Akrotiri Peninsula Environmental Management Plan
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AKROTIRI PENINSULA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Version 2.0 17 September 2012 2 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Legislation 2.1. SBAA Ordinances 2.2. Conventions 2.3. Pending legislation 3. Policy 4. Designations for nature conservation 4.1. Ramsar designation 4.2. IBA designation 4.3. SPA designation 4.4. Candidate SAC area 5. Land use zones 6. Description of Nature conservation interest 6.1. Overview 6.2. Habitats 6.3. Flora 6.4. Fauna 7. Important conservation features 7.1. Evaluation criteria for habitats 7.2. Evaluation criteria for species 7.3. Important habitats 7.4. Important flora 7.5. Important birds 7.6. Important reptiles 7.7. Important mammals 7.8. Important amphibians 7.9. Important invertebrates 7.10. Important fish 8. Sensitivity of the important conservation features 8.1. Habitats in general 8.2. Specific habitats 8.3. Flora 8.4. Birds 8.5. Reptiles 8.6. Mammals 8.7. Amphibians 8.8. Invertebrates 8.9. Fish 3 9. Hydro-geology 10. Historic Environment 11. Landscape 12. Land Ownership 13. Existing infrastructure 14. Impact of existing land uses and activities on important features and current management arrangements and controls 15. Objectives and actions 15.1. General objective 15.2. Proposed development prescription 15.3. Proposed actions 16. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting 17. References 18. Maps 19. Annexes Annex A: Administrative Secretary’s Policy Statement Annex B: Chart on the Appropriate Assessment process and definition of terms and concepts Annex C: Chart on the Environmental Impact Assessment evaluation process 4 1. Introduction The aim of the Management Plan will be to manage and protect the important environmental features of Akrotiri Peninsula included in the Ramsar and Special Protection Area designations for Akrotiri and the candidate Akrotiri Special Area of Conservation. The obligation for the management plan is statutory and derives from the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance 2007 and the Game and Wild Birds Ordinance 2008. The requirement under this legislation is to protect biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats, flora and fauna by maintaining or restoring their favourable conservation status. The management plan will mirror the equivalent process in the RoC for designated NATURA 2000 sites; therefore, it will, inevitably, work to the requirements of the relevant EU Directives and guidance. The management plan should apply the precautionary principle, which requires that the conservation objectives of the SPA / SAC prevail where there is uncertainty. In particular, according to EU guidance, where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost- effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. 5 1.1. Previous studies In view of its environmental, historic, geological and other interest, the area has been subject to many environmental studies on various important features. These studies will be collated and used in the Management Plan. 1.2. Area Akrotiri Peninsula is the southernmost part of the island of Cyprus. It is bounded roughly by northing 34º 34’ and 34º 39’ and easting 33º 03’ and 32º 54’. Most part of it is situated within the Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri, only a few kilometres to the southwest of the city of Limassol. There are several access routes to the peninsula from mainland, including an asphalt road (Akrotiri – Kolossi) and several earth tracks. Access to various coastal parts of the peninsula is also available by sea. Akrotiri Peninsula covers roughly 60 Km². It includes a southern plateau with a maximum elevation of just over 60 metres. The northern part lies below 10 metres elevation, covered by alluvial deposits. Its middle is occupied by a Salt Lake, which lies below the sea level with a minimum elevation of -2.7 metres. Its southern and western parts are exposed to prevailing southerly/westerly winds, whereas its eastern part is sheltered most of the time. The peninsula includes military installations such as RAF1 Station Akrotiri and satellite communication sites, the built-up area of Akrotiri village, agricultural plantations, forest, but also an internationally important wetland complex. The latter comprises Akrotiri Salt Lake and a number of adjacent internationally important saline and freshwater habitat types, including salt marsh, permanent and seasonal saline lagoons, sand flats, freshwater and saline reed beds and freshwater marsh. It is the largest aquatic system in Cyprus, and one of the very few major Salt Lakes within the eastern Mediterranean in semi-natural condition that exhibits a wide range of saline and freshwater influences. It has an outstanding ecological and biodiversity value and supports an appreciable number of rare, vulnerable or endangered species or subspecies of plant or animal that are important for maintaining the biological diversity of the eastern Mediterranean biogeographic region. It also supports an internationally important number of migratory birds providing them with a significant resting, breeding and feeding habitat. Although the site has so far survived in a mostly natural state next to the city of Limassol, which is the second largest and one of the most rapidly developing cities in Cyprus, it is under constantly intensifying threats from human activities. 