Important Bird Areas (IBA's) and Special Protection Areas (SPA's)

Implementation of the EU Birds Directive

As an EU-member state, Cyprus is obliged to implement the provision of the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). This Directive provides for the most important sites for threatened, wetland and migratory birds to be designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA's). These areas should be managed to ensure proper conservation of the prority bird species they support.

BirdLife Cyprus pushes for proper implementation of the Birds Directive in Cyprus.

Our main tool in this campaign is our inventory of Important Bird Areas (IBA's) that has identified and mapped nineteen areas in Cyprus. The inventory was drawn up according to BirdLife International criteria which ensure the sites identified are suitable for designation as SPA's.

Important Bird Areas are recognised by the EU as a sound scientific basis for designating SPA's and we are lobbying for the designation of all nineteen areas.