Project title
To promote and enable the long term conservation of high nature value farmlands in Cyprus
Funding Program
LIFE
Award URL
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=4879&docType=pdf
Funding code
AGROLIFE
LIFE13 BIO/CY/001114
Start date
June 2, 2014
Expected Completion
2017-06-01
Description
The growing recognition that the conservation of biodiversity in Europe depends on the continuation of low-intensity farming systems resulted in the concept of high nature value farming (HNVF). In the Mediterranean in particular, HNVF includes some of the most traditional agricultural crops such as cork oaks, olives, carob and vineyards. In Cyprus, carob groves and vineyards are among the crops that are inextricably linked with the economic and cultural character of the island. At the same time these crop systems, when farmed at low-intensity, support species of fauna and flora that are important at the national or European level, while providing a number of other ecosystem services. Despite their importance, these HNVF types on the island are now threatened by intensification, abandonment and lack of awareness about their role.