1.3. Inhabitants Akrotiri village has approximately 800 inhabitants. It is the only community in Cyprus located entirely within the Sovereign Base Areas. Many of its inhabitants are employed at the Base, others are engaged in agriculture and farming and some work in Limassol. Approximately 1300 people live within RAF Akrotiri Station. This comprises members of the Army, RAF, UK Based Civilians and their dependents. 1.4. Stakeholders The following stakeholders have an interest in the peninsula or are involved in its management – the list is not exhaustive: 1 Royal Air Force 6 - Relevant British Forces Cyprus Departments - Akrotiri Community Council - Akrotiri Merra Committee - Asomatos Community Council - Zakaki Community Council - Zakaki Merra Committee - Cherkez Community Council - Asomatos Community Council - Restaurant owners at Lady’s Mile - Bishoprics of Limassol and Kition - Lanitis Farm - Cyprus Fassouri Plantations Ltd - Amagio Enterprises Ltd - Amalthia Trading - Mayor of Limassol - District Office of Limassol - RoC2 Antiquities Department - RoC Town Planning and Housing Department - RoC Lands Department - Water Board of Limassol - RoC Land Consolidation Department - RoC Environment Department - RoC Game Fund - RoC Department of Forests - RoC Fisheries and Marine Research Department - RoC Agricultural Research Institute - RoC Veterinary Services - Sewerage Board of Limassol - Cyprus Ports Authority - Cyprus Electricity Authority - Cyprus Telecommunications Authority - Cyprus Tourism Organisation - Birdlife Cyprus - Terra Cypria - Akrotiri Environmental Club - MEDASSET3 - Cyprus Wildlife Society - Turtlewatch Akrotiri - Akrotiri Sub Aqua Club - The University of Cyprus - Frederick University - Cyprus Technical University 1.5. Methodology The Environmental Management Plan comprises the following sections: • Legislation and policy which apply to the SBAs • Nature conservation designations 2 Republic of Cyprus 3 Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles 7 • Land ownership, zones and uses • Nature conservation interest and sensitivity • Historic environment • Hydrology • Landscape • Impact of land uses on important features and current management arrangements and controls • Objectives • Proposed actions The recommendations of each section have been collated and de-conflicted to form an overall action plan. The recommended actions will go through a formal consultation process and agreement with the relevant stakeholders. Management Orders under the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance and the Game and Wild Birds Ordinance will then be made to prohibit damaging operations to designated sites and to require the undertaking of activities which are necessary for the favourable management of the sites. The management plan will have a holistic approach which will help meet the obligation for cumulative impact assessment. Valuable information and advice on the drawing up of the management plan was received from departments of the RoC, NGOs4 and individual experts. The management plan covers the whole of the peninsula, as shown on map 1, although certain issues will inevitably extend beyond these boundaries. Also, although the military interest on the peninsula, outside RAF Akrotiri, is addressed to some degree in this plan, military activities and the management of the military estate will be covered in detail in the Integrated Rural Management Plan currently under preparation, which will go through stakeholder consultation in due course. 4 Non Governmental Organizations 8 Map 1: Area covered by Management Plan 2. Legislation The SBAA5 is obliged under Appendix ‘O’ to the 1960 Treaty of Establishment to replicate as far as possible the legislation of the RoC. This also applies to environmental protection and the SBAA has already mirrored the key RoC Laws aimed at preserving environmentally important sites. BFC6 are bound by the SBAA environmental legislation as per the Secretary of State for Defence Policy Statement and by UK environmental legislation where the standards set are higher. In addition, BFC has an obligation to implement MOD7 sustainable development policies. Exemptions from the provisions