PLANT-NET CY LIFE+08 NAT/CY/000453

Third Meeting of the Scientific Committee 26/04/2012

Assoc. Prof. Costas Kadis

Project’s Scientific Coordinator

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PLANT-NET CY LIFE+08 NAT/CY/000453

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CONTENTS 1. The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics 2. Progress achieved in each Action 3. Additional activities (Outside LIFE) 4. Discussion 5. Evaluation of “Project Monitoring Protocol”

PLANT-NET CY LIFE+08 NAT/CY/000453

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CONTENTS 1. The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics 2. Progress achieved in each Action 3. Additional activities (Outside LIFE) 4. Discussion 5. Evaluation of “Project Monitoring Protocol”

PLANT-NET CY LIFE+08 NAT/CY/000453

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Budget: € 1.547.297,00

PROJECT IMPLEMENTORS:

Coordinating Beneficiary:

Duration: 01/01/10 - 30/06/13

Department of Environment (MANRE)

Associated Beneficiaries:

EC Co-funding: 69,17 %

Frederick University University of Athens

Department of Forests (MANRE) UNDP - ACT FEEO

PMR 3: Koilada Kedron - Kampos

PMR 2: Koilada Kedron - Kampos

PMR 4: Chersonisos Akama

PMR 5: Periochi Asgatas

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PMR 1: Periochi Mitserou

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PRESENTATION’S CONTENTS 1. The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics 2. Progress achieved in each Action 3. Additional activities (Outside LIFE) 4. Discussion 5. Evaluation of “Project Monitoring Protocol”

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Project’s Timetable

Project’s Deliverables and Milestones

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Action A.1: Inventory of the localities of the targeted species/habitats and determination of the boundaries of the PMRs COMPLETED – Deliverables: i. Database; ii. Five 1:5000 scale maps. Action A.2: Detailed mapping of the PMRs COMPLETED – Deliverables: i. Five 1:500 scale maps.

Action A.3: Preparation of Monitoring Plans for each PMR COMPLETED – Deliverables: i. Five Monitoring Plans. Action A.4: Preparation of Management Plans for each PMR COMPLETED – Deliverables: i. Five Management Plans [Accepted]

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Action A.5: Assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure for each of the 4 targeted priority species and Cedrus brevifolia (05/2012) In progress – Deliverables: i. Report on the necessity and feasibility of reinforcement of existing populations, ii. Report on the genetic diversity and population structure of each of the 4 targeted priority species and Cedrus brevifolia.

This action is delayed due to the huge accident in Mari - Limassol (11/07/2011), which resulted in nationwide electricity cut offs; two machines from our lab were affected.

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Action A.6: Learning from the experiences of other EU countries that adopted the PMR approach COMPLETED – EU countries visited: Greece (Crete), Spain (Minorca, Valencia), Bulgaria (Sofia, Rhodope).

@ T. Papachristophorou

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Action C.1: Establishment of the PMRs in the field (1/2) COMPLETED i. Placement of borderline signs ii. Installation of notice boards

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Action C.1: Establishment of the PMRs in the field (2/2) >> COMPLETED iii. Fencing & iv. Pathway construction

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Action C.2: Installation of permanent monitoring plots COMPLETED

Action C.3: Monitoring of the PMRs In progress – Deliverables: i. Operational and maintenance protocol of the Monitoring Stations (Completed); ii. Five monitoring reports for 2012 >> 07/2012; iii. Five monitoring reports for 2013 >> 06/2013; iv. Monitoring Database/Diagrammatic summaries (models) >>07/2013.

An overview of the establishment of a PMR in the field >>

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Action C.4: Application of conservation measures within the PMR (1/4) In progress (06/2013) a. Moderate provision of water in extreme drought conditions. b. Moderate provision of fertilizer/manure in order to increase reproductive success in

Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis. c. Small-scale relief modifications to reduce erosion and enhance plant protection.

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Action C.4: Application of conservation measures within the PMR (2/4) In progress (06/2013)

d. Dispersal of seeds from the local populations to appropriately prepared areas. e. Course modification of human and animal pathways to minimize the impacts.

