Filenews 10 January 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Republic of Cyprus is proceeding with the issuance of three new decrees for the protection and management of the Natura 2000 networks. Next Monday, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, based on the written opinion of the Scientific Committee, proceeds to the issuance of a decree for three Special Conservation Zones (SSSR) concerning the areas "Lighthouse of Kato Paphos", "Peristeronas River" and "Area of Lympia - Agia Anna".
The issuance of the decrees is considered very important, since it is a commitment of the Republic of Cyprus in the context of the recent violation of 2021/2064. On 9 June 2021, the Commission invited Cyprus to take measures to protect and manage the Natura 2000 networks and thus fulfil its obligations under the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). Under the Habitats Directive, Member States must propose SITES of Community importance, which are then added to lists of EU biogeographical sites. Within six years of inclusion in those lists, Member States must designate sites of Community importance as special areas of conservation, establish conservation objectives and measures to maintain or restore to a favourable conservation status the protected species and habitats present on the sites in order to achieve a favourable conservation status at national biogeographical level. Due to the non-compliance, the Commission decided to send a letter of formal notice to Cyprus to take the necessary measures. otherwise, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.
The purpose of the Decrees is the conservation, protection and management of the Special Areas of Conservation (SCA), in accordance with the priority measures for the SAIs established by paragraph 4 of the 2015 SCA On the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife (Priority Measures for Special Areas of Conservation).
In order to achieve the conservation objectives and rational management of the SAA, management measures and plans are defined, which are implemented by the Managing Authority of the SAIs, in cooperation with the relevant competent authorities. Indicatively, the following are mentioned:
• implementation of the Action Plans under the LIFE IP Physis project (Managing the Natura 2000 network in Cyprus and shaping a sustainable future);
• activities for the management of habitats and species and their habitats; implementation of management actions (restoration, monitoring, recording) and implementation of small-scale projects and works aimed at improving, conserving and/or restoring their habitats and species and habitats, in order to improve their conservation status;
• activities for the interpretation of the environment, which include the implementation of new and/or improvement of existing light infrastructure projects, such as fences, information signs, scientific equipment, wooden benches, wooden canopies, observatories, marking of areas and paths;
• actions to restore habitats and species (and their habitats) from invasive alien species;
• environmental education, information and public awareness;
• visiting and guided tours of visitors at specific times, on designated routes;
• implementation of the Natura 2000 network measures, as defined in the Rural Development Programme 2020-2027 and its provisions on the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife (Management and Protection of Rural Areas within Special Conservation Areas) Decree of 2019.
Prohibited activities and functions
For these areas and in order to preserve the ecosystem of the SAIs, some indicative general very important prohibitions are mentioned, as below:
• The clearing and /or in any way destruction and / or removal of wild vegetation, excluding the management of invasive alien species, carried out within the framework of the management of the SAA.
• The planting of species alien to the species of native flora that make up the habitats, as well as of invasive alien species, excluding those cultivated in the agricultural lands of the SAA.
• The release of non-native species of fauna within the SAA.
• Lighting a fire.
• The extraction of material and / or quarrying within the SAC.
• The disposal of waste and / or the placement of garbage and the pollution of the SAS in any way.
• The harassment, capture, killing or any treatment of fauna species found in the SAA.
• The deliberate destruction or collection of eggs and/or pups of species of fauna found in the SAA.
• The damage, destruction and/or disturbance of the breeding or resting areas of the species of fauna of the SAA, including the bird fauna and in particular the species of Annex I of the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Laws of 2003 to 2020 that nest in the SAA.
• The use of plant protection products, in the sense attributed to this term by article 2 of the Plant Protection Products Laws of 2011 and 2021, in eighth, in natural vegetation, such as palloures and wild species of carobs and olives.
• The use of plant protection products, within the meaning attributed to this term by article 2 of the Plant Protection Products Laws of 2011 and 2021, which have been classified as hazardous to the aquatic environment (GHS09) in accordance with the acts of the European Community and the European Union referred to in the preamble of the Chemicals Law of 2020, to avoid pollution of surface and groundwater.
• The intentional damage and / or destruction of works for the protection and promotion of the environment and infrastructure, such as fences, information signs, scientific equipment, wooden living rooms, wooden shelters, observatories and markings of paths.
• The research carried out for private purposes without the permission of the Managing Authority.
• The use of genetic material for private purposes without the permission of the Managing Authority.
