Charithea Herodotou

                                               CYPRUS ECOSYSTEM

 

                    

Cyprus Ecosystem is very fragile. The rainfall is limited in the period of

 

December to February. No running rivers. Most of the water ends up in the sea, only very

 

small amount approximately 25% is collected in the dams.

 

Climate:  The wet period is limited and the dry/heat (summer) period is too long.

                 Cyprus Ecosystem belongs to Mediterranean region which is an important

                  breeding area for :  

ˇ        2 marine turtle species, the loggerhead Caretta caretta (Linaeus 1758) which is an endangered species and exists in Lara Beach-North East of Cyprus and also to 10 other countries such as ( Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Turkey, Tunisia, Libyan Arab Jamahiniya, Syrian Arab Republic) and also the Green turtle Chelonia mydas (Linaeus 1758).

 

ˇ        The mouflon sheep with the Latin name (Ovis musimon) which is also endangered by the hunters. Don’t imagine thousand of mouflons, you can barely count them on both hands!!

 But even those that exist are strectely counted and protected. This mouflon sheep has              been introduced into the mountains of Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia and it was a successful experiment. It stands about 27in tall at the shoulders. It is a reddish brown colour, marked with a dark stripe down its neck and shoulder.

 

• Also Salt Lakes and surrounding near Larnaka airport has great importance for migrant birds. Not only Flamingos, there is a regular stone Curlew roost site-sometimes up to 60 birds and that unfortunately there is a dispute between the green organizations and government departments as there are plans of development in the area.

 

Vegetation: We don’t have a lot of rain or underground water for rich vegetation. Temperatures reach 38-40 degrees.

Note: There is a great demand for desalination plant.

 

     No great forests. Our mountains are low, but still are beautifull during winter period when we actually have some snowfall on the tops.

 

 

Major factors that also affect Cyprus ecosystem is Pollution which includes marine debris, oil pollution and variety of chemicals. Plastic bags which unfortunately is associated with turtle mortality.

 Fires during hot summers. Mainly caused from Human activities. Just a cigarette to be thrown can cause a disaster!!!!

References:

The Cyprus Mail (News-paper) article 07. February 2002

 Mouflonsheep.hotmail