| Cyprus Mediterranean forests | |
|---|---|
 Hillside in Karpaz, northern Cyprus | |
 Topographic map of Cyprus | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub |
| Geography | |
| Area | 9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi) |
| Countries |
|
| Elevation | sea level to 1,952 m |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical/endangered |
TheCyprus Mediterranean forests is a terrestrial ecoregion that encompasses the island ofCyprus.
The island has aMediterranean climate, and is in theMediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrubbiome found in the lands in and around theMediterranean Sea.
Cyprus lies in the easternMediterranean Sea. It is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean, with an area of 9,251 km².
TheTroodos Mountains lie in the southwest of the island, andMount Olympus (aka Chionistra), Cyprus' highest peak, reaches an elevation of 1,952 m. The lowerKyrenia Mountains (aka Pentadaktylos Mountains) run east and west along the island's northeast coast. TheMesaoria lowlands lie in central part of the island between the two ranges.
The island's range of topography and soils support diverse plant communities, including mountain conifer and broadleaf forests, open woodlands, grasslands, high shrublands (maquis), and low shrublands (garrigue or phrygana).[1]
There are 1,750 native plant species on the island, of which 128 areendemic. Endemic species are concentrated in the Troodos Mountains (87 species), Kyrenia Mountains (57 species), andAkamas peninsula (35 species).[2]
Two endangered endemic trees, theCyprus cedar (Cedrus brevifolia) andgolden oak or Cyprus oak (Quercus alnifolia), are found only in the Troodos Mountains.[3]
Other endemic species includegeophytes such asScilla lochiae (syn.Chionodoxa lochiae),Crocus cyprius,Crocus veneris,Cyclamen cyprium,Gagea juliae, andTulipa cypria, and aromatic herbs such asNepeta italica subsp.troodi (syn.Nepeta troodi),Origanum cordifolium,Salvia willeana,Teucrium cyprium,Teucrium micropodioides, andThymus integer.[2]
The island is home to 36 species of mammals, 26 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 397 species of birds. TheCyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelimi ophion), a subspecies of wild sheep, isendemic to the island.[1] TheCyprus warbler (Curruca melanothorax) andCyprus wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca) breed only on Cyprus.[2]
Two sea turtles, thegreen sea turtle (Chelona mydas) and theloggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), and the endangeredMediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) breed on Cyprus' shores.[1]
The extinctCyprus dwarf elephant (Palaeoloxodon cypriotes),Cyprus dwarf hippopotamus (Hippopotamus minor) once lived on Cyprus. Both species are examples ofInsular dwarfism. The cave shelter atAetokremnos includes remains of dwarf hippos and elephants butchered by humans approximately 11,500 to 12,000 years ago.
752.26 km² of the island's land area is protected.[1] Protected areas in the Republic of Cyprus include seven nature reserves, eleven national forest parks, 13 permanent game reserves, and one turtle nesting beach (Lara-Toxeftra, 1.01 km²). The nature reserves areChionistra (0.99 km²), Drys Tis Lanias, Kyros Potamos (0.23 km²), Livadhi Tou Pasha (0.26 km²), Madari (11.37 km²), Pikromiloudhi (0.95 km²), and Tripylos - Mavroi Kremmoi (33.31 km²). The national forest parks areAkamas (76.62 km²), Athalassa (8.71 km²), Ayios Nikadros (0.26 km²), Kavo Gkreko (5.0 km²), Pedagogiki Akademia (0.45 km²),Petra Tou Romiou (3.51 km²), Polemidia (1.27 km²), Potamos Liopetriou (0.88 km²), and Troodos (90.62 km²).[4]
In 2015, TroodosUNESCO Global Geopark was created in theTroodos Mountains, with an area of 1149.8 km². It encompasses most of the Troodos range, including several smaller protected areas.[5][6]
Media related toCyprus Mediterranean forests at Wikimedia Commons