The mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services are valuable tools for facilitating the integration of conservation goals into all sectoral policies and spatial planning. By assessing ecosystem services, the economic benefits of ecosystem conservation and, consequently, the services they provide can be compared to any proposed land-use change (e.g., residential and industrial development). The recording, mapping, and assessment of ecosystem services in Cyprus will significantly contribute to the successful completion of biodiversity conservation efforts, especially if supported by public awareness programs about the services provided by various ecosystems in Cyprus.

The Nagoya Protocol came into effect on October 12, 2014, establishing a general framework for access to and utilization of genetic resources. In the EU, Regulation 511/2014 is applied to monitor the compliance of users of genetic resources to ensure the legality of their acquisition and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use. The Republic of Cyprus implements the Regulation through the national law N.49(I)/2018. Genetic resources must be recorded and safeguarded by enhancing research on the genetic structure and composition of wildlife populations and ex situ conservation. Implementing the relevant measures of the Biodiversity Action Plan, such as creating an online database for genetic resources, will directly assist in achieving these goals.

Capacity building for biodiversity conservation will emerge from the implementation of an integrated plan for capacity improvement in biodiversity issues. In this context, a pivotal role will be played by the organization of workshops to train the staff of all involved stakeholders (e.g., local authorities, public services and departments, non-governmental organizations, and others) on biodiversity issues and the ecological value of protected areas. Additionally, the development and implementation of a capacity-building plan related to the management of protected areas is anticipated. Furthermore, the creation of a specialized platform for promoting and utilizing citizen science is also foreseen

To achieve biodiversity conservation goals, these must be integrated into all sectoral state policies to ensure that they are considered during the preparation of development programs and to minimize the impact on biodiversity. This ensures the compatibility of activities in various sectors (like agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, energy, tourism, construction, industrial development, infrastructure and public roadworks), with biodiversity conservation efforts. The Action Plan includes a program of measures to integrate biodiversity conservation goals into Cyprus' major sectoral policies. Particularly in the agriculture sector, a series of measures that contribute to biodiversity conservation will be implemented through the Rural Development Program. Also, special emphasis is placed on preventing and addressing fires, which constitute a significant factor in biodiversity loss in Cyprus.

The targeted management actions for invasive species registered so far in the EU list issued under Regulation 1143/2014, as well as other species identified as of national interest, will be implemented within the framework of the Regulation and new national legislation aimed at reducing the spread of species and mitigating their adverse impacts on biodiversity. The effective management of invasive species requires an integrated system with prevention measures, such as restrictions and the management of introduction pathways, early detection measures like surveillance and checks to prevent species introduction, rapid eradication measures in the early stages of invasion, and monitoring and management measures for widespread species. To this end, a database of invasive species in Cyprus should be created, which can also serve as a national interest list, and a national action plan should be developed based on the collected data, followed by the drafting and implementation of action plans for addressing the most harmful invasive species. Public information and training programs about the risks and damage caused by the spread of invasive alien species to local biodiversity will also play a supportive but crucial role.

The implementation of the Strategy can be funded by national resources, as well as various European funds, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60/EC - River Basin Management Plans), the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD 2008/56/EC), the LIFE and Interreg programs, and other relevant sectoral programs. Various research activities related to biodiversity and its conservation can be funded through the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF). Establishing a specialized structure for resource mobilization to develop research and other actions related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of natural resources and areas in the Natura 2000 Network will help formulate a comprehensive plan for optimal utilization of available resources.

The increasing trend of urbanization risks to further distancing people from nature, with potential negative impacts on human health, leading to reduced understanding of biodiversity and the ecosystem services provided by the natural environment. The Target focuses on the importance of including biodiversity and creating space for nature within urban planning to improve citizens' health and quality of life and reduce the environmental footprint of cities (with populations of at least 20,000 people) and infrastructure. At the same time, it aims at proper spatial planning to minimize the negative impacts of urban expansion, roads, and other infrastructure on biodiversity. Green and blue spaces contribute in this direction by having several positive effects on human physical and mental well-being. Ensuring the availability and accessibility of such areas is particularly important, given that they provide significant habitats for species, improve habitat connectivity, offer ecosystem services, and help mitigate extreme events.

