Report - ICP Forests

102 4. National Survey Reports in 2009
4.6 Cyprus
The annual assessment of crown condition was conducted on 15 Level I plots, during the period
August - October 2009. The assessment covered the main forest ecosystems of Cyprus, and a
total of 362 trees of Pinus brutia, Pinus nigra and Cedrus brevifolia were assessed. A
comparison of the results with those of the previous year shows significant improvement for all
species.
A comparison with the results of the previous year 2008 shows a decrease by 0.02 percent points
of the trees being in class 0 (not defoliated). An increase by 10.7 percent points was observed in
class 1 (moderately defoliated). A decrease was observed in the other two classes, by 11.0
percent points in class 2 (slightly defoliated) and by 0.3 percent points in class 3 (severely
defoliated). Two trees were dead and were recorded in class 4 (dead).
A significant decrease in class 2 and an increase in class 1 compared with the assessment of the
year 2008 is mainly due to the sufficient rainfall in 2008-2009 compared to the rainless period
2007-2008.
In the case of Pinus brutia, 3.3% of the sample trees showed no defoliation, 57.5% were slightly
defoliated, 37.2% were moderately defoliated, 1.7% were severely defoliated and 0.3% were
dead. Comparing the results with those of 2008, no changes were observed in class 0 (not
defoliated). In class 1 and class 4, an increase by 12.8 percent points and 0.3 percent points,
respectively, was observed. A decrease by 13.1 percent points was observed in class 2 (slightly
defoliated) and by 1.3 percent points in class 3 (severely defoliated). In class 3 (severely
defoliated) no changes were detected.
In Pinus nigra, 0% of the sample trees showed no defoliation, 69.4% of the sample trees showed
slight defoliation while 30.6% were moderately defoliated. Comparing with the previous year’s
results, a decrease by 2.8 percent points in class 0 (no defoliation) and 5.6 percent points of the
trees being in class 1 (slightly defoliated), was observed. An increase by 8.3 percent points was
detected in class 2 (moderately defoliated).
In Cedrus brevifolia, 4% of the sample trees showed no defoliation, 88% of them were slightly
defoliated, 4% were moderately defoliated and 4% were dead. Compared with the results of the
previous year, an increase by 4.0 percent points in class 0 and by 8.8 percent points in class1
(slightly defoliated) was observed. In class 4, an increase by 4.0 percent points was observed as
well. A decrease by 8.7 percent points in class 2 and by 4.2 percent points in class 3 was
observed.
99.2% of the trees were not discoloured.
From the total number of sample trees surveyed, 65.6% showed signs of insect attack and 9.7%
showed signs of attack by “other agents” (lichens, dead branches and rat attacks). 18.9%
showed signs of both factors (insect attack and other agents). The major abiotic factor causing
defoliation during the year 2009 was the adverse climatic condition (drought) prevailing in
Cyprus the last years. As a result of the drought, half of the trees were attacked by Leucaspis
spp., which contributed to the defoliation during the year 2009 as a secondary factor. No
damage was attributed to any of the known air pollutants.