First Meeting of Comenius First Meeting of Comenius 20092009

Protect- Don’t Neglect Protect- Don’t Neglect

Cyprus teamCyprus team

THE CREATION OF CYPRUSTHE CREATION OF CYPRUS

Duration : 3 000 000 yearsDuration : 3 000 000 years Mediterranean, Caspian, Black SeaMediterranean, Caspian, Black Sea Due to underwater volcanic activityDue to underwater volcanic activity

THE CLIMATE OF CYPRUSTHE CLIMATE OF CYPRUS

Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate– Gives to Cyprus a double face:Gives to Cyprus a double face:

In Winter: looks like a green gardenIn Winter: looks like a green garden In Summer: looks like a desertIn Summer: looks like a desert

Rainfall: Rainfall: – mainly in autumn and wintermainly in autumn and winter– decreasing trend of rainfall amount in the last decreasing trend of rainfall amount in the last

30 years30 years Temperature:Temperature:

– Hot summer and mild winterHot summer and mild winter– Frequent frosts in winterFrequent frosts in winter

SunshineSunshine– Very sunny climateVery sunny climate– Central plain and eastern lowlands:75% Central plain and eastern lowlands:75%

of the time that the sun is above the of the time that the sun is above the horizon, there is a bright sunshinehorizon, there is a bright sunshine

Sea temperaturesSea temperatures– 27°C in August and 16-17°C in January27°C in August and 16-17°C in January

Agriculture adapted to Agriculture adapted to the climate conditionsthe climate conditionsLong hot summerLong hot summerMain rainy season: three Main rainy season: three months (70% from December months (70% from December to February) to February)

Drought Drought is a normal is a normal phenomenon for Cyprusphenomenon for Cyprus

In history, time to time, In history, time to time, there are drought reports there are drought reports

with disastrous resultswith disastrous results

Cyprus face the water issue by:Cyprus face the water issue by:

Dam and reservoir constructionsDam and reservoir constructions Water saving measuresWater saving measures Desalination Desalination Use of the worked water of the Use of the worked water of the

draining systems, for gardens and draining systems, for gardens and parks parks

Traditional agricultural Traditional agricultural productsproducts

Wheat and barleyWheat and barleyGrapes (raisin, wine products)Grapes (raisin, wine products)CarobsCarobsOlives (olive oil)Olives (olive oil)almondsalmonds

In the ancient years, in Homeric age, Cyprus was known asa ‘forest covered island’ but nowadays only the 17%of the surface of the island is covered by forests

CYPRUS FLORACYPRUS FLORA Endemic plants: Troodos and Endemic plants: Troodos and

Pentadaktylos mountainsPentadaktylos mountains Indigenous plant taxa: more than 1900Indigenous plant taxa: more than 1900 Cypriots: keen collectors of wild Cypriots: keen collectors of wild

mushroomsmushrooms– Overcollection and the use of tools= Overcollection and the use of tools=

destruction of the habitat and the mushrooms destruction of the habitat and the mushrooms themselves.themselves.

Trees nature-monuments or Giant Trees Trees nature-monuments or Giant Trees Many of the plant species: rareMany of the plant species: rare

CYPRUS FAUNACYPRUS FAUNA

Rich and diverse Rich and diverse Largest mammal: the endemic Largest mammal: the endemic

mouflon (=a wild sheep species) mouflon (=a wild sheep species) Geographical position: Important bird Geographical position: Important bird

migratory routes in Europe because migratory routes in Europe because of its geographical positionof its geographical position