Action Guide for Community Leaders in Fire-Stricken & Mountainous Areas – Next Steps for Fauna & Microfauna

The 2025 fire burned thousands of acres of natural wealth in the Limassol Mountains, leaving the fauna and microfauna in critical danger. Community leaders are on the front lines of restoration, playing a key role in saving the natural environment and biodiversity.

The Action Guide summarizes the necessary steps:

• Direct interventions (waterers, feeders, sowing bee plants).

• Creation of community nurseries and micro-habitats.

• Volunteer networks for monitoring and rescuing injured animals.

• Collaborations with scientists, NGOs and government agencies.

• Submission of proposals to European funding programs (LIFE, CAP).

• With this guide, each community acquires a practical “roadmap” to protect the remaining life and breathe new life into the mountains of Limassol. 🌱

1. Immediate actions (0–6 months)

• ✅ Placement of watering troughs & shade structures in burnt ravines

  ✅ Road markings: speed limits in animal crossing areas

  ✅ Creation of a volunteer registry (for filling watering troughs, cleaning)

  ✅ Coordination with the Game Service for recording injured animals

  🛑 Creation of volunteer networks for monitoring and rescuing injured animals.

  🌱 Sowing of beekeeping and native plants (for insects & pollinators).

2. Medium-term measures (6–24 months)

• 🌱 Establish a community nursery of native plants (bushes for birds/reptiles)

  🌱 Place nest boxes & platforms for raptors/bats

  🐝 Support local beekeepers to reintegrate pollinators.

  🌱 Implement local regulations: dark-sky lighting, litter management, grazing control

  🌱 Organize volunteer prevention patrols with the Forest Department

  🐢 Protect natural shrubs & small habitats for reptiles/amphibians.

  🛠️ Design green corridors connecting the cut-off habitat pieces.

3. Strategic moves (2–5 years)

• 🔥 Fire prevention plans with fuel cleaning.

  🏞️ Promotion of nature trails and ecotourism.

  📊 Continuous species monitoring (in collaboration with the University of Cyprus, TEPAK, NGOs).

  💶 Systematic claim for European funds.

  📌 Submission of a proposal to LIFE – Nature & Biodiversity (through NCP Environment)

  📌 Integration of CAP measures 2023–2027: pollinator lanes, support for beekeeping

  📌 Creation of green corridors connecting NATURA areas

  📌 Collaborations with NGOs, universities, other Municipalities

🎯 Next Steps for Community Leaders

1. Recording of fauna/microfauna needs per community.

2. Contact with national contact points (LIFE, CAP, RDP).

3. Collaboration with neighboring communities for joint proposals (higher probability of funding).

4. Establishment of a local project team (community leader, farmers, forest rangers, volunteers).

5. Submission of proposals to EU & Cypriot state calls for proposals.

Community leaders can find money for projects that will help fauna and microfauna through various schemes:

• LIFE Programme – Nature & Biodiversity

  Gives money for species and habitat restoration.

  📞 Contact the Department of Environment at 22 408960.

  CAP – Agri-Environmental Measures

  Supports farmers and villages that plant for bees, pollinators and nature.

  📞 Ask the Department of Agriculture at 22 408519.

  RDP – Rural Development Programme

  Gives help for small local infrastructure, such as animal watering troughs, community nurseries, or nature trails.

  🌐 Visit cap.gov.cy or talk to the National Agricultural Network.

  ERDF & Cohesion Fund

  Larger programmes for infrastructure and sustainable development.

  📞 Contact the Directorate General for European Programmes (DG EPSA) at 22 601100.

  Ministry of Agriculture / Game & Fauna Service

  Provides small grants for bird nests, animal protection and hunting activities.

  📞 Ask the Ministry of Agriculture directly.

👉 Tip: Community leaders should collaborate with each other and with NGOs (e.g. BirdLife, Terra Cypria) to submit joint proposals. This way they have a better chance of having their plans approved and receiving funding.

Useful contacts (Cyprus)

• Game & Fauna Service: 2534 3800 (Limassol)

  Department of Environment – ​​LIFE NCP: 22 408 960 | director@environment.moa.gov.cy

  Department of Agriculture – CAP: 22 408 519 | director@da.moa.gov.cy

  Department of Forestry: moa.gov.cy/fd

🟢 Financial Tools for Fauna & Microfauna

1️⃣ European LIFE Programme – Nature & Biodiversity

• Objective: Protection of endangered species and habitats, restoration of burned areas, actions for pollinators and microfauna.

• Indicative projects: creation of bio-corridors, reintroduction of species, placement of artificial nests, enhancement of microfauna.

• Where to contact:

  LIFE National Contact Point in Cyprus: Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture

  📧 director@environment.moa.gov.cy | ☎️ 22 408960

2️⃣ Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027 – Agri-Environmental Measures

• Objective: Empower farmers and communities that adopt biodiversity-friendly practices.

• Indicative actions: sowing pollinator strips, supporting beekeeping, maintaining natural hedgerows/shrubs for birds & reptiles.

• Where to contact:

  Department of Agriculture – Ministry of Agriculture

  📧 director@da.moa.gov.cy | ☎️ 22 408519

3️⃣ Cyprus Rural Development Programme (CRP)

• It finances small local infrastructure and environmental actions in villages.

  Indicative actions: creation of small community nurseries, watering holes for animals, nature trails for environmental awareness.

  Where to go:

  National Agricultural Network (NAN) – in Nicosia

  🌐 cap.gov.cy

4️⃣ Cohesion Fund & European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

• Objective: Environmental infrastructure, natural disaster prevention, sustainable development.

• Where to contact:

  Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination and Development (DG EPCD)

  📧 planning@planning.gov.cy | ☎️ 22 601100

5️⃣ National Funds – Cyprus State

• Ministry of Agriculture: Special Projects for forest restoration and support for fire-affected communities.

• Game & Fauna Service: micro-grants for fauna protection, e.g. raptor nests, game support.

• Forestry Department: reforestation and restoration program for burned areas.

6️⃣ NGOs & International Collaborations

• BirdLife Cyprus, Terra Cypria, WWF Greece / Med: collaborations on biodiversity projects.

• European Investment Bank (EIB): low-interest loans for green community investments.

📌 What should the Community Leaders do:

1. Contact with National Contact Points (LIFE, CAP, RDP).

   Collaboration with Municipalities, NGOs and Universities to submit joint proposals (have a higher probability of success).

2. Formation of a local project team (e.g. community leader, farmers, foresters, volunteers).

3. Submission of proposals within the annual calls (e.g. LIFE in September, CAP per cycle).

⚠️ Citizens, do not rest! Community leaders have tools and programs in their hands that can bring money and projects for the protection of fauna and microfauna.

However, many are not even aware of their existence or let things pass by indifferently, as has happened for so many years. This must not happen again.

👉 It is the duty of all of us to pressure, ask and demand from the community leaders to pursue these programs, to make applications, to claim funds.

If they do not, our mountains will be left in ashes and desert.

💡 The power lies in the voice of the citizens. Do not let your representatives remain inactive. Demand accountability, demand action.

If we leave them, our mountains will be left in ashes and silence. 🌲🦉🐝

👉 Small actions today = Vital future for the fauna of the Limassol Mountains.