The Project

Darwin Plus (also known as The Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund) is a UK government grants scheme that helps deliver long-term strategic outcomes for the unique biodiversity, the natural environment and improving resilience to climate change within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). It is one of the Biodiversity Challenge Funds, which also includes the Darwin Initiative and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, aimed at conserving biodiversity and safeguarding the environment for local people.

Most projects will include one or more of the following themes:

Biodiversity: improving and conserving biodiversity, and slowing or reversing biodiversity loss and degradation;

Climate change: responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities;

Environmental quality: improving the condition and protection of the natural environment;

Capability and capacity building: enhancing the capacity within UKOTs to support the environment in the short- and long-term.

Projects contribute to the delivery of existing commitments for individual Territories, such as those set out within the national biodiversity strategies, environmental action plans and roadmaps, or equivalent.

You can find more information here.

The Akrotiri Salt Lake (ASL) is one of the most important wetlands in Cyprus with socio-economic and ecological significance. Part of an IBA, a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area, and a Ramsar Site, ASL is threatened by land use and climate changes, which exert a significant impact on this fragile ecosystem. By implementing concrete on the ground actions, including restoration (plants and soils), raising awareness, stakeholders’ engagement, the project will enhance long-term resilience of the ASL.

The project has three main objectives: 

A. Enhance Resilience by improving the ecosystem’s ability to withstand and recover from adverse conditions.

B. Implement on-ground actions such as habitat restoration and establishment of Plant Micro-Reserves (PMRs).

C. Raise Awareness and Engage Stakeholders by promote active participation from local communities and stakeholders to support long- term conservation. 

In order to reach the project objectives, a number of Activities will be implemented during the course of ARISE. The main of them are: 

1.Spatial Prioritization Framework

2.Establishment of PMRs

3.Biological Soil Crust Restoration

4.Ex-situ conservation for targeted plant species

5.Aquatic habitat re-creation in degraded areas

6.Regulating vehicle and visitor’s access

7.Sustainability Appraisal