Cyprus

Project Overview

CAMP Cyprus was one of the early pilot projects implemented under the Mediterranean Action Plan of the Barcelona Convention. The project aimed to support the Government of Cyprus in applying ICZM principles to address growing pressures on the island’s coastal areas.

CAMP Cyprus focused on testing practical tools and governance mechanisms for sustainable coastal development while balancing environmental protection with tourism, urban development and economic activities. The programme placed strong emphasis on integrating sectoral policies, strengthening institutional coordination and developing methodologies that could later be replicated in other Mediterranean countries.

The project also contributed to building national capacity for ICZM planning and provided a foundation for future coastal management initiatives in Cyprus.

Key Objectives

CAMP Cyprus focused on strengthening coastal governance and improving planning tools in order to:

introduce and test ICZM approaches in Cyprus
support the sustainable development of coastal areas facing rapid tourism and urbanisation pressures
improve coordination between sectoral institutions involved in coastal management
develop tools and methodologies for coastal planning and environmental management
strengthen national capacity for long-term coastal management and policy development

Main results

CAMP Cyprus produced a range of studies, pilot actions and planning tools that supported the introduction of ICZM principles in the country.

Key outputs included:

Integrated Coastal Area Management Framework
Development of methodological guidance and policy recommendations for implementing ICZM in Cyprus.
Coastal planning and management tools
Preparation of thematic analyses addressing coastal development, environmental protection and spatial planning needs.
Institutional and policy recommendations
Proposals to strengthen coordination among national authorities responsible for coastal management.
Capacity building and awareness raising
Training activities and stakeholder engagement processes helped promote ICZM concepts among public institutions and local actors.

These outputs helped establish a foundation for more integrated coastal governance in Cyprus and contributed to the broader development of ICZM approaches across the Mediterranean region.