Introduction


The WWF’s initiative to collect data on Greece’s wetlands inspired and motivated the collection of the equivalent census information on Cyprus’ wetlands. This was done by applying the same methodology that had been successfully used for the Greek island wetland census.

In this specific project ‘wetland’ was defined as any natural or artificial area, consisting of marshes, fens, peatlands or simply water. These areas might have been permanently or temporarily flooded with water that is either stagnant or flowing, sweet, brackish or salty or areas that are covered with seawater whose depth did not exceed 6 meters during low tide - as stated in Article 1 of the Ramsar Convention. The minimum surface area taken into consideration when determining a wetland was 1000 m2. Linear systems (i.e. streams, cheeks, rivers) were not documented unless they were themselves part of the wetland or contained non-linear sections (e.g. containment dams, flood marshes, etc.).

The first known Cyprus wetland census was conducted by Dimitropoulos A. and Dimitropoulos S. in 2008 under the Medwet CODDE Project. Their work resulted in the listing of 160 wetlands.

The programme ‘Inventory of Cyprus Wetlands’ undertaken by the Cyprus Conservation Foundation-Terra Cypria was implemented with the financial support of the Fondation pour la Nature – MAVA. The inventory began in 2014 and lasted for 18 months. By the time of its completion a total of 373 wetlands had been recorded.

Even though many wetlands in Cyprus are known to the public and can be visited, information about their condition and their exact total number was, until today, scattered or even non-existent. During the course of the project, all wetlands in Cyprus were visited and recorded – with the exception of those located within military zones. All wetlands were mapped and their condition was evaluated. For the first time a database, an available bibliography and relevant information on the Cypriot wetlands has been collected.

The ecological, social and political importance of wetlands cannot be overlooked since natural and artificial wetlands are areas of high biodiversity, migration station for hundreds of birds, wintering shelters, important indicators of water adequacy and condition and a unique resource for sustainable development.

In the course of the programme it was found that many of these wetlands are degraded and continue to be further degraded mainly due to land reclamation, earthworks, construction works, road openings, and restriction or deprivation of water supply. The main causes leading to wetland degradation are: a) dam construction that led to degradation of wetlands downstream due to the halting of water supply b) unsatisfactory implementation of laws c) strong pressures resulting from tourist development on coastal areas d) the ignorance of competent departments and citizens regarding the presence, meaning and value of island wetlands.

 

Now a notable progress has been made. We currently possess and have collected valuable knowledge on the condition, meaning and value of the wetlands of our island.