Case Study
Climate-adaptation tools in N2000 site Cavo Greco MPA, Cyprus.
Contact name
Hadjieftychiou Soteria-Irene
Institution name
AP Marine Environmental Consultancy Ltd
Region & country
Cavo Greco MPA- Cyprus
Summary
The Interreg-EuroMed MPA4Change project builds on previous research to develop practical tools that strengthen the capacity of (MPAs) to adapt to climate change, offering seven toolkits—including monitoring, restoration, citizen science, vulnerability assessment, participatory approaches, communication, and climate action planning—that provide protocols, guidelines, digital platforms, and training resources for effective, science-based management. One of the key sites benefiting from such approaches is the Cavo Greco MPA in Cyprus, a Natura 2000 area established in 2018 that encompasses diverse habitats such as Posidonia oceanica meadows, rocky reefs, vermetid platforms, underwater caves, and rhodolith beds, all of which support rich biodiversity and essential ecosystem services.
Implementation of Fish census protocol
Vasilis Resaikos, Cavo Greco MPA
Mortality on sponge
Vasilis Resaikos, Cavo Greco MPA
Background of the project
Cavo Greco MPA on Cyprus’s southeast coast covers 9.62 km² and has been part of Natura 2000 since 2008, becoming a marine protected area in 2018. About half of its 1,911 ha are marine, featuring rocky shores, cliffs, sea caves, sandy areas, and key habitats like Cystoseira forests, seagrass beds, and Posidonia oceanica meadows. The site hosts rich biodiversity and serves as a nursery, foraging area, and indicator of environmental change.
The need for a solution arose from increasing environmental pressures on the Cavo Greco MPA, including growing tourism, rising human activity along the coast, and the vulnerability of its sensitive marine habitats to climate change. These pressures highlighted gaps in monitoring, management capacity, and institutional coordination, creating an urgent need for structured tools, protocols, and participatory approaches to ensure effective conservation, protect key habitats, ecological services the area provides.
Solution and actions taken
The project implemented a set of climate-adaptation toolkits to improve monitoring, management, and stakeholder engagement in the Cavo Greco MPA. These tools provided standardized protocols, training, and participatory processes that strengthened institutional capacity, addressed tourism and environmental pressures, and enhanced the protection and resilience of the area’s vulnerable marine habitats.
We implemented seven toolkits including monitoring, vulnerability assessment, citizen science, and participatory approaches. Actions included 7 monitoring protocols conducted over 2 years, staff training via e-learning and participation in workshops.
Other institutions or parties involved
Nereus Quest: conducting sampling of monitoring protocols
Enalia Physis Environmental Research Center: Designing and organizing sampling for monitoring protocols in Cavo Greco, conducting two summer samplings over two years for temperature, mass mortality, fish visual census, and sea urchin populations, performing vulnerability assessments via questionnaires, uploading and analyzing data on T-MEDNet and MPA-Engage platforms, and providing input and assistance in technical and scientific report writing.
Results
We reached:
- 15 professional fishers,
- 5 diving centers,
- 10 boat owners-skippers,
- 5 managers in hotel sector,
- 3 restaurant owners,
- 5 recreational fishers.
Challenges
- Limited funding for implementing the protocols.
- Technical issues with data uploading and platform compatibility.
Lessons learned
- There are no young people among the fishing community, making this generation probably the last. Indicating that in the near future professional fishers will not be stakeholders.
- The diving centers mainly work from May to September. The seasonal variability does not give them enough motivation to participate in any conservation efforts.
- Limited funding for implementation of the monitoring protocols.
Contact name
Hadjieftychiou Soteria-Irene
Institution name
AP Marine Environmental Consultancy Ltd
Website(s)
