Troodos National Park 5BFF - 0001

5BFF - 0001

Troodos National Forest Park








Troodos forest is included in the Global Geoparks Network GGN of UNESCO

Management :

The Troodos range is the predominant geological and morphological feature on the island. It is covered mostly with natural forests of unique beauty and hosts invaluable plant and animal habitats. Graphic villages that maintain local culture, tradition and customs, are scattered all over the Range. To the west, it extends to the Pafos district and to the east it stretches over large parts of Lefkosia, Lemesos and Larnaka districts. The Troodos forest occupies the heart of the Range and includes its highest peaks (up to 1 952 m). The largest part of the forest, about 9 000 ha or 90 km2, was designated a National Forest Park in 1992. The main aim was to safeguard its rational use and to perpetuate the values and functions of the area: ecological, scientific, recreational, hydrological and economic. The greater part of the Park has been included in the European network of protected areas, “Natura 2000”.

The entire Park area is a state forest and is therefore public property. The management of the Park is the responsibility of the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. The headquarters of management are at Platania Forest Station near Kakopetria. Forest Offices operate also at Pano Platres, Saittas and Pano Amiantos. The main management activities include protection from fire, nature conservation, recreation management, reforestation, restoration of Amiantos asbestos mine, maintenance of forest roads etc

Flora:

The forests in the Troodos National Forest Park are mostly natural, regenerated without human intervention. At lower elevations calabrian pine (Pinus brutia) is the dominant tree species ascending up to 1 200 m and in warm, south-facing slopes, up to 1 600 m. A large number of smaller trees and shrubs occupy specific niches of the forest ecosystems that are created as a result of the combined effect of altitude, geology and moisture conditions. Along main riverbeds the dense vegetation is made up of oriental plane (Platanus orientalis), oriental alder (Alnus orientalis), laurel (Laurus nobilis), bramble (Rubus sanctus), myrtle (Myrtus communis), mint (Mentha longifolia), ivy (Hedera helix) etc., contributing considerably to landscape biodiversity and providing an ideal refuge to animal life. At lowest altitudes, wild olive (Olea europaea) reaches 1 000 m, the strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne), with its attractive colour changes throughout the year is encountered in the zone from 600 - 1 500 m, the sumach (Rhus coriaria) and the endemic golden oak (Quercus alnifolia) from 600 - 1 650 m. At higher altitudes, from 1 200 - 1 500 m up to Chionistra, the dominant forest species is black pine (Pinus nigra). Other hardy, woody species common to the area are foetid juniper (Juniperus foetiditssima), wild service tree (Sorbus aria), cotoneaster (Cotoneaster racemiflorus), barbery (Berberis crerica), the endemic dwarf gorse (Genista sphacelata subsp. crudelis) etc. A considerable number of black pine trees as well as junipers in this zone, are perennial-old, often exceeding 500 years - a few up to 1 000 years. These trees are strictly protected for their high ecological and scientific value. The total number of individual plant species recorded in the Troodos National Forest Park approaches 750. Among them, 72 are endemic to Cyprus, of which 12 are exclusive to the Park, that is, they can only be found in the Troodos National Forest Park and nowhere else in Cyprus or on the planet. Some of these plants have been named after Troodos like Alyssum troodi, Nepeta troodi, Scorzonea troodea, Rosa chionistrae etc. The Troodos National Forest Park constitutes the only, or the main habitat in Cyprus for many hardy plant species, such as the wild service tree, foetid juniper, cotoneaster, barberry etc. As a result of these characteristics, Troodos is considered as a botanical heaven and has been classified among the most important mountainous habitats of flora in Europe.

Fauna:

Animal life of the Park is also rich and with high conservational value. Of the mammals, mention merits the Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion), which however is very rare and is scarcely to be seen. It is only a casual visitor to the western and northern parts of the Park that are closer to the main mouflon’s habitat, the Pafos Forest. The fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus dorotheae), live in the Park; they have evolved to endemic subspecies, obviously because of their long isolation in the island habitats of Cyprus. Interesting in the special mammal group are the bats, which prefer mine galleries and old buildings for roosting. More than 80 bird species have been recorded to nest or to visit the Park area during the year. Of particular interest are the rare and protected: griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), raven (Corvus corax), Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus). Typical of the Park, are the smaller birds, crossbill (Loxia curvirostra dorotheae), treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), the nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), the Cyprus wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca) etc. Various reptile species appear during the warmest seasons of the year. The blunt-nosed viper (Macroripera lebetina) which can be extremely dangerous only if somebody steps on it, the slimtailed Agama (Laudakia stellio cypriaca), the Mediterranean chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleo), different lizard species like (Phinicolacerda troodica) and other snake species. In moist sites, the freshwater crab (Potamion potamios) is characteristic; the green toad (Bufo viridis), the brown trout (Salmo trutta) and various other smaller animals can be seen. Of the insects, that are not so well studied, butterflies are of the greatest interest. More than 30 species have been recorded in the Park, including some very rare and endemic species. As regards other insect groups, hundreds of species have so far been recorded, some of them endemic to Cyprus and to the Park.

You can read more in the flyer issued by the Forest department of Cyprus Following this link.