Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity in Cyprus.

This Action Plan, developed on the basis of the United Nation Convention of Biological Diversity and of the European Union Strategy for Biodiversity, consists of four chapters and two annexes and aims at implementing the provisions of the UN Convention and the EU Strategy, in order to achieve the conservation, protection and sustainable use of biodiversity, and the equal and fair sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its main objectives are: the reduction of the biodiversity’s loss, improving the use of natural capital, strengthening the participatory process in all sectors of the State concerning the use of biodiversity resources. Furthermore, the Strategy defines the following 13 strategic objectives and describes the basic actions to be taken and implemented to their achievement: 1) improvement of available knowledge for biodiversity conservation purposes; 2) conservation and restoration of ecosystems and preservation of species and their habitats; 3) promotion and conservation of ecosystem services; 4) effective management of protected areas; 5) sustainable use of biological and natural resources; 6) conservation of genetic resources and equitable sharing of their benefits; 7) improving governance related to biodiversity conservation; 8) capacity building for biodiversity conservation; 9) integration of biodiversity conservation objectives into fire prevention activities; 10) addressing climate change impacts on biodiversity; 11) prevention and treatment of invasive alien species’ impacts on biodiversity; 12) promotion of education and strengthening of participation of civil society in biodiversity protection and conservation; 13) resource mobilisation for biodiversity conservation.
This Strategic Plan covers the following matters: factors causing threats to biodiversity and leading to biodiversity loss, including: changes in land and sea use, invasive alien species, climate change, pollution; State forest land management and protection of National forest parks and reserves; current status of biodiversity in Cyprus, including both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, various types of vegetation and species of turtles; agricultural ecosystem, including agricultural land, crops, pastures, mushroom species; threatened species, including amphibians, birds, reptiles and fish species; conservation status; use of genetic resources; effects of marine projects development and agricultural and livestock activities on biodiversity; desertification; forest fires; overexploitation of biological and natural resources, including overfishing; monitoring and evaluating progress in implementing the biodiversity strategy; National and European financial tools.