Filenews 9 October 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Abandoned mines are classified into two categories, based on the conclusions of a Special Ecological Assessment, which was carried out in order to examine the Strategic Environmental Impact Study of the Action Plan for Abandoned Mines of Cyprus. Those that can be managed, provided that a specific ecological assessment is carried out at project level and those that cannot be intervened for their restoration and reopening. It is noted that a large number of abandoned mines or ore processing facilities, out of a total of 26 abandoned and dormant mines and ore processing sites in Cyprus examined, are located within or near the Natura 2000 Network areas.
Specifically, during the evaluation of the study of the special ecological evaluation, as well as the additional additional data provided by the researchers, it emerged that the significance of the potential impact on the Natura 2000 Network areas and on the species and habitats of the characterization of each area, could not be quantified at this stage. It was stressed that this could be done during planning at project level.
The first category includes mines that are within or adjacent to the boundaries of the Natura 2000 network areas. For any proposal for the restoration, reopening or protection and promotion of the mining heritage, a group of mines that are within or adjacent, at a distance of less than one km. from the boundaries of the Natura 2000 network areas, a specific ecological assessment should be carried out for each project separately. Each specific ecological assessment should specify the projects proposed per mine to be restored and a detailed planning of the individual projects that will be required for this purpose should be given.
A total of 11 abandoned mines are included in this category. These are the mines of Alestos, Troulon, Vretsia, Limni, Kynousa, Mitsero, Agrokipias, Chatzipavlou, Kannourou, Kokkinorostou, Amiantou.
In the second category are the mines which are used by protected species of bats and other species of wild fauna inside and outside the Natura 2000 Network. These are seven mines in which protected species of bats and other wildlife species live. For these mines, it is not recommended to propose actions for their reopening, restoration or protection and promotion of the mining heritage. It is noted that restoration works or other interventions in these areas may have a negative impact on vulnerable and rare species of wildlife. It is stressed that no action on the galleries should be proposed which is not in line with the objectives of protecting the species that belong to the Annexes of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats, as well as of wild fauna and flora. These are the mines of Stroggylo – Mathiatis, Kokkinonerou – Analionta, Kalavasou (Mavridia and Mousoulos) and Troodos (Kokkinorotsou, Kannourou and Chatzipavlou).
Natura 2000 sites affected
In the Study of Special Ecological Evaluation, an assessment was made whether the implementation of the provisions of the Abandoned Mines Action Plan under study will significantly affect protected areas of the European Network Natura 2000. These are the protected areas Special Areas of Conservation / Places of Community Importance "Madari - Papoutsa", "Pafos Forest", "Polis - Gialia Area", "Mitsero - Agrokipia Area". "Troodos National Forest Park", as well as the Special Protection Areas "Koshi - Pallurokampos Area", "Pafos Forest", "Troodos National Forest Park" and "Madaris - Papoutsa Mountain Peaks".
Shelters for bats
According to the additional data submitted to the Department of Environment by the researchers on 14/09/2021, proposals were submitted for mines with particularly sensitive species, in which prohibitive restrictions should be placed in relation to possible actions that may take place in these areas. These mines do not prefer their reopening or restoration, The mines that have been recognized as such, which are used by protected types of bats, are the following: (a) Kalavasos Mine (Mavridia & Mousoulos), (b) Kokkinonero Mine – Analiontas, (c) Stroggile – Mathiatis Mines and (d) Kokkinorotsos, Kannanouros and Chatzipavlou Mines – Troodos.
Distance from Natura 2000 Network Area
> Alestos Mine - 0.6 km. SSR "Madari - Papoutsa"
> Troulli Mine - 1 km. SPA "Koshis area — Pallurokampos"
> Vressia Mine - 0.2 km. SPA "Pafos Forest"
> Vressia Mine - 100% within Natura 2000 network "Pafos Forest"
> Limni Mine - 0.2% within the Natura 2000 SSD network "Polis - Gialia Area"
> Kynousa Mine (A&B) -0.2 km SPA "Pafos Forest"
> Mitsero Facilities - 0.6% within the Natura 2000 SAC network "Mitsero - Agrokipia Area"
> Agrokipia Mine (A&B) - 1.2% within Natura 2000 network SZD "Maroullenas River Valley"
> Mines of Chatzipavlou, Kannouros and Kokkinorostou, within the Natura 2000 NETWORK of SAC and SPA "Troodos National Forest Park"
> Amyantos Mine - 100% within Natura 2000 SAC and SPA "Troodos National Forest Park"
Improvement and creation of infrastructure for the implementation of actions
The purpose of the study was to identify, describe and appropriately evaluate the direct and indirect effects that the proposed Action Plan may have on Natura 2000 sites. The study examined any impact on the types of definition of the Natura 2000 Network areas, which are located within the boundaries of the mines or at a distance of less than 1 km from the mines and sites under consideration, as these are mentioned in the proposed Action Plan for the rehabilitation of abandoned mines in Cyprus.
The dormant mines that are presented in the Action Plan as sites that may reopen in the future are: Sias, Kapedon, Kokkinonerou, Alesstou, and Mathiatis S (Stroggylos).
Also, actions for the restoration of the environment in the areas of the abandoned mines of mixed sulphide (copper) and the restoration of the area of the asbestos mine are proposed.
According to the study and following data provided by the Department of Forests and the Department of Environment, the reopening of some abandoned mines may affect the living conditions of bats, from increased levels of noise, vibration, dust emissions, removal of part of the vegetation, loss of consistency of vegetation and its impact by any opening or widening of roads. These concern the South Mine of Mathiatis (Stroggylos), Kokkinonerou, Kalavasou (Mavridia and Mousoulos) and Troodos (Chatzipavlou, Kannourou, Kokkinorotsou) and Kokkinoyion.
It is also noted that the emergence of some mines may negatively affect species hosted in them and are important shelters for them, such as the galleries in the mines of Hatzipavlou, Kannourou and Kokkinorotsos.
It appears that, for the implementation of the actions, there are needs for improvement and creation of infrastructure, such as the opening, upgrading or maintenance of the road network, increasing the pressure on species and habitats (fragmentation, loss of areas, soil compaction, light pollution, nuisance and cohesion of protected areas). Also, it is possible to promote the needs of water supply, electricity, lighting, telephone network, sewerage systems, waste collection, etc. It is noted that the above, as units or accumulators, may affect the species and habitats of the areas.
*Photo: Haris Nikolaou
