Understanding Climate Change Impacts and Enhancing Resilience of Cyprus Forests

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1 Understanding Climate Change Impacts and Enhancing Resilience of Cyprus Forests Dr. Andreas Christou Senior Conservator of Forests International Conference ADAPT to CLIMATE March,, Filoxenia Conference Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus

2 Introduction - Contents Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Cyprus Forests Area cover Distribution map of wild vegetation Climate parameters affecting biology & physiology of plants Available data from monitoring systems Climate change scenarios Impacts on forests from previous extreme events Expected future impact Improving Resilience of Forests Existing tolerance of Mediterranean Ecosystems Improving adaptation of Cyprus Forests

3 Table 1: Area covered by wild vegetation Wild Vegetation Types Area Cover Percentage ha % High Forest 172,858 18,68 Maqui (Shrubs) 126,090 13,63 Phryganic Communities 87,669 9,48 Total 392,650 42,44

4 Wild Vegetation Distribution Map

5 Major Climate parameters affecting biology & physiology of plants Temperature (Minimum Maximum Average) Rainfall Relative Humidity Wind Velocity Effect on: Growth, Flowering, Fruiting and regeneration capacity, Flammability, Resistance to pest and diseases etc.

6 Consider Climate Change Scenarios (Zerefos, 2008)

7 Consider Data from existing Monitoring Systems 1400,0 1300,0 Annual rainfall compared to Normal rainfall at Cedar Valley Area 1200,0 1100,0 1000,0 900,0 Rainfall in mm 800,0 700,0 600,0 500,0 400,0 300,0 200,0 100,0 0, Year Annual Normal

8 Consider Data from existing Monitoring Systems 18,5 Mean Annual Temperature at Panagia Bridge & Cedar Valley areas for the period ,5 17 C o 16, , , Year Mean Annual Temperature at Panagia Bridge area Mean Annual Temperature at Cedar Valley Linear (Mean Annual Temperature at Panagia Bridge area) Linear (Mean Annual Temperature at Cedar Valley)

9 Consider Data from existing Monitoring Systems 80 Defoliation Results from "Systematic Large Scale Plots" (Level I) for the period Defoliation percentage Percentage of trees showing Discoloration Year Discoloration Results from "Systematic Large Scale Plots" (Level I) for the period Year

10 Consider Data from existing Monitoring Systems Percentage of trees showing attacks by Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams ("Systematic Large Scale Plots, Level I) Percentage of trees showing attacks by Leucaspis spp. ("Systematic Large Scale Plots, Level I) % 30,0 25,0 20,0 15,0 10,0 5,0 0, % 80,0 70,0 60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0, Year Year Percentage of assessed trees bearing dead branches shoots ("Systematic Large Scale Plots, Level I) % Year

11 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events

12 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events Kornos Autumn 2008

13 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events Kornos Summer 2008 Kionia Summer 2008

14 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events Dense reforestation at Koshi area (20 30 years old) Autumn 2008

15 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events Cistus spp./ Crataegus spp. (Gouri area) Autumn 2008

16 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events Wild olives (Stavrovouni area) Summer 2008

17 Impacts on Forests from Previous Extreme Events Athalassa Forest, 2009

18 Expected future impact Extinction of vulnerable species Species with narrow distribution Reduction in the density of forests Redistribution of important forest species > Changing of zones Reduced regeneration capacity More catastrophic fires Increased desertification risk Effect on fauna (Scarcity for food and water)

19 Improving Resilience of Forests Existing tolerance of Mediterranean Ecosystems Species adapted to drought conditions Large genetic diversity among and within species Capacity for regeneration after fire Naturalness of ecosystems Tolerance vs quick climate changes

20 Improving Resilience of Forests Adaptation of Cyprus Forest Measures Development of Strategy on adaptation and Action plan for forests, including the following: Fire Prevention & Suppression Measures Fire Prevention measures Implementation of a national fire protection plan Infrastructure to improve forest resilience to fires Classification of forests according to the risk of fire Planning and development of forest ecosystems that would make the start and speed of expansion of fires more difficult Fire suppression measures Improvement of the existing firefighting system Purchase of fire engines Purchase of firefighting aerial means Purchase of personal gear Training of the personnel Forest Fire Management in Private forests Set up of infrastructure in the private forest areas for protection from fires Inclusion of the private forest covered areas in the fire fighting schemes of the Measures Against Biodiversity Loss Insitu & Exsitu protection of Forest Genetic Resources for endangered species Maintain forest biodiversity, corridors, botanical gardens, seed and gene banks Control of invasive species Silvicultural and other conservation measures aiming at targeted wildlife species Enhance measures in forests for covering the needs of fauna for food and water Promote research/monitoring according to the needs Monitor main forest / threaten species susceptibility to climate change & Classification of forest types/species according to the risk to climate change, designation of high risk areas

21 Improving Resilience of Forests Measures against forest pests Silvicultural Measures General measures Install early warning system and develop predictive models of range shifts of forest pests Make use of available monitoring data/reports related to forest pests Removal of the dead and the heavy infested/infected trees in forest stands to prevent the spread of harmful forest pests Control of harmful insect populations with Intergrated pest management (IPM) Protective measures against the introduction into the community of organisms harmful to plant or plant products and against their spread in the EU Identify resistant genotypes to specific forest pests Reforestation/restoration of areas destroyed by fire and implementation of appropriate silvicultural measures Use appropriate Forest Reproductive Material in reforestations/forestations Selecting suitable species/ provenances better adapted to future conditions Irrigation program for specific stands and individuals when necessary Thinning program in selected areas Apply tending operation where necessary Reduce annual cuttings in forests Promote awareness raising campaign Make use of available monitoring data/reports related to dieback in Cyprus forests Preparation of management plans for all state forests within 10 years, taking into account national needs, watershed management, climate changes and the provisions of relevant EU directives Further increase of forest areas through afforestation of bare lands and reforestation of abandoned agricultural lands Prevent non forest uses to state forest land, with the exception of specific cases and only for the public interest Develop Decision Support Systems (DSS) to evaluate impacts of climate change and management and to identify suitable options Promote international cooperation Promote research/monitoring according to the needs

22 Thank you