A comprehensive study of the site was undertaken as part of the designation of the Alikos – Agios Sozomenos area as a Natura 2000 site. The resultant report notes that the site is the only inland area with halophytic (salt-tolerant) plants around a river. This is because the Alikos and the even smaller tributary, the Almyros, rarely flow and when they do carry many salts (see p. 37). In addition to the riverine area, the report notes (on p. 7) that
the hilly area around Agios Sozomenos is perhaps the most important refuge in the surrounding area … since it is a nesting area for birds and bats. It is also the only untouched part (if we except the neighboring quarry) of the site, if one considers the pressures the rest of the area is under from industry, residential development, agriculture, and the primary road network.
Aside from the bats and birds in the cliffs around Agios Sozomenos, there is a significant population of the turtle Mauremys rivulata.
The report was initiated in August 2006 and involved a variety of activities over the next 18 months. For instance, there was a systematic survey of the area’s flora and fauna. The goals established by the report aim towards the protection of species alongside the preservation of economic activities such as agriculture, and showcasing the natural environment alongside the cultural heritage of the area. I will not bore anyone by repeating the details contained in the 265-page (!) report, but will provide just a few highlights below. For instance, there is detailed information on the climate of the area in pp. 21–24, showing that it is arid (duh!). The lowest temperature recorded in Athienou is -3.9°C. That’s quite cold! In fact, the area was so dry that when water sampling was attempted in the rivers in March 2007 (the wettest time of the year), there was too little flowing to allow sampling (p. 26).
One of the other interesting parts of the study is the description of the attitude of the local communities. The authors write (on p. 89) that
In the area of Tseri [the expansion of residential zoning] was accelerated by the abolition of wells for irrigation and the conversion of agricultural areas into residential ones. On the eastern side, where the largest part of the river and the Natura 2000 area is to be found, the discussion about zoning is especially intense. It is essentially around this matter that disagreements and concerns were raised regarding the induction of the area into the Natura 2000 Network. In the meeting the representatives of the villages mentioned that they had submitted objections and generally there was a climate of waiting for changes, or at least a predilection towards fighting for changes.
Στην περιοχή Τσερίου αυτό φαίνεται να τροχοδρομήθηκε μέσα από την κατάργηση των διατρήσεων και τη μετατροπή γεωργικών περιοχών σε οικιστικές. Στην ανατολική πλευρά, όπου βρίσκεται και το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του ποταμού / περιοχής ΦΥΣΗ 2000, είναι έντονη επίσης η συζήτηση για τις πολεοδομικές ζώνες. Και είναι ουσιαστικά σε αυτόν το τομέα που εστιάστηκαν και οι διαφωνίες ή ανησυχίες για την ένταξη της υπό μελέτη περιοχής στο Δίκτυο ΦΥΣΗ 2000. Στη σύσκεψη οι εκπρόσωποι των κοινοτήτων ανέφεραν ότι είχαν υποβληθεί ενστάσεις και γενικά υπήρχε ένα κλίμα αναμονής για αλλαγές, ή τουλάχιστον προδιάθεσης για διεκδίκηση αλλαγών.
Two more things worth noting from the report are the “uncontrolled use” of the much of the river valley as an informal landfill (p. 100), and the presence of the sewage treatment plant for Nicosia and Larnaca not far from Agios Sozomenos (p. 101) — it is this treated sewage water, after all, that allows for irrigated alfalfa all year round.
The preparation included the development of a number of maps (all of them available here). For instance, the following map shows the basic hydrology of the area:
This cadastral map overlays the protected area (the dark green above) on the various plots and developments of the area:
