12 th International Symposium on Legal Aspects of European Forest Sustainable Development

Transcription

1 12 th International Symposium on Legal Aspects of European Forest Sustainable Development Costas Kadis (1), Christina Pantazi (2), Takis C. Tsintides (3), Costas A. Thanos (4), Kyriacos Georghiou (4), Constantinos Kounnamas (1), Constantinos Costantinou (1), Marios Andreou (1), Nicolas-George Eliades (1) (1) Nature Conservation Unit, Frederick University-Nicosia, Cyprus. (2) Nature Protection Unit, Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. (3) Department of Forests, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. (4) Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. 1

2 Presentation outline: Description of the LIFE+08 project Plant-Net Cy Legal status of targeted species/habitats/areas according to the EU and national Law The Cyprus Forest Law and its amendment for including Plant Micro-Reserves 12 th International Symposium on Legal Aspects of European Forest Sustainable Development 2

3 Framework and role of the LIFE programme: The LIFE programme is the EU s funding instrument for the environment. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, update and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. LIFE+08/NAT/CY/

4 Project location: Four sites within NATURA 2000 sites Duration: Start: 01/01/10 End: 30/06/13 BUDGET INFO: Total amount: ,00 % EC Co-funding: 69,17 % PROJECT IMPLEMENTORS: Coordinating Beneficiary: Department of Environment (MANRE) Associated Beneficiaries: Frederick University, University of Athens, Department of Forests (MANRE), FEEOC, UNDP-ACT 4

5 Improve the conservation status of four (4) priority plant species that are found in NATURA 2000 sites: *Arabis kennedyae, *Astragalus macrocarpus ssp. lefkarensis, *Centaurea akamantis *Ophrys kotschyi 5

6 Improve the conservation status of two (2) priority habitat types of Cyprus that are found in NATURA 2000 sites: *9590 Cedrus brevifolia forests (Cedrosetum brevifoliae), *9390 Scrub and low forest vegetation of Quercus alnifolia. 6

7 The project adopts the Plant Micro-Reserves (PMRs) approach, which: envisages the monitoring and conservation of small land (~ 5-20 ha) of great value in terms of plant richness, endemism and rarity. This approach has been adopted by other EU countries (i.e. Spain, Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria). The case of Cyprus: A network of five Plant Micro-Reserves (PMRs) has been established within NATURA 2000 sites. 7

8 PMR 3: Koilada Kedron - Kampos site (SPA - CY and SCI - CY ) PMR 2: Koilada Kedron - Kampos site (SPA - CY and SCI - CY ) PMR 1: Periochi Mitserou site (SCI -CY ) PMR 4: Avakas Gorge, at the Chersonisos Akama site (SPA - CY and psci - CY400010) PMR 5: Periochi Asgatas site (SCI - CY ) 8

9 In situ conservation activities: Establishment, monitoring and management of five (5) Plant Micro-Reserves Ex situ conservation: Botanical gardens and seed bank Public participation and awareness

10 Secure the protection and sound management of the targeted species and habitats. All the factors that threaten the priority plant species and their habitats will be monitored and restrained in a holistic and coordinated way. Secure the survival of the targeted species in the long term through complementary ex situ conservation activities Contribute to the creation of a European PMR Network Increase the participation of local people/stakeholders in the design and implementation of conservation initiatives and the decision making process

11 The term of priority species and habitat is described in the: COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/43/EEC Priority natural habitat types: Natural habitat types in danger of disappearance, present on the EU territory.. The Community has particular responsibility for their conservation. (Annex I). Priority species: Species for the conservation of which the Community has particular responsibility in view of the proportion of their natural range (Annex II) 11

12 The PMR and its establishment as a continuously monitored network is a complementary tool to the "large site" strategy that has recently been materialised into the NATURA 2000 European Network of nature conservation. Thus the PMR approach is compatible with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) Article 6: Member States are required to undertake conservation measures in order to maintain species and habitats at a favourable conservation status. Initially, the PMR concept was launched and legislated within the Valencian legal framework (Decree 218/1994). Recently, legislation on PMRs has been ratified by other EU countries. i.e. Greece - Gazette of the Hellenic Republic Vol 4, Page June 2009 and Vol. 4, Page 235, 16 June

13 The protection and legal status of Forest areas is under the framework of the European and national Law. Nowadays forest management is regulated by the Forest Law of 1967 with its periodical amendments. 13

14 Based on Part I of Forest Law Regulations: Regulation # 6 National Forest Park aims to: i. protect any forest produce, forest building, path, animal, fence, ii. iii. bench and any other structure within a National Forest Park; prescribe the times and periods during which the public may enter a National Forest Park, the fees payable by the users of the Park and the manner in which such fees will be collected; implement any purpose that may be approved by the Minister and tends to the protection, administration and proper use of the National Forest Park Regulation # 7 Natural Reserves aims to: i. protect the soil, flora and fauna, fences and any other structures within a Nature Reserve; ii. prohibit the entry of unauthorised individuals in a Nature Reserve; iii. implement any purpose that may be approved by the Minister and tends to the protection and use of the Nature Reserve. 14

15 The Department of Forests has recently suggested an amendment of the Forest Law: includes provisions for the establishment of PMRs and is under review by the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus. Suggestions: The legal status of PMRs should be associated with the sustainable management and scopes of this approach. Defining areas as PMRs, does not usually exclude existing traditional (i.e. agricultural, grazing and hunting) activities. The sustainable management of these activities will result from the management plan for each PMR. 15

16 The current project supports the law amendment, with the addition of measures for protecting and reinforcing the PMR scopes. Such measures could prevent: 1. plant collection from the PMRs 2. waste disposal 3. pollution 4. water pumping 5. quarrying 6. camping 7. vehicle trespassing and 8. alien species introduction The sustainable management of these activities will result from the management plan for each PMR. 16

17 Thank you for your attention