Flora & Fauna of Cyprus

The rich natural vegetation of Cyprus is explained by its geographical position among three continents. The flora may be divided into four broad categories: forests, maquis, garrigue and herbaceous plants.  The forest occupy 1.591,13 sq. km and represent 17.2% of the total area of the island. The main forest trees are the wild pine (Pinus brutia), the Troodos pine  (Pinus nigra) and the cedars (Cedrus brevifolia) which are found in the Cedar Valley, Tripylos and other places.  On the igneous slopes grow mainly golden oaks (Quercus alnifolia) and strawberry shrubs (Arbutus unedo), while the mountain valleys carry hardwood species, such as plane trees, alder and maple. In the coastal areas, as in Akamas, junipers predominate.  The maquis vegetation which grows mainly on siliceous soils, incudes plants such as rose laurel, arbutus, myrtle rosemary, etc.  The garrigue which is a scrub vegetation grows mainly on limestone soils and includes plants like lentisk, thyme and capes, as well as other aromatic xerophytes.  The herbaceous plants are medium-sized with soft stems which become dry during certain seasons and are used for animal feeding.  The same factors that influence the flora of Cyprus are responsible for the fauna of Cyprus. The leading special of present- day fauna are the tame animals.  The moufflon, which has been living n the forests of Cyprus since ancient times, is a variety of wild sheep and is currently the only large wild animal in the island.  In addition, Cyprus has a great variety of insects and mites.  The position of the island between the relatively cold North-European countries and the warm countries of the African continent renders Cyprus an ideal stopover for migratory birds, particularly during the autumn, winter and spring months. Larnaka and Limassol lakes, for instance, attract a great number of migratory birds. The coastal waters of the island have a variety of fish, while crabs and sponges and certain Echinodermata are also found.

Extract from  the Touring Guide of Cyprus published by SELAS PUBLICATIONS