Cyprus – Charalambos Panayiotou, CEO of Atlantis Innovation and Environment and Greenovate! Europe Board Member, has received an award for his contribution to pioneering the Natura 2000 network in Cyprus.
Under the auspices of Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr. Costas Kadis, Cyprus marked the Natura 2000 and World Biodiversity Day at the Cape Greco Environmental Information and Educational Centre.
Natura 2000 is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world stretching over 18% of the EU’s land area and almost 9.5% of its marine territory. In Cyprus, the Natura 2000 network includes 63 areas, from Akamas to Cape Greco, which operate as a protective shield for many rare or endangered species of flora and fauna and for rare habitats.
Said Charalambos, “It was a great honour to be recognised as one of the pioneering contributors to creating the Natura 2000 Network in Cyprus. This long term and ambitious effort started under the guidance of Professor Kyriakos Georgiou from the University of Thessaloniki more than 20 years ago.”
