Terra Cypria is proud to be part of a new conservation initiative, “Management of Natural and Seminatural Areas in Akrotiri and Agios-Nikolaos,” funded by the UK Government through Darwin Plus. Led by Frederick University, in partnership with Terra Cypria, the Cyprus University of Technology, and the Sovereign Base Areas Administration Environment Department (SBAA), the project will restore and protect three important sites across the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
Why these areas matter
The project targets three distinct sites, each valuable for different reasons:
- The wetland south of Limassol Port, within the Akrotiri Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA), home to shallow brackish lakes, muddy flats, and low shrub vegetation.
- The Orchid Walk, one of the few places where the endemic and vulnerable orchid Ophrys kotschyi grows, alongside other orchid species and rare plants listed in Cyprus’ Red Data Book.
- The Agios Nikolaos Special Area of Conservation, home to fragments of the priority habitat “5220* Arborescent Matorral with Zyziphus lotus”, a rare Mediterranean scrubland type.
The problems we’re tackling
Each site faces its own pressures. The wetland has been colonized by the invasive acacia (Acacia saligna), which is a major threat to the local protected habitats. The Orchid Walk is threatened by trampling from cars and walkers, changing hydrology, and an unresolved question over whether its key pollinator species is still present. In Agios Nikolaos, decades of intensive cereal farming have degraded a significant extent of the rare 5220* habitat, leaving only fragmented remains at risk of further loss.
(The wetland’s illegal trailer parking, fly-tipping and access issues are being tackled through a separate, complementary project; see our Zakaki Merra announcement.)
What the project will do
Over the coming years, the partnership will carry out targeted, site-specific actions:
- At the wetland: removing invasive acacia trees to protect and restore the local habitat.
- At the Orchid Walk: monitoring of the orchid’s pollinators, trialing artificial pollination, designating a visitor parking area and walking trail, and managing water drainage and reed growth.
- At Agios Nikolaos: mapping and updating the boundaries of the 5220* habitat, working with local farmers to protect suitable land, replanting characteristic species such as Ziziphus lotus, Thymbra capitata, Asparagus horridus, Noaea mucronata, Phagnalon rupestre, and exploring an agri-environmental scheme to support farmers helping to preserve the habitat.
- Across all three sites: raising public awareness through a dedicated project website, social media, two community festivals, and a digital field guide to help visitors identify orchid species.
The impact we expect
The project aims to restore degraded habitats, protect vulnerable species like the endemic orchid Ophrys kotschyi, and build lasting local support for conservation — with the results feeding directly into future management plans for both the Akrotiri and Agios Nikolaos protected areas.
Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses!