The Cyprus National Adaptation StrategyFocus on Biodiversity

Dr. Kyriaki Ioannou

Department of Environment Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Recourses and Environment

MANRE Conference RoomLefkosia Wednesday 14 January, 2015

CYPADAPT LIFE10 ENV/CY/000723

Workshop onImpact of climate change on priority habitat types’ viability: best practices for restoration

The Climate is changing………

due

** to natural causesand

** to anthropogenic increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

causing

- Various and significant impact in key economic sectors and vulnerable social groups

- Loss of ecosystems and biodiversity

Climate change in Cyprus

The change is already evident mainly by the

... . mean annual temperature increase

The average annual temperature in the period 1991-2007 is

0.5oC higher than the period 1961-1990

The average annual rainfall in the period 1991-2008 is 9% lower than the 1961-1990 period.

... mean annual rainfall decrease

Climate change in Cyprus

According to the above rates is expected that by 2050 ....

• The average annual rainfall will decrease by 10-15%

• the average annual temperature will increase by 1.0 - 1.5oC

• Extreme weather events (droughts, heatwaves, dust episodes, floods, windstorms, etc.) will be more frequent, more intense and widespread

...... in comparison with the corresponding values for the period 1961-1990

Ways to address climate change

* mitigation -measures

to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

* adaptation measures

to tackle the unavoidable impacts to current and future climate change

*Managing the impacts / risks of climate change

with the combination of both mitigation and adaptation actions

The basic framework for the effective and timely treatment of adverse effects of climate change is the

strategy

The National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change

www.moa.gov.cy/environment

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the Adaptation Strategy is to strengthen and / or improve the adaptability of Cyprus to early and effectively address the negative effectsof climate change with the simultaneous exploitation of challenges and opportunities.

This has been achieved through specific objectives:

* Identification of current climate change and its impacts

* Prediction of future climate changes and assessment of their potential impacts

* Evaluation of sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity of the various systems, sectors or social groups to climate change

* Estimation of limits, barriers and opportunities associated with climate change

* Selection of appropriate adaptation actions and measures through multi-criteria analysis and consultation with stakeholders

Impact, Vulnerability and Adaptation assessment

The adaptive capacity of a system depicts the ability or potential of a system to adjust trough changes in itscharacteristics or behaviour to climate change (including climate variability and extremes), to moderatepotential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences of climate change.

The sensitivity of a system describes the degree to which a system is affected, either adversely or beneficially,by climate-related stimuli.

The exposure of a system is the nature and degree to which a system is exposed to significant climaticvariations

Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual

or expected climatic stimuli or their impacts, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.

The vulnerability represents the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with,adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes; the vulnerability is afunction of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed,its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity (IPCC, 2001).

IPCC 2001

Impact, Vulnerability and Adaptation assessment

Assessing current climate changes and risks

Assessing current socio-economic conditions

Current impact and vulnerability assessment

Projecting future climate changes and risks

Projecting future socio-economic conditions

Future impact and vulnerability assessment

Formulation of an adaptation strategy

Implementation

Monitoring

Assessing adaptive capacity

En

ga

gin

g s

tak

eh

old

ers

Methodology for adaptation

Adaptationfour critical stages of the process

Continuous involvement of all stakeholders

Knowledge database and Communication Platform

Impact assessment on systems &their vulnerability

Planning and Designing of adaptation

Implementation of adaptation options

Monitoring and evaluation

The four main steps for each sector are:

Step 1: Recording of the baseline situation (current resources, measures and management

plans, importance of each sector for the country, pressures)

Step 2: Impact assessment due to climate changes for each sector. Effect of impacts on

other sectors (cross-sectoral impacts)

Step 3: Vulnerability assessment on the basis of several impact characteristics such as

magnitude, timing, persistence, reversibility likelihood. Identification of vulnerable groups,

systems, areas

Step 4: Adaptation assessment – Review of the mitigation/adaptation options and

measures that already applied in Cyprus. Identification of adaptation limits/barriers

(external/internal, institutional, educational). Assessment of the sector’s adaptive capacity

Methodology for adaptation

Selected climate change adaptation policy areas

Impacts of climate change on various sectors of the economy

Sector Impacts

Water Resources

Water availability for water supply

Water availability for irrigation

Quality of surface water

Quality of groundwater

Droughts

Floods

Agriculture / Livestock

Crop yield

Soil fertility,

Pests and diseases

Crop damage from extreme weather events

livestock production

Animal feeding costs

Impacts of climate change on various sectors of the economy cont….

Sector Impacts

Forests

Degradation of forest species, attacks from insects and diseases

Fires

Forest development

Floods

Coastal zonesErosion of the coastal zone

Coastal flooding and storms

Degradation of coastal ecosystems

Biodiversity

Distribution of plant species in terrestrial ecosystems

Distribution of animal species in terrestrial ecosystems

Freshwater Biodiversity

Marine Biodiversity

Focus on Biodiversity:

Focus on Biodiversity:

Status of biodiversity in Cyprus:

• Cyprus is characterized as a biodiversity hotspot

• One of the world’s major centers for plant diversity

• The world’s second highest percentage of endemic plant species

The rich biodiversity of Cyprus is the result of:

• Geographical structure

• Landscape isolation

• Surrounded by sea

• Topographic relief

• Large number of endemic and rare species

• Climatic conditions

NATURA Sites.

The 25 hotspots. The hotspot expanses comprise 30-3% of the red areas Source: Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities (Myers et al., 2000)

Biodiversity categories:

Genetic diversity (variation of genes within species)

Species diversity (variety of species within a region)

Ecosystem diversity

Ecosystem diversity

The ecosystems in Cyprus include 48 habitat types, of which:

-14 of which are priority habitat types according to the

Habitats Directive; and

- 4 are endemic habitat types (Serpentinophilous grasslands of

Cyprus 62B0*, Peat grasslands of Troodos 6460*, Scrub forest of

Quercus alnifolia 9390* and Cedrus brevifolia forests 9590*)

Species diversity

Flora

In total 1910 taxa (species, subspecies, varieties, forms and

hybrids) as native or naturalized.

- 143 of these taxa are endemic and more than 400 are cultivated

Most of the endemic plants of Cyprus are located in the two

mountain ranges of the island, as 94 endemic plants are

developed in the mountain range of Troodos (only the National

Forest Park Troodos hosts a total of 786 plant taxa) and 56 in the

mountain range of Pentadaktylos

Due to the uniqueness of the nature of Cyprus, about 238

indigenous plant taxa have been classified as threatened,

among them considerable number of marine species

Species diversity:

Fauna

Cyprus is the only centre of birds endemism

in Europe and the Middle East

a centre of insects endemism

a centre of mammals endemism

a centre of plant diversity

Factors affecting Biodiversity (I):

Climate aspects

Variability (uneven geographic distribution and temporality of precipitation)

Reduction of frequency of precipitation

Increase of frequency of rainfall’s intensity

Increase of temperature (and certain variables of temperature)

Heat-wave

Reduction of snow cover in Troodos

Increase of evapotranspiration (contributes to the intensification of soil drying)

Ecological aspects

Temperature limitations

Water variability (drought and heavy rains)

Unfavorable climate (incl. variability) and climate change

Geological instability (e.g. periodic seismic activity, geological erosion etc.)

Topographic difficulties (steepness, roughness)

Restricted soil fertility and susceptibility

Vulnerability of land resources

Plant and animal diseases

Natural hazard deposition

Environmental pollution (e.g. waste and construction, pollution form quarrying)

Deforestation

Factors affecting Biodiversity (II):

Socio-cultural aspects

Outmigration, manpower availability

Missing of undapted land use regulations

Land ownership and privatization

Tradition and culture

Education and knowledge on resource use

Attitude and awareness towards land resources and Overgrazing

Abandonment of the rural areas and overexploitation of the left agricultural areas

Geopolitical pressures between countries

Economic aspects

Limited economic performance of agriculture

Restricted market access, economic isolation

Energy dependence on oil inputs

Technological aspects

Lack of land use alternatives and arable land

Poor land use (e.g. urban sprawl, commercial development, vehicle off-roading)

Absence of crop rotation and fallow periods

Overuse of fertilizers

Too many water drillings and near the seashore

High land use intensity

Unadapted irrigation practices

Environmentally Sensitive Areas to Desertification

4 key indices for desertification: a) quality of soil, b) quality of climate, c) quality of vegetation and d) quality of management

Routes of invasion of alien species in the Mediterranean sea

Number of flooding events per year in Cyprus (1971-2010)

Impact Assessment

Global Impacts and Trends (MA 2005

Climate Factors and their Impacts on Cyprus Biodiversity

increased temperature

decreased rainfall/droughts

fluctuations in intense precipitation events

sea level rise

increased atmospheric CO2

changes in fire regimes

decrease of soil moisture and thickness of soil layer changes in food availability, in sea currents routes , upper sea temperature and salinity

- extinction of plant species, - reduction of wild plants’ resilience - changes in habitats and food availability, in lake water levels and water flows

- increased soil slippage , floods - loss of animal populations - changes in timing and latitude of upwelling

/in pelagic distribution and productivity

- coastal floods - salinization of coastal soils, changes in vegetation- general changes in the structure of marine ecosystems - coastal erosion , landward intrusion of salt water

- altered competitive interactions of species for water - changes in food availability and in the distribution of

animal species - seawater acidification

- localised catastrophes of plant species expansion of grasslands,

- extinctions of forest animal species

Selected impacts for Evaluation:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Distribution of plant species in terrestrial ecosystems

Plant phenology of terrestrial ecosystems

Distribution of animal species in terrestrial ecosystems

Animal phenology of terrestrial ecosystems

Aquatic ecosystems

Marine biodiversity

Freshwater biodiversity

Phenology of aquatic ecosystems

Overall Vulnerability Assessment of Biodiversity in Cyprus

To Climate Changes:

Main vulnerabilities:

- Terrestrial biodiversity: landscape fragmentations

- Marine biodiversity: intrusion of invasive alien species

- Freshwater biodiversity: the landscape fragmentations

and the deteriorated freshwater quality

Overall Vulnerability Assessment of Biodiversity in Cyprus

To Climate Changes:

Suggested Adaptation Measures for BIODIVERSITY

• Incentives for the development of organic agricultural products

• Incentives for the conservation of natural habitats and wildlife

• Incentives for afforestation of non-agricultural land

• Incentives to enhance biodiversity and the overall ecological function of forests

outside Natura 2000 area

• Apply cross-compliance measures

• Storage of genetic propagation material in forest nurseries

• Installation of watering troughs in forests for covering fauna needs

• Permanent cessation of fishing activities of bottom trawlers

• Marine ecosystems: Funding scheme for investments on board fishing vessels

and selectivity

• Marine ecosystems: Funding scheme for productive investments in aquaculture

BIODIVERSITY Suggested Adaptation Measures cont…

• Construction of fishing ports, landing sites and shelters

• Provision of subsidies for the reduction of fishing effort

• Provision of subsidies to use more selective fishing gear

• Protection of biodiversity of protected /non-protected areas through Fisheries Policy:

withdrawal of trawlers

• Evaluation of Carrying Capacity in the Construction Spatial Planning System and in the

Tourism Policy

• Monitoring and control of non-indigenous species into / from the Republic of Cyprus

• Inventory of licensed non-native species

• Management plans for controlling problems caused by non-native species found in Cyprus

• Promote creation of ecological data file and database (BIOCYPRUS) for the Network "Natura

2000"

• Creation of an inventory of species populations, distribution and genetics

BIODIVERSITY Suggested Adaptation Measures cont…

• Preparation of Management Plans for all areas of the network "Natura 2000"

• Coordination for the prevention and control of terrestrial and offshore sources of marine

pollution

• Protection and management of salt lakes and of other wetlands

• Promote research on biodiversity and ecosystems, monitoring of biotic and abiotic

parameters

• Maintain or strengthen ecological coherence, primarily through providing for connectivity.

• Prepare and implement a Strategic Plan on Biodiversity

• Incorporate in other policies biodiversity and ecosystems protection in relation to climate

change

• Horizontal integration of ecosystem based adaptation to other policies and plans

• Management plans for the protection of priority and threatened species and their habitats

• Enhance/strengthen the Seed Bank and Ex situ conservation

BIODIVERSITY Suggested Adaptation Measures cont…

• Monitoring of highly sensitive species as indicators of climate change, i.e. amphibians and

reptiles

• Avoid planting and releasing of alien animal species

• Protection of coastal and marine ecosystems from invasive species (prevention‐detection

control)

• Legislative actions to protect the artificial reefs areas

• Restoration of damaged ecosystems

• Assessment of the impacts of pollination disruptions on plant reproduction, protection of

pollinators

• Waste management to avoid pollution, ecosystem degradation and surface and ground

water deterioration

• Enforce by law control overgrazing

• Control over-mining and quarrying activities

Selection of Adaptation Measures

The CYPADAPT MCA Tool

A Multicriteria Analysis software

for the prioritization of alternative adaptation options based on objectives, criteria and weights

with Stakeholders participation

use of Questionnaires for a more specific evaluation

Evaluation of the implementation of the Adaptation PlanProgress indicators

by means of the CYPADAPT Adaptation Platform

• To monitor and evaluate the implementation adaptation plansand specifically for the evaluation of progress of the priority objectives of each sector, efficiency and effectiveness of individual measures and actions, are used where possible general and specific indicators for existing climatic and non-climatic factors that are likely to enhance or hinder process of adaptation.

• Specific indicators of climate change

* Sensitivity * Exposure * adaptability

• Other indicators of non-climatic stresses or parameters (which may affect the vulnerability of the economic sector or the vulnerable social group)

BIODIVERSITYImpact: (Varies) 1. Terrestrial ecosystems 2 .Marine ecosystems 3. Wetland ecosystems

Objective: Reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems

Group of Measures Specific Indicators

Protection and proper management of wetlands in Cyprus

- Proper management of the protected areas- Elimination of pollution sources in the region- Restoration projects for the existing pollution sites- Adaptation Plans for the Ramsar wetlands - Percentage of wetlands where measures are implemented

Proper waste management to prevent pollution, degradation of ecosystems / water

- Works for upgrading the waste management (eg closure and rehabilitation of sites etc.)

Implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity

Protection of the coastal and marine ecosystems from the intrusion of alien species

- Ratification and implementation of the Convention on the ballast water of ships- Use of technologies for the treatment of the ballast or materials that prevent deposits

More information available at:

http://uest.ntua.gr/cypadapt

www.moa.gov.cy/environment

Thank you for your attention!

The Cyprus National Adaptation Strategy

CYPADAPT LIFE10 ENV/CY/000723

Contact details: Dr. Kyriaki Ioannou,

Department of Environment

Tel. +357 22408914

kioannou@environment.moa.gov.cy