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Action C.4: Application of conservation measures within the PMR (3/4) In progress (06/2013) f. Fencing of A. macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis individuals for preventing flower/fruit

predation g. Removal of flammable biomass

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Action C.4: Application of conservation measures within the PMR (4/4) In progress (06/2013) h. Following conducts with an entomologist, new measures were implemented for

preventing fruit predation such as spraying with a specific insecticide on the ovary just after pollination or the beginning of fruit setting. And also covering the sprayed inflorescences/infructescences.

i. Self - & Cross - hand pollination took place and this measure was combined with spraying with the specific insecticide.

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Action C.5: Enrichment of the populations of the targeted species In progress (06/2013) At least 200 plantlets from each targeted species will be planted in the respective PMR (except from Ophrys kotschyi). Deliverable: i. Report on the enrichment of the populations of the targeted species. 20 plantlets of Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis and 20 plantlets of Centaurea akamantis were planted and the action is still in progress

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Action C.6: Utilization of existing Botanical Gardens of the FD to achieve the ex-situ conservation of the targeted plant species In progress (06/2013)

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Action C.7: Collection and storage of seeds of the targeted species at the seed bank of the Agricultural Research Institute to achieve ex-situ conservation of the targeted taxa In progress (06/2013)

Action C.8: Safekeeping of the PMRs In progress (06/2013) Frequent patrolling of trained staff of the Department of Forests.

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Action D.1: Information campaign, organization of workshops, seminars and conferences, production of information material (1/3) In progress (06/2013) Deliverables: i. Rural appraisals and local workshops

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Action D.1: Information campaign, organization of workshops, seminars and conferences, production of information material (2/3) In progress (06/2013)

Deliverables:

ii. Media coverage: 2/3 press releases (IR, FPR), 2/3 TV (FPR) and 2/2 radio broadcasts (IR, FPR), 3/3 articles in newspapers/magazines(FPR, new1, new2) >> 11/2010, 11/2011, 06/2013

IR: Inception Report; FPR: First Progress Report, MTR: Middle Term Report

iii. Information material: Three Newsletters (1000 copies, 8pp each, colored, in A5 size) >> 06/2010, 06/2011, 06/2012 Leaflet (in Greek, English, Turkish, 600 copies, colored, A5 size) Colored poster (500 copies, A2 size) DVD (500 copies) >> 06/2013

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Action D.1: Information campaign, organization of workshops, seminars and conferences, production of information material (3/3) In progress (06/2013) iv. Workshops : Tourism workshop Bi-communal workshop v. Final info day >> 06/2013

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Action D.2: Technical publications, website development, CD-ROM production, Layman’s report In progress (06/2013) Deliverables: i. Technical/Scientific publication (100 copies, A4 size) >> 06/2013 ii. Website development iii. CD-ROM with reports and documents of the Project >> 06/2013 iv. Layman’s Report >> 06/2013 v. Three presentations in international conferences >>11/2010, 11/2011, 06/2013

www.plantnet.org.cy

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Action D.3: Operation of Information Centres within three Botanical Gardens In progress (06/2013) The Information Centres will utilize the deliverables of Actions D.1 (Information material) and C.6 (section within the Botanical Gardens for the ex-situ conservation of the targeted taxa).

Action D.4: Preparation and publication of a book on PMR experiences In progress (06/2013) Contacts have been made with the experts who will contribute in the preparation of the book. Deliverable: i. Book presenting the knowledge and experience accumulated over the last 15 years from successful PMR projects.

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Action E.1: Project Management In progress (06/2013) Changes in Project Management Team (PMT) which have already been reported to External Monitoring Team and European Commission These changes have not affected the project implementation. Deliverables: i. Inception Report (09/2010) ii. 1st Progress Report (09/2011) iii. Mid-Term Report with payment request (01/2012) iv. 2nd Progress Report >> 11/2012 v. Final Report with payment request >> 12/2013

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Action E.2: Project Monitoring In progress (06/2013) The “Monitoring Protocol” was evaluated and accepted by the Scientific Committee . The progress achieve by each action is monitored and evaluated by the Scientific Committee.

