Republic of Cyprus Second Voluntary National Report - Sustainable development goals

102 NARRATIVE Cyprus is a country with abundant natural beauty, composed of diverse ecosystems all over the island. In an effort to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of the country’s ecosystems, the Cyprus Government, and the legislative body, in cooperation with the relevant EU bodies, have implemented several actions and policies. The dissemination of responsibilities in several competent authorities under different Ministries is a continuing challenge that needs constant observation, adjustment, and strong coordination efforts. ANALYSIS Cyprus is among the top 5 EU countries in the surface of terrestrial sites designated under Natura 2000. In particular, 29% of terrestrial protected area is designated under Natura 2000, relative to 18% of the EU. Concerning its ecosystem status, Cyprus ranks 12 th in the share of forest area to total land area, showing an increase throughout the years (33.3% in 2012, 39.7% in 2015, 43.1% in 2018). Additionally, Cyprus ranks 15th in the Biochemical Oxygen Demand in rivers (BOD). In particular, the BOD value in Cyprus is 3.3, indicating moderately and heavily polluted rivers, while the EU average BOD value is 2. Finally, the land degradation indices show that Cyprus is lacking in comparison to the rest of the EU. Specifically, it is 27 th in the soil sealing index which estimates the increase in sealed soil surfaces with impervious materials due to urban development and construction, with the index value in Cyprus in 2015 being 113.7 compared to the EU average of 104.5. In addition, it ranks 20 th in the estimated soil erosion by water index, which estimates the risk of soil loss by water erosion processes (the index value in Cyprus in 2016 was 6.5% compared to 5.3% in the EU). concrete and practical measures necessary for the prevention and combating of desertification, the mitigation of the effects of drought and land degradation, and awareness and consultation campaigns with stakeholders. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) • Invasive Alien Species are regulated through the respective EU IAS regulation. • In 2019, the transposition of the EU IAS Regulation into national law was completed. • The law aims at setting procedures relevant to the role of different competent authorities, permit system, inspections, and penalties. Natura 2000 • A 10-year Integrated Project under the LIFE Programme was launched in 2019 with a budget of almost €17 million. • The project aims at making the Natura 2000 network more effective and functional. • The project throughout its 10-year lifetime proposes actions that are sequential, building on each other, in order to reach the goals. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Habitats andWildlife • National Laws ratified the Convention of Biological Diversity and the Habitats and Birds Directives. The laws provide protection and conservation of several habitats, species, and birds, including the Cyprus mouflon and other endemic species, by employing protection and management measures. National Biodiversity Strategy • The National Biodiversity Strategy was adopted by the Council of Ministers in June 2020. The strategy includes actions and measures for all ecosystems (forest, freshwater, grassland etc.), including biodiversity conservation and restoration, sustainable use of biological and natural resources and ecosystem services assessment. National Action Plan (NAP) and Programme of Measures for Combating Desertification • The NAP includes identification of environmentally sensitive areas that are threatened, the evaluation of current policies, measures and actions for sustainable land use and water resources management,