Client: Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment – Environment Department
Other Partners: ENVECO S.A. (Greece)
The Akamas Peninsula is located in the western part of Cyprus in Paphos District and has been included in the Natura 2000 Network, designated both as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and as a Site of Community Importance (SCI). It covers a total area 18.131 ha, of which 43.57% are marine area and 56.43% are inland area. It is an area of great natural beauty unaffected by development. The uniqueness of the area for Cyprus, and for the whole of the Mediterranean, is due to its diversity of flora and fauna. Akamas is also an important sea turtle nesting area, where both the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta-caretta) and the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest.
The objective of the project was the formulation of the Environmental Management Plan of “Akamas Peninsula”, which aims to the protection, management and enhancement of the natural environment, taking into account the existing socioeconomic conditions.
The tasks that were successfully completed and the services that were provided were:
- Analysis of the current conditions and human driven pressures, based both on available data and references, as well as extensive field work. Emphasis was given to characteristics of major importance such as sea turtles, inland dunes, gorges, endemic flora species, Chiroptera populations, Pinus sp. forests etc.
- Assessment of evolutionary trends concerning the conservation status of habitats and species and the main pressures and threats due mainly to touristic development and various economic activities
- Public consultation with local communities and stakeholders
- Defining the main Conservation Objectives for achieving the Favourable Conservation Status for species and habitats according to the 92/43/EEC Directive
- Monitoring plans for the flora species of Tulipa cypria and for 4 inland dune habitats
- Environmental management plan which includes proposals for protection zones and measures that aim to the area’s protection and management
- Cost estimation of planned projects, works and studies
- Preparation of detailed maps, using mainly ArcGIS that present the area’s geology, topography, hydrology, land use, regional boundaries, infrastructures, human activities, vegetation, habitats, coastline visibility and protection zones