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Action E.3: Operation of the Scientific Committee In progress (06/2013) Four meetings of the Scientific Committee >> 04/2010, 04/2011, 04/2012, 04/2013

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Action E.4: Operation of the Stakeholders Board In progress (06/2013) Four meetings of the Stakeholders Board >> 03/2010, 01/2011, 01/2012, 06/2013

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Action E.5: Networking with other projects (1/2) In progress (06/2013) The project provides a platform for networking of all LIFE projects with a focus on the establishment of PMRs in Europe

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Action E.5: Networking with other projects (2/2) In progress (06/2013) Deliverable: A two-day Experts’ Workshop Experts from 7 European countries participated. Prospects of creating a European Plant Micro-Reserves Network The Commission’s response

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Action E.6: After-LIFE Conservation Plan (06/2013) Deliverable: i. An After-LIFE Conservation Plan in Greek and English, in paper and electronic format >> 09/2013. The After-LIFE will : Secure the management of the PMRs and the targeted priority species/habitats in long term Give details on the actions that will be carried out in the future Contribute to the sustainability of the project

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PRESENTATION’S CONTENTS 1. The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics 2. Progress achieved in each Action 3. Additional activities (Outside LIFE) 4. Discussion 5. Evaluation of “Project Monitoring Protocol”

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PUBLIC AWARENESS Creation of a group on “Facebook” for further dissemination of the project’s actions . Creation of a “PLANT-NET CY” page on YouTube-Channels for the screening of videos showing actions of the project and TV broadcasts of the project.

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Presentation at the elementary school of Mitsero. Presentation of the project and the PMRs approach to the students of the MSc program “Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development”.

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Implementation of four MSc theses within the MSc Programme in Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development Voluntary cleaning of the PMR with *Ophrys kotschyi in Mitsero by members of “Environmental Group of Mitsero”. Presentation of the project at the 1st Festival on Environment and Recycling organized by Green Dot Cy. Support the initiative of Mitsero community to publish an annual calendar presenting the flora of the area.

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Contribution to the knowledge on the insect fauna of Cyprus. Presentation of the project in 7 international conferences.

PLANT-NET CY was selected as one of the best case studies by a USAID project entitled “Future Together: Participatory Development in Cyprus” for the conservation of cultural and natural heritage. The European Landowner’s Organization selected the project as possible best case study and approached the Coordinating Beneficiary to complete a questionnaire about the project’s objectives and actions.

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Presentation of the project at the Grundtvig workshop entitled “Creating Bridges – Education for Sustainable Development ESD in MAB BRs and Designated Areas” [Greece, 30/03 - 05/04/2012].

Visit of the students of Mitsero school at the PMR neighboring their village (PMR1 - *Ophrys kotschyi).

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POLICY MAKING The legal status of the PMRs is defined by the New Forest Law since March 2012 [Article 16: Declaration of Forest Monuments and Plant Micro-Reserves]. The Ministry of Education and Culture introduced the PMR approach in the official “Guide for the Application of Environmental Education – Education for Sustainable Development in the Curriculum of Primary Education”.

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29th May 2012 The celebration ceremony of the Youth Competition will be combined

with an event for LIFE’s 20th anniversary.

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PRESENTATION’S CONTENTS 1. The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics 2. Progress achieved in each Action 3. Additional activities (Outside LIFE) 4. Discussion 5. Evaluation of “Project Monitoring Protocol”

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PMR1 - *Ophrys kotschyi • Abnormal development of the flowers of the orchid. • Despite these observations the hand pollinations were carried out with no problems and visits on a regular basis take place to assess fruit setting. • Seed germination was successfully implemented in NKUA labs; what is the next step?

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PMR2 - Scrub and low forest vegetation of Quercus alnifolia, *9390 • Counting of the male inflorescences in 30-40 individuals of Q. alnifolia is impossible. • There was a very limited production of female flowers and consequently a very limited fruit production, within the PMR. • 75% of the fruits collected, were insect infected.

PMR3 - *Arabis kennedyae and Cedrus brevifolia forests, *9590 • No evidence yet, of A. kennedyae plantlets at the new positions where seed dispersal took place. • Regeneration of A. kennedyae is evident only within the monitoring plots.

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PMR4 - *Centaurea akamantis • Last year, seeding directly into the crevices showed relatively low success (7-10%); should it be repeated? PMR5 - *Astragalus macrocarpus subsp. lefkarensis • Limited seed output of the species because of the high levels of predation.

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PRESENTATION’S CONTENTS 1. The PLANT-NET CY project : General characteristics 2. Progress achieved in each Action 3. Additional activities (Outside LIFE) 4. Discussion 5. Evaluation of “Project Monitoring Protocol”