Troodos Forest (24493)
Cyprus, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Troodos Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.9300, Longitude: 32.8812
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 650 to 1952
Area of KBA (km2): 94.05874
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Dominated by the 1,951m Chionistra peak with its distinctive Black Pine (Pinus nigra) Forest, this is the highest elevation IBA in Cyprus, with a rich community of forest birds. Calabrian Pine (Pinus brutia) dominates on the lower slopes of the Endemic Bird Area site important for Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca), Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax), Cyprus Coal Tit (Parus ater cypriotes), Cyprus Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla dorothea), Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus). Non-qualifying breeders worth noting are Cyprus Scops Owl (Otus scops cyprius), Cyprus Jay (Garrulus glandarius glaszneri), Cretzschmar’s Bunting (Emberiza caesia), European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) and Blackbird (Turdus merula). ‘Troodos Forest’ IBA is also the only breeding site for the Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) on the island.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 3 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 1 | |
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Forest | 87 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Additional information
References: Hellicar, M.A., Anastasi, V., Beton, D. & Snape, R. (2014). Important Bird Areas of Cyprus. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.