N. G. Eliades June day workshop on micro-reserves at BulPlantNet

Transcription

1 N. G. Eliades June 2010

2 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats Project location: within NATURA 2000 sites of Cyprus Duration: 01/01/10-30/06/13 Budget: ,00 PROJECT IMPLEMENTORS: Coordinating Beneficiary: EC Co-funding: 69,17 % Department of Environment (MANRE) Associated Beneficiaries: Frederick University University of Athens Department of Forests (MANRE) FEEO UNDP - ACT 2

3 FLORA: taxa grow in Cyprus endemic taxa taxa are included in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 20 - taxa of the Cyprus flora are included in Annex II of the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) HABITATS: 8 - taxa are characterised as priority species 48 - different habitat types of the Appendix I of the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) have been identified in Cyprus 5 - exist exclusively on the island

4 38 sites are included in the NATURA 2000 network 4

5 Improve the conservation status of four (4) priority plant species that are found in NATURA 2000 sites: *Arabis kennedyae, *Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. 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 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 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats Preparatory actions Concrete conservation actions (in situ and ex situ) Public awareness and dissemination of results Secure the protection and sound management of the targeted species and habitats 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 9

10 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats A) Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans A1: Inventory of the localities of the targeted species/habitats and determination of the boundaries of the PMRs A2: Detailed mapping of the PMRs A3: Preparation of Monitoring Plans for each PMR A4: Preparation of Management Plans for each PMR A5: Assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure for each of the four targeted priority species and Cedrus brevifolia A6: Learning from the experiences of other EU countries that adopted the PMR approach - training of staff that will be involved in the implementation of the project 10

11 Visit of scientists from the Plant-Net Cy project at the PMRs networks in: - Valencia - Minorca - Slovenia - Crete (May 2010) Scope of these visits is for the Cypriot scientists to be informed and trained on different issues on the application of the PMR approach. 11

12 The knowledge and experiences that the scientists will gain, will be transferred to their organisations and will be utilised towards the successful implementation of the project. Moreover, networking between projects/countries that adopted the PMR approach will be facilitated, thus contributing to the better exchange of knowledge and experiences gained from similar LIFE projects. Photo from the visiting to the Cretaplant 12

13 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats C) Concrete conservation actions C1: Establishment of the PMRs in the field C2: Installation of permanent monitoring plots C3: Monitoring of the PMRs C4: Application of conservation measures within the PMRs C5: Enrichment of the populations of the targeted species C6: Utilisation of existing Botanical Gardens of the FD to achieve the ex situ conservation of the targeted species C7: Collection and storage of seeds of the targeted species at the seed bank of the Agricultural Research Institute to achieve the ex situ conservation of the targeted taxa C8: Safekeeping of the PMRs 13

14 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats D) Public awareness and dissemination of results D1: Information campaign, organisation of workshops, seminars and conferences, production of information material D2: Technical publications, website development, CD-ROM production, layman s report D3: Operation of Information Centres within three Botanical Gardens D4: Preparation and publication of a book on PMR experiences 14

15 The main result of this action will be a book presenting the knowledge and experience accumulated through the implementation of the PMR approach during the last 15 years from successful PMRs projects in several European countries, including Cyprus. The contribution of scientists who led PMRs projects in other European countries will be sought. This book is expected to become the reference publication for the planning, establishment and management of PMRs. The book will be published at the final stages of the project (May 2013) To promote a wider distribution, the book will simultaneously have: o An e-book version in PDF format, available at the project internet site. o A CD version, containing the e-book. 15

16 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats E) Overall project operation and monitoring E1: Project management E2: Project monitoring E3: Operation of the Scientific Committee E4: Operation of the Stakeholders Board E5: Networking with other projects E6: After-LIFE Conservation Plan 16

17 Plant-Net Cy will provide a platform for networking of all previous LIFE projects with a focus on the establishment of PMRs in Europe o through which scientific information and best practices will be exchanged. The wider aim of this initiative will be to establish close cooperation between plant conservation biologists and other stakeholders that have been involved in the PMRs approach, towards the effective conservation of the threatened plants of Europe. The project will bring together the principle scientists, who were involved in the following projects: o LIFE93 NAT/E/011100, LIFE95 NAT/E/00856, LIFE99NAT/E/ and LIFE03 NAT/E/0064 (network of PMRs in Valencia/Spain) o LIFE00 NAT/E/ (network of PMRs in Minorca/Spain) o LIFE02 NAT/SLO/ (network of PMRs in the Karst Park/Slovenia) o LIFE04 NAT/GR/ (pilot network of PMRs in Crete/Greece) o LIFE08 NAT/BG/ (pilot network of PMRs in Bulgaria) o Management of Woodland Key Habitats in Latvia (funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency). 17

18 A two-day experts' workshop will be organised with focus on plant conservation in micro-reserves (June 2011) o Scientists who participated in the LIFE projects will be invited to share their experiences and contribute propositions for the best implementation of the project o Plant conservation experts from other new member states (e.g. Rumania, Malta), that have not yet adopted the PMRs approach, will be invited to participate in the workshop. These experts will be informed and familiarised with the PMRs concept in order to promote the idea of establishing similar networks in their countries. Transfer of know-how from Valencian PMR specialists (Dr. Emilio Laguna and a collaborator) will be sought: o Experts will visit Cyprus annually and will provide the partners with practical advice on several issues. 18

19 Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of Priority Species and Habitats Establishment of a Plant Micro-reserve Network in Cyprus is on Facebook

20 Thank you for your attention