Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus...

Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus for the Conservation of

Priority Species and Habitats

LIFE+08 NAT/CY/000453

Marios Andreou

[email protected]

Erasmus Intensive Programme

Education for Sustainable Development in Protected Areas

Centre of Environmental Education of Amfissa, Greece, 6-19 July 2014

Contents:

• The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics

• Progress actions

Education for Sustainable Development in Protected Areas, Centre of Environmental Education of Amfissa, Greece, 6-19 July 2014

9590* Cedrus brevifolia forests

Project aim:


To improve the conservation status of 4 priority plant species and 2 priority habitat types, that

are found in Natura 2000 sites:

*Arabis kennedyae,

*Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis,

*Centaurea akamantis,

*Ophrys kotschyi ,

*9590 Cedrus brevifolia forests (Cedrosetum brevifoliae),

*9390 Scrub and low forest vegetation of Quercus alnifolia.

The four plant species are:

• Endemic to Cyprus

• Included in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus

• Protected by the Bern Convention

• Protected by the Habitat’s Directive

• Priority Species

*Arabis kennedyae

*Ophrys kotschyi

*Astragalus macrocarpussubsp. lefkarensis *Centaurea akamantis

4Education for Sustainable Development in Protected Areas, Centre of Environmental Education of Amfissa, Greece, 6-19 July 2014

The two habitat types are:

• Endemic to Cyprus

• Protected by the Habitat’s Directive

• Priority Habitat types

9590 *Cedrus brevifolia forests (Cedrocetum brevifoliae)

9390 *Scrub and low forest vegetation of Quercus alnifolia


How the goals have been achieved

• Establishment, monitoring and management of a network of five Plant Micro-Reserves (PMRs).


The Plant Micro-Reserves Network in Cyprus


PMR 3: Koilada Kedron - KamposPMR 2: Koilada Kedron - Kampos

PMR 4: Chersonisos Akama

PMR 1: Periochi Mitserou

PMR 5: Periochi Asgatas

The Plant Micro-Reserves (PMRs) approach

PMRs are legally defined as areas of small surface size (less than 20 ha), in order to:

• protect a selected sample of the main subpopulations of the rarest, endemic or threatened species

and to

• establish a continuously monitored network.

Such a patchy network of small protected areas is considered as a complementary tool to the generally

adopted "large site" strategy that has recently been materialised into the European Network of nature

conservation, Natura 2000.



• It envisages the monitoring and conservation of small land plots of great value in terms of plant

richness, endemism and rarity.

• It has been successfully adopted in other EU countries (i.e. Spain, Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria).

• This project was based on the best practices that have been successfully implemented in other

PMR projects around Europe.



• The PMRs approach was initially developed about 20 years ago in Valencia (Spain). It was first

developed around 1990 by Emilio Laguna and was originally put into practice in 1994 within the

framework of an EU-funded LIFE project.



• This concept is now widely accepted as one of

the most effective practices towards the

conservation of plant diversity in small land

plots that are of peak value in terms of plant

richness, endemism or rarity.


Coordinating Beneficiary:

Associated Beneficiaries:

Department of Forests - DF

Department of Environment - DE

Frederick University - FU University of Athens


UNDP - ACT

Federation of Environmental Organisations of Cyprus

Duration: January 2010 – June 2013

Funding: Program LIFE+, European Commission

Project Budget:

• Total project budget: €1.550.297

• EU financial contribution: €1.070.265 (69%)


• Preparatory Actions

• Concrete Conservation Actions

• Public awareness and dissemination of results

• Overall project operation and monitoring of the project progress

Project Actions


Preparatory Actions:

• Identification and recording of the locations of targeted species and habitats types


Project Actions



• Creation of a Database


Project Actions

Database




• Detailed mapping of the PMRs


Project Actions





• Elaboration of Monitoring Plans


Project Actions






• Elaboration of Management Plans


Project Actions






• Elaboration of Management Plans

• Assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure


Project Actions

Subpopulation n L P_LPLP

(1%)

Br

(12)

FIS = 0 FIS = 0.5

Hj (SE) HT FST Hj (SE) HT FST

Avakas2

4

3

332

0,75

8

1,50

40,366 (0,02)

0,468 0,121*

0,285 (0,02)

0,433 0,142*Arkatzi ton

Koufon

1

2

3

333

0,90

9

1,90

90,455 (0,02) 0,453 (0,02)

Concrete Conservation Actions:

• Establishment of the PMRs in the field.

