News

The ‘iLIFE-TROODOS Treasure hunt’ App has been created within the framework of the project ‘Troodos National Forest Park: Promoting natural values and Ecosystem Services’ (LIFE16 GIE/CY/000709), which is co-funded by the LIFE program of the European Union.

The App includes three treasure hunt games, each of which corresponds to a different thematic section: Environmental Route, Cultural Heritage Route and Platania Picnic Site. The first two thematic sections are for adults and the third section for children aged 10-15.

During the game, the players will have the opportunity to familiarize with the natural areas and infrastructures in the area of Troodos National Forest Park and to acquire knowledge on environmental issues and the cultural heritage of the area.

The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

The ‘Troodos National Forest Park (iLIFE-TROODOS)’ App has been created within the framework of the project ‘Troodos National Forest Park: Promoting natural values and Ecosystem Services’ (LIFE16 GIE/CY/000709), which is co-funded by the LIFE program of the European Union. The App aims to provide information to the visitors of the Troodos National Forest Park about the natural values of the Park and the ecosystem services it provides. It seeks to become the ultimate tool for the visitors, providing information regarding the biodiversity of the area and the available opportunities for recreation, like:
– Camping and picnic sites,
– Nature trails,
– Cycling routes,
– Accommodation,
– Restaurants,
– Museums,
– Churches,
– Waterfalls,
– Environmental centers, etc.

Moreover, the app includes weather information, calorie counter and many other capabilities.

All points of interest are geotagged and provide the option to navigate via Google maps to the selected point.

The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

On the 27th August 2019 come along with your friends and family at Platania in order to meet the partners of the iLIFE-TROODOS project. You will get the opportunity to talk with them and have a fruitful discussion and exchange of opinions during the Radio Live Link of DIESI 101.1 radio.

You will also get the chance to attend the opening of the information point that was established within the framework of the Project, by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Dr Costas Kadis. The information kiosk includes eight information panels with eye-catching pictures and texts and an information outdoor touch screen. The touch screen provides information about the Troodos National Forest Park (biodiversity, ecosystem services, etc.), information about the available recreational activities and games like multiple choice questions and puzzles.

During the event, the nomination of the winners of the Photo Contest with the subject “Troodos, it is in our nature” will take place. The Contest was organized in collaboration with the Cyprus Photographic Society (Nicosia Branch). Using their photo cameras, the participants were encouraged to “capture” the Park’s natural beauty and show the variety of habitats, flora and fauna species, geology and natural landscapes throughout the four seasons of the year.

Our little friends will be able to play with Dentris a treasure hunt game at the Platania picnic site. This can be done by downloading on their smart phones the app «iLIFE-TROODOS Treasure hunt».

An information point was established at ‘Platania’ picnic site within the framework of the iLIFE-TROODOS project. The information kiosk includes eight information panels with eye-catching pictures and texts and an information outdoor touch screen. The touch screen provides information about the Troodos National Forest Park (biodiversity, ecosystem services, etc.), information about the available recreational activities and games like multiple choice questions and puzzles. The design and construction of the information kiosk allows 24 hours access per day throughout the year and it is suitable for wheelchair users.

On 27 June 2019 between 09:45 a.m and 12:30 p.m a Tourism Sector’s Workshop was organized at the Philoxenia Conference Center. The workshop was co-organized by the iLIFE-TROODOS project and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the British High Commission in Nicosia.

The iLIFE-TROODOS project organized the workshop under Action B.2 of the project. The workshop aims at raising awareness on the natural values and ecosystem services provided by the Troodos National Forest Park, in building capacity of tourism industry sector, as well as promoting safety of tourists in Cyprus.

Workshop Agenda

The iLIFE-TROODOS project is pleased to announce the winners of the Photo Contest with the subject “Troodos, it is in our nature”.
• 1st Award and cash prize €1000 to Aristides Kalogirou for the photo «Magical Forest»
• 2nd Award and cash prize €500 to Marinos Angelides for the photo «Morning in the snow»
• 3rd Award and cash prize €300 to Constantinos Panayides for the photo «A cold morning»
• 1st Praise and cash prize €50 to Aristides Kalogirou for the photo «Mushrooms and Elves»
• 2nd Praise and cash prize €50 to Theodoros Theodorou for the photo «Waterfall»
• 3rd Praise and cash prize €50 to Nektarios Kammas for the photo «Forest Sunshine»
• 4th Praise and cash prize €50 to Pantelis Nikolaides for the photo «Hantara fall»

Congratulations to all winners!

The Contest had a duration of one year and was organized within the framework of the project iLIFE-TROODOS, which is co-funded by the European Union, in collaboration with the Cyprus Photographic Society (Nicosia Branch). The contest aimed to highlight the natural – inherent value of the forest ecosystem of Troodos National Forest Park regarding its biodiversity. Using their photo cameras, the participants were encouraged to “capture” the Park’s natural beauty and show the variety of habitats, flora and fauna species, geology and natural landscapes throughout the four seasons of the year.

The partners of the iLIFE-TROODOS project (Department of Forests, Department of Environment, Frederick University, Contact Advertising Agency Ltd) would like to thank all the participants of the Contest and inform that photos will be utilized for the project’s campaign in order to promote the natural values and ecosystem services of Troodos National Forest Park.

The submission of photos for the Photo Contest with the subject “Troodos, it is in our nature” was completed on 10th April 2019. At the Contest, which was organized within the framework of the project iLIFE-TROODOS, 65 amateur and professional photographers participate (494 photographs were submitted in total).

We are very grateful to all those who took part in the Contest and we would like to inform you that the evaluation of the photographs submitted by a special committee is expected soon..

Three awards and four praises will be awarded. Specifically,
• 1st award: cash prize €1000
• 2nd award: cash prize €500
• 3rd award: cash prize €300
• Four praises: cash prize €50 each.

Selected photos will be presented at a mobile exhibition that will take place in popular places of Cyprus within the framework of iLIFE-TROODOS project.

The article entitled “The Natura 2000 Network in Cyprus and the project iLIFE-TROODOS” was published in the German journal ANLiegen Natur in May 2019. The article referred to the objectives and actions of the iLIFE-TROODOS project as well as to the Natura 2000 Network in Cyprus which comprises of 64 terrestrial sites, out of which 34 are Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), 7 are Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and 30 are Special Protection Areas (SPA).

The main purpose of the publication was to promote the project objectives and results to those stakeholders that could usefully benefit from its experience. The article can be found here (at German language).