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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	50-249 pairs	B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	winter (2005–2011)	400–1,200 birds	B1i, C3
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding (2005–2011)	1–5 pairs	C6
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter (2005–2011)	2,000–15,000 birds	A4i, B1i, C2
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo	LC	passage (2005–2011)	200–800 birds	B1i, C3
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	passage (2005–2011)	100–500 birds	B1i, C2
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	passage (2005–2011)	100–600 birds	B1i, C2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	passage (2005–2011)	100–750 birds	B1i, C2
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	breeding (2005–2012)	2–55 pairs	C6
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	passage (2005–2011)	200–450 birds	B1i, C2
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	LC	breeding (2005–2012)	12–125 pairs	B2, C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter (2005–2012)	10–40 birds	C1
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	LC	passage (2005–2011)	50–300 birds	B1i, C2
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus	EN	passage (2005–2011)	2–7 birds	A1, C1
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	2–4 pairs	C6
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus	NT	passage (2005–2011)	20–60 birds	A1, C1
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	passage (2005–2011)	250-999 birds	A1, C1
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus	VU	passage (2005–2011)	500–2,000 birds	A1, B1iii, C1, C2
Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	50–70 pairs	A4ii, B1iii, B2, C2, C6
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug	EN	passage (2005–2011)	5–20 birds	A1, C1
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	4–5 pairs	C6
Cyprus Warbler Curruca melanothorax	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	700–1,000 pairs	B3
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes	n/a	passage (2005–2011)	2,000–6,000 birds	B1iv, C5
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2005–2011)	6,000–22,000 birds	A4iii, C4

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1963	Limassol Lake (Akrotiri)	Game Reserve ("Hunting Preserve") (IV)	-
2003	Limassol Lake (Akrotiri)	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (Ia)	29
2010	SBAs Special Protection Area Episkopi Cliffs	Other (-)	7
2010	SBAs Special Protection Area Akrotiri Wetlands	Other (-)	48
2010	SBAs Special Protection Area Akrotiri Cliffs	Other (-)	5
2016	GF_10	Μόνιμα Απαγορευμένη Περιοχή Κυνηγίου (IV)	30
2016	GF_07	Μόνιμα Απαγορευμένη Περιοχή Κυνηγίου (IV)	16
2016	GF_12	Μόνιμα Απαγορευμένη Περιοχή Κυνηγίου (IV)	6

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Neritic	36
Artificial/Terrestrial	26	Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards and groves
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	22
Shrubland	16	Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs (Cyprus). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/akrotiri-peninsula--episkopi-cliffs-iba-cyprus on 22/12/2024.