COST ACTION FP 0703 Echoes: Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture Country Report: Major points CYPRUS 22-24 January 2009, Florence - Italy Savvas Andrea & Erodotos Kakouris savvasandrea@hotmail.com ekakouri@cytanet.com.cy Cyprus Forestry Department
Cyprus is the 3rd biggest Mediterranean island It is situated at the easternmost end of the Mediterranean basin Area: 9251 Km²
The geomorphology of the island is distinguished by two main mountain ranges Troodos (1952m) and Pentadactylos range (1024m) which influence local weather phenomena. Mesaoria plain lies between them.
The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot dry summers and rainy winters separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Annual average precipitation 480mm (300 1100mm) Summer mean daily temperature: 22 C - 29 C Mean Max: 27 C - 36 C January mean daily temperature: 3 C - 10 C Mean Min: 0 C - 5 C
High Forest 18.7% Maqui formation 13.6% 1980 plant species, sub species and varieties have been identified out of which 131 are endemic to Cyprus Forests are managed primarily for recreation, nature conservation and other non-wood services. Wood production is nowadays a secondary management objective.
Cyprus and Climate change Remarkable variations and trends were observed in regard to the main meteorological parameters in Cyprus the last century. In general, the rates of change are greater during the second half of the century as regards the parameters of precipitation and temperature. We have more years with low precipitation and drought and more warm years the last 20 years Precipitation tends to decrease (the average precipitation in the last 30-year period is 17% less than in the period 1901-1930) and temperature to increase (increasing trend of 0.01 C per year ) It is expected that by 2030 Precipitation will decrease by 10-15% and Temperature will increase by 1,0-1,5 C compared to the normal values of the period 1961-1990
Cyprus and Climate Change 19.0 CYPRUS : ANNUAL TEMPERATURE ( o C) Period: 1991-2007 (From 16 Reference Stations) Temperature ( o C) 18.5 18.0 17.5 17.0 16.5 17.4 Mean 1961-1990 = 17.2 o C 17.1 18.1 17.3 17.6 17.1 Mean 1991-2000 = 17.5 o C 18.2 18.3 17.8 18.4 18.0 Mean 1991-2007 = 17.7 o C 18.0 17.8 17.7 17.8 18.2 16.0 16.2 15.5 15.0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Years Annual Temperature Mean 1991-1997 Mean 1991-2000 Adopted Normal (1961-90)
ANNUAL AREA AVERAGE PRECIPITATION (mm) IN CYPRUS (1901-02 - 2007-08) (For the area under Government Control) 2 1 3 2 9 2 2 8 4 2 8 2 2 7 2 3 0 9 3 4 2 3 7 3 3 7 0 3 6 3 3 6 3 3 6 0 4 1 1 4 0 1 4 0 0 4 1 5 3 9 9 4 0 6 3 9 8 4 0 8 3 8 9 3 8 3 3 3 8 9 8 9 4 3 4 4 3 9 4 6 8 4 7 2 4 6 0 4 6 9 4 7 1 4 5 9 0 8 0 5 0 6 5 3 7 5 2 9 5 5 2 5 3 5 5 4 3 5 9 3 5 9 0 5 7 2 5 4 6 5 4 9 6 2 7 6 7 7 6 6 7 6 4 9 6 4 8 6 5 1 6 9 7 6 8 7 5 3 0 5 5 6 7 6 5 6 4 3 5 5 1 5 9 7 6 3 9 5 1 4 3 1 6 1 7 5 2 9 5 3 0 5 6 1 5 6 0 6 1 7 6 6 4 3 5 5 4 7 5 0 6 5 3 2 5 1 9 4 9 9 4 9 8 4 2 5 4 4 3 4 8 8 4 9 8 4 3 5 4 1 7 4 1 2 4 8 1 4 7 3 4 6 8 5 2 0 5 0 9 4 9 3 4 7 9 5 6 3 5 4 9 5 5 7 8 4 2 5 4 5 5 6 1 6 2 0 6 0 4 6 5 6 6 3 6 6 2 5 6 3 7 6 9 4 7 2 2 7 3 2 7 3 9 8 0 0 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Mean 1901-1930 = 559 mm Mean 1971-2000 = 463 mm Decrease 559-463 = 96 mm TREND LINE Mean 1901-1930 559 mm Mean 1931-1960 524 mm Mean 1941-1970 533 mm Mean 1951-1980 515 mm Mean 1961-1990 503 mm Mean 1971-2000 463 mm HYDROLOGICAL YEARS (OCT. - SEP.) SEVERE DROUGHT (<=70%) P R E C I P I T A T I O N ( m m )
Observed Impacts Low storage of water in dams and lakes effects to drinking & irrigation water and associated biodiversity Massive dieback of forest trees and shrubs Low survival rate of Pinus nigra regeneration seedlings during extreme periods of high temperatures Decrease of summer and winter recreational opportunities
Expected Impacts Biodiversity loss (163 plant species are threatened (IUCN criteria) due to small population size and distribution area) Increase of forest soil erosion (due to decrease of vegetation cover) Insect and pathogens outbreaks Effects to recreation and other non-wood products Effects to aquifers and surface water storage status Higher fire risk Desertification
Adaptation measures Conservation of ecosystem services Soil stabilization, prevention of erosion Soil moisture conservation Watershed protection Combating desertification Restoration of degraded forests - Immediate felling and extraction of dead trees Silvicultural and other treatments of forest stands and plantations (e.g. cleanings, thinnings, irrigation) Forest protection; fire prevention and fighting, damage from biotic factors, illegal felling and animal grazing Special measures for the wild fauna (eg provision of watering spots) Postponement of reforestation and forestation plans Use of local reproductive material and selection of species, Ex-situ conservation and utilization of genetic resources through the establishment of seed orchards and clone banks
Impact monitoring/ Indicators Long term monitoring and research on the climate change impacts on forests Monitoring of the air pollution effects on forests while participating in the ICP Forests NFI -CFI Research on the Die-back of Cyprus Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia) Monitoring Indicators Deposition of air pollutants, Soil conditions, Defoliation, Number of trees and shrubs die-back
Mitigation measures Small scale mitigation measures are feasible Kyoto protocol Decrease of timber extraction Retain / increase of wood volume (Use of longer rotation periods) Increasing the forest areas mainly through afforestation of bare lands and reforestation of abandoned agricultural lands Use of species with higher carbon sequestration ability (for plantations) and well adapted to hard climatic conditions Minimize of tillage and associated practices
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