Filenews 23 April 2022 - by Angelos Nikolaou Photos: Haris Nikolaou and Charalambos Christodoulou
The signing of a Decree by the Minister of Environment for the further protection of the natural environment in the beautiful Akamas peninsula is of great importance. According to valid information of "Phileleftheros", Kostas Kadis, following the recommendation of the Department of Forests, signed a Decree, based on which 29 important areas of the National Forest Park (SAR) of Akamas, with a total area of about 168 hectares, are declared either as "forest monuments" (7 areas, 58 hectares) or as "natural small reserves" (22 areas, 110 hectares).
>What is it and what purpose do "natural small stocks" and "forest monuments" serve
According to Article 16 of the Forests Law of 2012 (25(I)/2012), the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment may, by decree published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, declare any area of state forest to:
(a) "forest monument" when the area contains one or more specific natural, cultural or geomorphological elements of exceptional or unique value, due to their monumental character or exceptional aesthetics and/or cultural elements, and
(b) 'natural micro-stock' where the area contains one or more rare species of flora or fauna or another element of nature of national, regional or global interest.
It is noted that the approach of Micro-stocks was adopted for the first time in Cyprus through the LIFE project entitled "Creation of a Network of Small Plant Stocks for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats in Cyprus", which was implemented in the period 2010-2013 with the participation of the Department of Forests and the Department of Environment and with the current Minister of Agriculture as the scientific coordinator, Rural Development and Environment, who was then Director of the Nature Conservation Unit of Frederick University. In Small Stocks, monitoring of the "target" species/habitats and implementation of conservation measures are implemented. One of the results of the project was the incorporation into the Forest Legislation of provision for the creation of small deposits.
In the case of the Akamas SAR, this Decree declares as "natural small reserves" areas with important species that are not necessarily included in the European directives, while "forest monuments" are declared areas with important natural, cultural and geomorphological characteristics.
>The criteria and procedure for the selection of protection areas
According to the provisions of the legislation, areas were selected for the Decree that include:
a) Species of flora which are endangered locally endemic to the Akamas SAR (classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus).
b) Species of flora listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, which are limited to the Akamas SAR or have the largest part of their population within the SAR.
c) Endangered species listed in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus and limited to the Akamas SAR or have the largest part of their population within the SAR.
d) Caves, breeding shelters, canyons and areas that host important breeding colonies for rare or important species of fauna.
e) Important habitats of Annex I of the Habitats Directive, for which the Akamas SAR is an important area, i.e. they have the largest area within the SAR.
The final selection of the areas of the Decree was made after taking into account the existing protection and management status of the Akamas National Forest Park (SAR) area, at national level (on Forests, Fisheries and on the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Laws), but also at European level (area of the European Network Natura 2000 in accordance with the guidelines of habitats (92/43/EEC) and birds (2009/147/EC) (CY40000010, CY4000023). The status of the SAR, as provided by the Forest Law, includes the management of the area with the aim of protecting all elements of biodiversity, genetic resources and geoforms, as well as ecological processes and at the same time provides the opportunity for environmentally compatible recreation, educational or scientific activities.
Under Article 5 of the Forests Laws of 2012 and 2018, the proposed areas were placed for consideration at the Meeting of the Forest Advisory Body held on February 23, 2022. For the selection of the areas under declaration there was cooperation and understanding between different Departments and Services of the State. If in the future it is deemed necessary, other areas can be declared as "forest monuments" and "natural small reserves".
Forest monuments protected
The areas protected are the following:
>>>Forestural Monument "Tower of Rigena": For the ruins of the church and the century-old oak (Quercus infectoria subsp. veneris).
>>>Forestural Monument "Fontana Amorosa": For the beach of Fontana Amorosa with the two sources and for the cluster with arboreal invisible (Juniperus phoenicea) corresponding to the habitat type 9560 "Endemic forests of the Mediterranean with junipers".
>>>Forestural Monuments "Damalospilios", "Abakas" and "Smyies": For clusters with invisible arboreal trees (Juniperus phoenicea) corresponding to the habitat type 9560 "Endemic forests of the Mediterranean with junipers".
>>>Forestural Monuments "Gerakopetra" and "Abakas Gorge": For their geological formation and monumental character.
>>>Natural small reserves "Farkonia Gorge" and "Koufon Gorge": For the extremely rare species of flora Centaurea akamantis, which is local endemic to the Akamas peninsula and is included in Annexes II&IV of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), as well as in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Endangered.
>>>Natural small reserves "Pontikospilios", "Tower of Rigaina" and "Pampelon": For the endemic species Tulipa cypria, which is included in Annexes II&IV of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus, where it is characterized as Endagered. The Cypriot tulip is found in four areas, on the Akamas peninsula, where most of its population is located in the free areas, in the wider area of Kormakitis-Myrtos-Panagra, between Mammari-Denia (in the buffer zone) and on the Karpasia peninsula, near the village of Agios Simeon.
>>>Natural Micro-storey "Muttes of Agia Paraskevi": For the local endemic plant of the Akamas Akamasica Akamasica AKASA, which is included in the Red Book of flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Critically Endangered. It is limited only to a location with a very small population, not exceeding 650 plants.
>>>Natural micro-storey "Pigadoulia": For the narrow-mediterranean species of Bellium minutum plant, found in Italy (Sicily), Greece and Cyprus, which is the easternmost end of its spread. It is included in the Red Book of flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Endangered. In 2001, a small population (about 150 plants) was identified in Cyprus in one place only, on the western shores of the Akamas SAR.
