In the context of Covenant of Mayors and in particular their Energy and Climate Action Plans, the Municipalities Strovolou and Lakatamias, with his support Cyprus Energy Agency, proceeded to the design and development of a "Pollinator Park", along the Linear Park of the Field River.
The implementation activities of the two parks started in parallel last October and were completed shortly before the end of 2019. The actions to strengthen the pollinators were funded by the European network EIT Climate-KIC, in the context of the project 'Plan for Nature Based Solutions in Nicosiain which the Cyprus Energy Agency participated together with the two Municipalities.
The aim of the projects is mostly to enhance urban biodiversity, especially pollinators. That is, those species that contribute to the process of fertilization of flowering plants, thus enhancing their reproduction and fruiting. The main pollinators in Cyprus are insects such as the solitary bee, the common bee, the bumblebee, the moth and some species of butterfly.
As the name of the initiative presupposes, for the implementation of the two projects, the NBS-Nature Based Solutions approach was followed, in Greek "Solutions Based on Nature". Pollinators' parks have been inspired by the philosophy of sustainable development and the multiple benefits they offer in enhancing biodiversity, protecting and restoring urban ecosystems, while aiming for human well-being and environmental health. Such solutions have been shown to improve air quality, mitigate the negative effects of climate change and enhance urban resilience.
With 1 in 10 species of bees and butterflies on the verge of extinction due to the effects of climate change, declining plant populations and increasing pesticides and anthropogenic activities, plant fruiting and therefore the availability of fruits that are now considered given, are endangered. Therefore, in the implementation points of the two parks were placed special places for the pollinators and the bird fauna, such as bee-hotels and bird-feeders, plantations that favor the attraction of pollinators and are adapted to the local climate, e.g. tremithkia, teratsia, lavender, thyme, and finally signs were posted to inform and raise public awareness.
Since last January, and especially during the loose lifting of the measures against the coronavirus, there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the area, while the attraction of pollinators has not been delayed. This is an initiative embraced by both the citizens of the two Municipalities and nature itself and is something that the Cyprus Energy Agency envisions implementing in more places in the province of Nicosia (eg parks and private gardens).
A tour will convince you! 😊
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