Management and protection of potential NATURA 2000 sites in the northern part of Cyprus
The first public workshop for the EU-funded project “Management and protection of potential NATURA 2000 sites in the northern part of Cyprus" will take place on 10 July 2008, at 10:00 at the EU Programme Support Office Conference Hall, 38-44 Kyrenia Avenue, Nicosia (opposite Saray Hotel) in the presence of European Commission officials, the consortium led by NIRAS IC Sp. z o.o and representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The project will prepare management plans for protection of six specially protected areas in the northern part of Cyprus. These sites are likely to be designated as "Natura 2000" sites following a comprehensive settlement and reunification. The project will also provide assistance for building the professional capacity of the Turkish Cypriot community stakeholders responsible for nature protection.
The end goal of this contract is to achieve effective systems of nature protection in the northern part of Cyprus through:
(1) developing high quality management plans;
(2) drafting tender documentation leading to contracting and implementation of about EUR3.5 mln of EU-funded infrastructure works at the “Natura 2000” sites, and;
(3) building professional capacity for the management of protected areas.
Project implementation started in May and will last 36 months. According to the Natura 2000 directives, successful management of protected areas requires participation of relevant stakeholders, including local communities, scientists and civil society organizations, in the planning process as well as the implementation of conservation measures The purpose of the public workshop is to inform stakeholders about the activities to be carried out within the project including preparation of management plans, capacity building and awareness raising activities.
In addition to regular stakeholder meetings at the project sites, two more such workshops will be organized during this project: one at the mid-term to present the management plans and designs for infrastructure to be built and one at the end to present the final project results.
The project is funded under the EUR259 mln EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, managed by the European Commission.