>>>Natural micro-reserve "Exoyrants": For the endangered species Arbutus unedo (arbutus), which in Cyprus is limited to only two locations in the Akamas SAR, with a population of only 80 plants. The strawberry tree is included in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Critically Endangered.
>>>Natural micro-storey "Plaki": For the endangered plants Arbutus unedo (arbutus) and Phlomis cypria subsp. occidentalis (endemic), which is included in Annexes II&IV (92/43/EEC) and the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Vulnerable. The main area of the spread of Phlomis cypria subsp. occidentalis is the western part of the Pafos Forest, while the Akamas SAR is the westernmost limit of its spread and hosts about 15% of its population.
>>>Natural micro-deposit "Cape Arnaouti": The westernmost tip of the island is an important area for the protection of rare sand dune habitats of Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), which, in the areas under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, are rare, especially the priority habitat Lochmas of the beaches with Juniperus phoenicea (2250). In addition, the endangered species Taraxacum aphrogenes (endemic) and Achillea maritima subsp. maritima (the main area of spread in the occupied and British bases) are found on the cape, which are included in the Red Book of flora of Cyprus and are characterized as Vulnerable.
>>>Natural small reserves "Gioni 1" and "Gioni 2": The two beaches (north and south of the small bay) are home to the endemic endangered species Taraxacum aphrogenes and important sand dune habitats (Par. I, 92/43/EEC), especially the priority habitat Of beaches with Juniperus phoenicea (2250).
>>>Natural microbrewery "Geronissos": On the island is found the endangered species Cistanche phelypaea, which is included in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Critically Endangered. The plant is found only in Geronissos (Akamas SAR) and the Akrotiri peninsula, within the British bases.
>>>Natural micro-reserve "Petratis Gorge": Petratis Gorge is home to the largest colony of fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), a species included in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). After the dramatic decrease of its population in the last 15 years (a decrease of about 80%), the colony in Petratis is the only one that has not been greatly affected and numbers around 200-300 individuals. In the whole of Cyprus the population of the species does not exceed 1100 individuals (measurements 2019). In the small caves of the gorge find shelters rare species of hand towels such as Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Annex II 92/43/EEC) and Myotis nattereri (Annex IV 92/43/EEC). The proposed area is home to a significant part of the population of the endangered osyris alba plant (Vulnerable).
>>>Natural micro-storey "Akamas Precipice": The precipice is the only large, natural, underground barrier, which is known until today in the areas under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus. Its ecological value is very important since it hosts five rare species of Annex II bats (92/43/EEC), Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus blassi, Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus euryale (extremely rare species for the island).
>>>Natural micro-storey "Magnesia": In the region of Magnesia there is a complex of artificial galleries that in the past, for a short time, were extracted magnesium. The galleries, which are about 450 m from the Akamas precipice, are a refuge for seven species of chiroptera. Five of them are included in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC. These are Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus blassi, Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus euryale (extremely rare). Also, the area is home to most of the population of the endangered plant Ferulago syriaca (Eyroto), which is found only in the Akamas SAR (Magnesia and Fontana Amorosa) and in the occupied areas, above the village of Flamoudi and in the valley of Ronnna in Rizokarpaso.
The sea caves of Pegeia are important
Natural micro-deposit "Sea Caves of Pegeia"-three different areas: Cluster of coastal caves, within the Akamas SAR, the entrance of which is in a sea part and are a habitat for the following three species of Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC:
* Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). The caves are both a breeding ground for the species and a place of rest. The species breeds in the caves for the last four years, making the area one of the most important for the species.
* Micromyotide (Myotis blythii). Two of the caves are a breeding ground for this species of bat, which is one of the rarest hand towels in Cyprus. These caves are the only breeding ground of the species, in the areas that are under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus.
* Wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii). In one of the caves there is a group of about 60 people, who reproduce and remain in the cave until October. According to the records, some of the caves are an ideal habitat for other species of batsmen such as Rhinolophus hipposideros (Annex II 92/43/EEC), while it is not excluded that they use the caves and other species.
Additionally, one of the caves was formerly a refuge for the species Rousettus aegyptiacus (Annex II 92/43/EEC), but this particular colony was exterminated during the mass exterminations of the species in the 80's. However, the cave is still an ideal place for the species that can potentially colonize it again when it recovers.
Shield for rare species
Natural Micro-deposit "Lipati": For the rare species Euphorbia thompsonii, which is included in the Red Book of Flora of Cyprus where it is characterized as Vulnerable. It is near endemic (Cyprus and southern Turkey) limited to the wider region of the Akamas Peninsula: Arodes (Katsavraha-Lipati), cliffs of Kathikas, Pegeia-Akoursos. Most of its population is located in the area of Lipati, mainly on private land, and partially within the Akamas SAR.
Natural micro-reserve "Halavron": In the land part there is the endemic, endangered species Taraxacum aphrogenes (Euroto) and there is a complex with the priority habitat Mediterranean seasonal lakes (3170), which is characterized by rare, endangered plant species. In the underground part of the area there is a deep cave with an entrance from the sea. It is the most important natural breeding sanctuary in Cyprus of the species Miniopterus schreibersii bat species and is also a breeding ground for the Mediterranean monk seal, which are species of Annex II of the Habitats Directive.
Natural micro-reserve "Baths of eagles": The area is home to the species Alyssum akamasicum (endemic, Erytoto) and Centaurea cyprensis (endemic, found only in the Akamas SAR and limassol forest), which are characteristic species of the priority habitat Serpentinophilic meadows of Cyprus (62B0).
