Mapping and assessment of ecosystem services at Troodos National Forest Park in Cyprus

Constantinos Kounnamas,Marios Andreou

doi:10.3897/oneeco.7.e77584

Abstract

Troodos National Forest Park is located in the centre of Troodos mountain range and it is one of the most important natural environments of Cyprus. It has been included to the Natura 2000 network of the Island due to its important natural ecosystems and its great biodiversity. Based on the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES 5.1), 36 ecosystem services have been identified in the area. The majority of ecosystem services are concentrated at the Troodos peak and the nearby areas. The same pattern applies for the Cultural Services. Provisioning and Regulation-Maintenance services are concentrated at the centre and western part of the site. The site’s habitat types were mapped and their distribution in the area is presented in respective maps. Carbon stored in plants was 622,705 tonnes in total (73.18 t C per ha), calculated as per habitat type (according to Directive 92/43/EEC - Habitats Directive) and as per TESSA habitat classification. Seven TESSA and 10 Annex I habitat types were identified. The largest part of the site is dominated by Evergreen Broadleaf Forests (7799 ha), followed by Mixed Forests (624 ha) and Deciduous Broadleaf Forests (60 ha). The carbon stock included in AGB (Above Ground Biomass), BGB (Below Ground Biomass), Dead Wood &amp; Litter and SOM (Soil Organic Matter) was evaluated for each habitat type. The annual carbon biomass removal (roundwood and fuelwood) is 80.82 t C y-1 (0.009 t C y-1 per ha), while the carbon sequestered in Troodos National Forest Park is 11,880.33 t CO2 eq y-1 (0.38 t C y-1 per ha). The information produced serves as a useful tool to competent authorities for raising awareness on the importance of ecosystem services and increase the public’s support in the area’s conservation.

Highlights

Ecosystems provide a multitude of benefits to humanity, from food, clean water and flood protection to cultural heritage and a sense of place (Science for Environment Policy 2015)
This study aims to improve the available knowledge on ecosystem services’ (ESs) provided by Cyprus ecosystems, in a mountainous natural area, i.e. Troodos National Forest Park (TNFP)
The current study managed to present the unique environment of TNFP and support the decision for including this area as a Natura 2000 site

Summary

Introduction

Ecosystems provide a multitude of benefits to humanity, from food, clean water and flood protection to cultural heritage and a sense of place (Science for Environment Policy 2015). These benefits are called ‘ecosystem services’ (ESs). The concept of ESs was brought into widespread use by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a global initiative set up in 1999 to assess how ecosystem change would affect human well-being (Corvalan et al 2005). In Europe, following the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) initiative was set up and produced a framework for ecosystem assessment, to ensure a harmonised approach across the European Union (EU) (Maes et al 2013). Cultural services (Haines-Young and Potschin 2013)

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