• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	50–150 pairs	C6
Cyprus Scops-owl Otus cyprius	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	200–500 pairs	B2
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	300–1,200 pairs	B2
Coal Tit Periparus ater	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	2,000–6,000 pairs	C6
Cyprus Warbler Curruca melanothorax	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	2,000–3,000 pairs	A2, B2
Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	1,000–1,500 pairs	A2, B2
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	800–1,200 pairs	B2
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	400–900 pairs	B3, C6

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

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
2004	Machairas	National Forest Park (II)	43
2014	Troodos Range to South West Shores	Περιοχές Εξαιρετικής Φυσικής Καλλονής (VI)	74
2014	Periohi Kionia	Ακτές και Περιοχές Προστασίας της Φύσης (IV)	4
2014	Fraktis Lythrodonta	Προστατευόμενα Τοπία (V)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	72	Native coniferous woodland
Shrubland	18	Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis; Scrub
Artificial/Terrestrial	7	Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Other urban and industrial areas
Grassland	3

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mahairas Forest - Tzionia (Cyprus). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mahairas-forest--tzionia-iba-cyprus on 24/12/2024.