Cape Greco is one of the emblematic areas of the "Natura 2000" Network in Cyprus, said today the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis.
Speaking on the sidelines of the European Natura 2000 Day event held today at the Environmental Information and Education Center in Cape Greco, the Minister said that "today we honor people who have contributed the most to the preservation of the natural wealth of our country. "Cyprus is endowed with a unique biodiversity, we all have the obligation to contribute to its conservation in the best possible way and to use the tools and policies given to us by the European Union to move in this direction."
He added that the European Union's top policy for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe is the creation of the Natura 2000 Network. In Cyprus, the effort to create the Network began in the late 1990s and in this effort the University of Athens, the Department of Biology and its professors played a leading role, with Kyriakos Georgiou as the scientific director "he said and noted that" the The University collaborated with institutions and Services of Cyprus, in order to be able to document in the best possible way, the wealth of our areas and the species and habitats in these areas that should be included in the "Natura 2000" network.
Since then, the Minister continued, "the effort continues and today, with the operation and completion of the Network, we believe that we can talk about policies that ensure the conservation of biodiversity in Cyprus. Of course, a lot of work, attention is needed, the effort needs to be continued, the challenges are many, but our will, especially from the Ministry of Agriculture, is given, to continue the cooperation with all bodies to achieve the preservation of this very important element of the national of our heritage ”.
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Kadis said that today we celebrate pan-European Day of the Network "Natura 2000" and especially in our country we honor the pioneers of the creation of the Network. The people who 20 years ago started the effort and put incredible time and effort to be able to document the inclusion of the regions of Cyprus in the Network "Natura 2000".
Asked why today's event is being held in Cape Greco, the Minister replied that "Cape Greco is one of the emblematic areas of the" Natura 2000 "Network in Cyprus, hosts a very important biodiversity and has all the infrastructure that can host such an event. The Center for Environmental Education operates in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and we consider that it is an excellent quality infrastructure that serves exactly its purpose ".
For his part, Kyriakos Georgiou, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, stated that “Cyprus long before its accession to the European Union in 2004 was already ready and in line with the Acquis in terms of maintaining implementation of both the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive ”.
He added that “the ideas, proposals and suggestions we made as scientists, always found fertile ground to be implemented in Cyprus through the then Ministry of Agriculture. For 20 years and more we had close cooperation with the Ministry which had a positive result in the preservation of the natural environment of Cyprus ".
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Georgiou said that “today the Ministry of Agriculture invited not only me but also other collaborators from Athens, to honor and recognize the work that has been done for so many years, along with many other colleagues from various departments of the Ministry ”.
He added that "in Cape Greco, LIFE programs have been implemented, habitats have been restored that are now prosperous".
Lake Paralimni
Asked to comment on the issue that arose with Lake Paralimni, the Minister of Agriculture replied that "this lies in the fact that due to the rainstorm there was a large number of mosquitoes and the presence of water in the area should be managed."
Mr. Kadis thanked the Bird Association, the competent Departments of the Ministry and the Municipality of Paralimni, because as he explained “through their cooperation and through a spirit of consensus and understanding they have co-decided the means to be taken and what can be reach the water runoff in order to ensure the conservation of the important biodiversity of the area and on the other hand to reduce the problem with mosquitoes. We have reached an agreed settlement and this creates a special satisfaction in the Ministry ".
Famagusta.News