Biodiversity conservation efforts that are not supported by local communities are very difficult to succeed. The Target places special emphasis on raising public awareness and encouraging citizen participation in biodiversity conservation. Some of the measures included in the Action Plan are the implementation of public awareness and participation plans in the management of protected areas, the development of awareness and training programs for farmers to adopt good practices, and the production of educational material on Cyprus' biodiversity.

Biodiversity conservation efforts rely on basic knowledge of species biology and ecology, as well as on fundamental knowledge of the structure and function of habitats and ecosystems. Therefore, supporting basic research and increasing available knowledge on all components of biodiversity is directly linked to the successful completion of biodiversity conservation efforts. The target places special emphasis on improving available knowledge through the implementation of relevant measures, such as promoting research on biodiversity issues and the creation of a National Museum of Natural History.

The sustainable use of biological and natural resources requires, among other things, the assessment of the condition of agricultural land, pastures, and water resources, as well as the evaluation of the effectiveness of management measures for fisheries (in specific areas), to prevent further degradation. Based on this assessment, effective measures can be designed to ensure their sustainable use and halt biodiversity loss due to the degradation of terrestrial and aquatic resources.

To improve governance related to the management of protected areas, it is proposed to create a Management Platform for the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network. This platform will facilitate cooperation and coordination between the responsible departments/services and reduce administrative burdens. The preparation of management structures for protected areas outside state forests will be discussed.

The Council of Ministers of Cyprus adopted the National Adaptation Strategy for Climate Change in May 2017 (assessed annually) and the National Plan for Energy and Climate, 2021-2030. This two strategies are under a review process, to reflect new goals and data. Along with the adoption of the Strategy and Action Plan for Combating Desertification, the impacts of climate change on biodiversity will be addressed holistically, as the measures they include overlap with several measures of the Biodiversity Action Plan. The three Strategies (on biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, and desertification), along with the National Energy and Climate Plan, will work synergistically towards achieving their common goals. It is expected that coordination in their implementation will play a catalytic role in mobilizing resources and executing related measures. Regarding the impacts of climate change within the Biodiversity Strategy for Cyprus, promoting research on investigating the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of Cyprus and drafting an adaptation plan for protected areas to climate change are of particular importance.

For biodiversity conservation, it is essential to create an integrated recording system, based on which, monitoring and evaluation of the conservation status of species and habitats takes place. The implementation of necessary conservation measures should be immediate, and the restoration of habitats and ecosystems must always be based on management plans and guidelines developed on a case-by-case basis. Measures included in the Biodiversity Action Plan, such as the drafting of national action plans for species and habitats, will help achieve these goals. Additionally, landscape features must be considered in spatial planning to avoid adverse effects from landscape alteration (implementation of Article 10 of the Habitats Directive).

The management of protected areas will improve with the re-evaluation/updating of existing management plans (where necessary) and the completion of the institutional framework through the issuance of Protection and Management Decrees for Special Areas of Conservation, under Article 15 of the Nature and Wildlife Protection Law (153(I)/2003), as well as Protection and Management Decrees for Special Protection Areas (SPAs), under Article 7(5) of the Wild Birds and Game Law (152(I)/2003). The management of protected areas and their protection targets (habitats, species, and landscape coherence) will contribute to halting biodiversity loss by addressing pressures and threats that an area may face, as well as restoring habitats and species habitats. Emphasis should be placed on the coherence of the Natura 2000 network, ensuring the protection of landscape elements that contribute to biodiversity conservation. A useful tool, for example, is the creation of ecological corridors between protected areas. The Biodiversity Action Plan includes measures directly aimed at improving the management of protected areas and is in line with the Priority Action Framework (PAF) for the Natura 2000 Network for the programming period 2014-2020 and 2021-2027.