Project Actions


Placement of borderline signs Installation of notice boards



Project Actions


Fencing Pathway construction



• Installation of permanent monitoring plots and meteorological station.

Project Actions





• Application of conservation measures (in situ).

Project Actions


Small-scale relief modifications to reduce erosion and enhance plant protection





Project Actions


Moderate provision of water in extreme drought conditions





Project Actions


Moderate provision of fertilizer/manure in order to increase reproductive success in Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis.





Project Actions


Course modification of human and animal pathways to minimize the impacts





Project Actions


Dispersal of seeds from the local populations to appropriately prepared areas





Project Actions


Fencing of A. macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis individuals for preventing flower/fruit predation





Project Actions


Removal of flammable biomass





Project Actions


Mild pruning, weeding and removal of seeds, seedlings and saplings of the main competitors





Project Actions


Enrichment of the populations of the targeted species





Project Actions


Hand pollination of Ophrys kotschyi flowers

Hand pollination

Fruit (Capsule)

Successful pollination

A capsule contains~ 12 000 seeds

In situ conservation

Seed dispersal

Ex situ conservationSeed germination tests

Rootlets

Ophrys kotschyiseeds


VIDEO

Videos/Hand polinnation of Ophrys kotschyi.wmv

Number of Ophrys kotschyi seeds through natural pollination, artificial self and cross pollination during 2010-2013

2010

2011

2012

2013

35




• Application of conservation measures.

• Ex situ conservation.

Project Actions


Storage of seedlots in Seed Banks




• Application of conservation measures.

• Ex situ conservation.

Project Actions


Planting in Botanical Gardens

Project Actions


Public awareness and dissemination of results:

• Information campaign

- Press Releases

- Article in newspapers / magazines

- Leaflets

- TV broadcasts

- Notice Boards

Project Actions




• Website

www.plantnet.org.cy

Project Actions




• Website

https://www.facebook.com/groups/plantnetcy/

Project Actions




• Website

http://www.youtube.com/user/PLANTNETCY

Project Actions




• Website

• DVD

Project Actions




• Website

• DVD

• Publication of a Book

Project Actions




• Website

• DVD


• Local Workshops

Project Actions


Local communities participated in several activities within PMRs

Project Actions




• Website

• DVD


• Local Workshops

• Tourism Workshop

Project Actions




• Website

• DVD


• Local Workshops


• Experts Workshop

Project Actions




• Website

• DVD


• Local Workshops


• Experts Workshop

• Conferences

Overall project operation and monitoring of the project progress:

• Project Monitoring and Management

Project Actions



• Project Monitoring and Management.

• Scientific Committee.

Project Actions





• Stakeholder Committee.

Project Actions





• Stakeholder Committee.

• Networking with other projects.

Project Actions


@ T. Papachristophorou

Presentation of the project at primary schools or universities

Environmental Education – Public Awareness


Youth Competition in collaboration with the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute



Students visits at the PMRs – Activities regarding the targeted species



Ex situ conservation of the targeted species in school yards



Participation in environmental events and interaction with youth



Ecology Festival

Researchers night

Participation in environmental events and interaction with youth



Green Dot Festival

Celebration of 20years LIFE projects

• Implementation of four MSc theses within the MSc Programme in Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development

• The PMR approach was included in the ‘Implementation Guide of Environmental Education Program - Education for Sustainable Development for Teachers of Primary Education’

VIDEO



Videos/PLANT-NET CY.mpg

Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus...

Documents

Transcript of Establishment of a Plant Micro-Reserve Network in Cyprus...