The legislation of the European Union (EU) protects over 27,000 nature sites. This group of sites forms the Natura 2000 network. Europe’s wildlife & habitats embody the rich diversity of this Natura 2000 network. This network encompasses nearly one-fifth of the continent’s landmass & about one-tenth of the maritime zones that surround it. The geographical expanse of the Natura 2000 network equates to the combined size of both Spain & Italy!
Natura 2000 sites tend to vary in size, with some so small that they may be less than one hectare, whereas others may be several square kilometres! While including strictly protected nature reserves, the network also encompasses a range of habitat types, ranging from forests, wetlands, and grasslands to coastal and marine environments.
‘Nature Directives’ is the term that’s been collectively known for more than 3 decades for birds & habitat directives. This directive forms the cornerstones of EU biodiversity policy. It provides a strong legislative framework for all EU countries to protect their most valuable and threatened biodiversity. This legal foundation supports the protection and management of Natura 2000 sites. This has safeguarded the preservation and sustainable utilisation of Natura 2000 locations.
Cyprus moves with an Environment Foundation to support organisations & projects that aim to monitor & conserve local biodiversity. Be it in the conduct of fieldwork on data-deficient indigenous species, identifying & establishing a new Marine Protected Area (MPA), promoting more sustainable fishing practices, restoring a degraded habitat of a threatened species, engaging the general public in environment conservation efforts or any other project that falls into the biodiversity conservation efforts.
The lack of data on marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species and increasing pressures threaten all types of habitats. Inefficient monitoring and evaluation of protected areas signify that biodiversity conservation and monitoring schemes employed on the island, need to be enhanced.
