Organization of Forestry
Forests
Private forestry does not exist in Cyprus since forest, due to climate conditions, has no commercial value. Thus, only State forests are properly managed. Forests can be classified as follows:
High forests cover 18.5% of the land of Cyprus. The main species found in Cyprus forests are: Pinus brutia (Calabrian pine), the most commonly spread, Pinus nigra (European Black pine), found only around the peak of the highest mountain of the island, Troodos, endemic cedar (Cedrus libani var. brevifolia) and a number of broadleaved species along the riversides of the island, such as planes, alders, poplars, acacias, eucalyptus. All these species together with understorey vegetation of ladjia (golden oak), strawberry trees, terebinths, lentisks, bay laurels, myrtles, carob trees, olive trees, junipers, constitute a unique forest cover, ideal to host a large variety of smaller plants, animals, birds and insects, forming the various terrestrial ecosystems.
Private forestry does not exist in Cyprus since forest, due to climate conditions, has no commercial value. Thus, only State forests are properly managed. Forests can be classified as follows:
High forests cover 18.5% of the land of Cyprus. The main species found in Cyprus forests are: Pinus brutia (Calabrian pine), the most commonly spread, Pinus nigra (European Black pine), found only around the peak of the highest mountain of the island, Troodos, endemic cedar (Cedrus libani var. brevifolia) and a number of broadleaved species along the riversides of the island, such as planes, alders, poplars, acacias, eucalyptus. All these species together with understorey vegetation of ladjia (golden oak), strawberry trees, terebinths, lentisks, bay laurels, myrtles, carob trees, olive trees, junipers, constitute a unique forest cover, ideal to host a large variety of smaller plants, animals, birds and insects, forming the various terrestrial ecosystems.
Maquis: cover 13.6% of the land. Maquis consist of dense thickets of tall shrubs, 2-5 m high, such as strawberry trees, terebinths, lentisks, bay laurels, myrtles, carob trees, olive trees junipers, etc.
Phryghana: 9.4 % of the land is covered by phrygana (Garigue), a type of vegetation with low scattered bushes rarely higher than 0.5 m, and with perennial, biennial and annual herbaceous species in abundance such as rock roses, thyme, prickly burnet, thorny gorse, sage.
Benefits
The major outputs from forests are wood products and non-market services and influences. Wood products (about 10,000 m3 per year) go to private sawmills. Less quantity goes for charcoal manufacture, for fuel wood and for other minor purposes. Local production can satisfy only about 1/10 of the demand for sawn wood, resulting in large quantities of imports.
Phryghana: 9.4 % of the land is covered by phrygana (Garigue), a type of vegetation with low scattered bushes rarely higher than 0.5 m, and with perennial, biennial and annual herbaceous species in abundance such as rock roses, thyme, prickly burnet, thorny gorse, sage.
Benefits
The major outputs from forests are wood products and non-market services and influences. Wood products (about 10,000 m3 per year) go to private sawmills. Less quantity goes for charcoal manufacture, for fuel wood and for other minor purposes. Local production can satisfy only about 1/10 of the demand for sawn wood, resulting in large quantities of imports.
Forest Functions: Non – wood forest products
In Cyprus, forest influences are of higher importance than direct economic returns. Ensuring these influences is a priority in the declaration of the Forest policy. 6 out of 16 objectives refer to the protection of forest influences and services, namely climate protection, water and soil conservation, agricultural protection, public amenity and wild life. It is of great interest to note that Forest Revenue is referred in the 16th (last) objective as follows: “To provide for the community the maximum revenue compatible with sustained yields after all the above aims have been achieved”. |
Based on this Policy the department of forests has managed to establish a network of nature trails, picnic places and camping sites in order to provide opportunities for recreation to locals and visitors. A number of visitor centres and 3 botanical gardens contribute significantly to environmental education and public awareness.
Forest Protection
In Cyprus as in many other countries of the Mediterranean, fires are considered as one of the major destructive agents of forests and woodlands. Prolonged hot, dry and windy summers, landscape, inflammable vegetation and human activity cause the outbreak and quick spread of fires. Furthermore, urbanization, abandonment of rural areas and the increased number of visitors in the forest, increase fire risk.
The Department of Forests, the authority responsible for the prevention and control of forest fires, is aware of the increased fire risk and takes a series of measures for:
Forest Protection
In Cyprus as in many other countries of the Mediterranean, fires are considered as one of the major destructive agents of forests and woodlands. Prolonged hot, dry and windy summers, landscape, inflammable vegetation and human activity cause the outbreak and quick spread of fires. Furthermore, urbanization, abandonment of rural areas and the increased number of visitors in the forest, increase fire risk.
The Department of Forests, the authority responsible for the prevention and control of forest fires, is aware of the increased fire risk and takes a series of measures for:
(1) The prevention of fire outbreaks
These measures include:
(2) Pre-suppression and control of fires: These measures include:
(3) Suppression These measures include:
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