD, in order to avoid degradation of natural habitats and species habitats.
Oceanies Offshore Area
Priority measures for the offshore area of EZD Oceanis are important for the protection of herds and the protection of migratory routes of sea turtles. The measures are as follows:
(a) Conservation of *Monachus monachus, *Chelonia mydas, *Caretta caretta and *Tursiops truncatus in excellent conservation condition.
(b) Restriction and/or prohibition of actions and/or nuisances and/or activities within the ADR, which may have a significant negative impact on the EZD, in order to avoid degradation of species habitats.
Liopetri River National Forest Park
The priority measures for the EZD Liopetri River National Forest Park are as follows:
(a) Conservation in excellent habitat status 3170* Mediterranean seasonal quagmire, 5,210 tree-like tamings with Juniperus excelsa and Juniperus foetidissima, 5420 Toasts with Sarcopoterium spinosum (Cisto- Micromerietea).
(b) Conservation and/or improvement of habitat conservation status 1210 One-year vegetation between the flood and abode boundaries, 1240 Steep rocky shores of the Mediterranean with vegetation (with endemic Limonium spp.) and 2110 Primary moving dunes.
(c) Conservation of species Crepis pusilla, Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis blythii, Myotis emarginatus, Rhinolophus blasii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros in excellent condition.
Priority measures for Akamas Peninsula
The priority measures for the EZD Akamas Peninsula are as follows:
(a) Conservation in excellent habitat conservation 1120* Areas of marine vegetation with Posidonia (Posidonion oceanicae), 1170 Reefs; 1210 One-year vegetation between the flood and ebb boundaries, 1240 Steep rocky shores of the Mediterranean with vegetation (with endemic Limonium spp.), 2110 Primary moving dunes, 2230 One-year communities of dunes with Malcolmietalia, 2240 One-year communities of dunes with Brachypodetalia , 2250* Lychs of the beaches with juniper (Juniperus spp.), 2260 Dunes with vegetation of hard-leafed bushes (Cisto-Laveduletalia), 3170* Mediterranean seasonal quagmire, 5210 Treebeds with Juniperus spp., 5330 Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-stypic thams, 5420 Toasts with Sarcopoterium spinosum, 6220* Dry grasslands of the Mediterranean with grasses and one-year-olds (Thero-Brachypodietea), 62B0* Serpentine meadows of Cyprus, 8210 Limestone rocky prane of the hinterland with hash vegetation , 8310 Caves of which no tourist exploitation takes place, 8330 Sea caves wholly or partly below sea level, 9290 Cypress forests (Acero-Cupression), 92C0 Eastern platatan forests (Platanion orientalis), 92D0 River lodges and clusters (Nerio-Tamaricetea) of the South, 9320 - Forests with Olea and Ceratonia (Olive and carob forests), 9540 Mediterranean pine forests with endemic species of Mediterranean pines and 9560 Endemic forests of the Mediterranean with junipers (Juniperus spp .).
(b) Conservation and/or improvement of the conservation status of the habitat 8220 Silicate rocky prane with hash vegetation.
(c) Confirmation of presence and/or determination of habitat conservation status 3140 Hard oligo-mediterranean waters with benthic haroid vegetation (Characeae).
(d) Confirmation of presence and/or determination of conservation status of Propomacrus cypriacus and Anguilla anguilla.
(e) Conservation of species *Caretta caretta, *Chelonla mydas, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Rhinolophus blasll, Rhlnolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus euryale, Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis blythii, *Monachus monachus, Tursiops truncatus, *Euplagla quadripunctaria, Phlomis cypria, Tulipa cypria and *Centaurea akamantis in excellent conservation condition.
(f) Conservation and/or improvement of the conservation status of Rhinolophus hipposideros.
