Location of Pilot Area 

The Cyprus pilot area comprises the 14 communities of the Morphou Complex: Agia Eirini, Agia Marina, Agios Georgios Kafkalou, Akaki, Astromeritis, Vyzakia, Kannavia, Kato Koutrafas, Kato Moni, Nikitari, Xyliatos, Orounta, Peristerona, and Potami. These 14 communities also constitute Community Service Cluster E, under the new local government reform initiative. Together, they span an area of 250 km² and have a combined population of 10,563 people, as recorded in the 2021 census.

The pilot area leads for Cyprus are the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center of The Cyprus Institute (CYI) with team members Adriana Bruggeman, Christos Zoumides, Hakan Djuma and Andreas Savvides, and AKTI Project and Research Centre (AKTI) with team members Demetra Petsa, Christina Fessa and Elisavet Felekidou.

> Land Use

In the plains, the primary land use is rainfed barley cultivation, with irrigated vegetables, potatoes, and olive and citrus trees grown in smaller areas. Barley is typically sown after the first main rainfall events in November and harvested between March and May. The crop is generally baled whole, without harvesting the grain, and used as livestock feed. In drought years, no crop is harvested, making these marginal, rainfed croplands susceptible to desertification.

In the foothill areas, barley cultivation still persists, as well as olive groves. The mountainous regions are covered by pine forests, predominantly consisting of Pinus brutia species. Historically, agriculture in the mountains was practiced on dry-stone terraces, with cultivation of grapes, deciduous fruit trees, and occasionally vegetables. However, much of the terraced land has been abandoned, allowing natural vegetation to reclaim these areas.

> Key Stakeholders

At a local level the main stakeholders are farmers, landowners and the local authorities of the 14 communities. Stakeholders at district or national level with involvement in the pilot area are the Department of Agriculture, including Agricultural Extension, the Department of Environment and the Agricultural Research Institute, all under the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation, agricultural and environmental researchers and educators at universities and colleges, farmer unions, and agricultural and environmental consultants and companies.

> Factors affecting desertification

The Cyprus pilot area faces several key challenges related to desertification. These include low and declining soil organic matter, low and variable rainfall, prolonged droughts, unpredictable temperature extremes and mono-cropping of cereals (barley after barley). The pilot area is also affected by groundwater overexploitation and contamination. The land around Orounda, on the eastern side of the pilot area, is a nitrate vulnerable area.

> Combatting Desertification

Traditional approaches for combatting desertification in the rainfed croplands include barley-legume rotations, application of animal manure (undigested) and stubble grazing by small ruminants. The Cyprus Rural Development Program 2023-2027 includes support measures aimed at improving soil organic matter and quality, such as (i) application of compost for grain crops (minimal 60 m³/ha) and for tree crops, vines, vegetables, and potatoes (30 m³/ha); and (ii) chipping of pruning materials and  application of the chipped material to the soil. The National Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change in Cyprus includes the identification and promotion of the use of indigenous and other genetic material (plant and animal) adapted to the soil-climatic conditions that will be brought about by climate change, as one of its adaptation measures. This measure falls under the responsibility of the Agricultural Research Institute and the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. The Agricultural Research Institute also coordinates the LIFE AgrOassis project (2022-2026), which aims to regenerate soils by mulching and minimum or no tillage, install hedgerows and produce and apply composts in degraded agricultural land.

> TESTED INNOVATIONS

The innovations that will be tested in the pilot area are: 

Agrobiogel – A gel made from 100% wood that mimics humus. It absorbs and stores water from rain or irrigation in the soil and then slowly releases it back to the plants during dry periods.

Imflorestal produce Ecochar – a biochar-compost mixture that restructures soil, adds carbon and reduces the need for reduces the need for water and fertilisers. It is inspired by “terra preta do indio”, or Indian black earth  – a very fertile dark soil found in the Amazon basin. 

ISOTECH – Compost made from green waste that has been gathered through a Circular Green Waste Management Scheme. The compost mitigates soil degradation by mimicking litter/humus, and aims to be much more affordable than standard composts.

Poultry manure pellets are made from the organic waste of poultry. It supplies organic carbon and readily available nutrients, improving microbial biomass/activity, nutrient cycling, and soil structure.