Background Since Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, it has faced the challenge of adjusting its conservation and management strategies to the concepts, priorities and procedures arising from EU obligations. The European Commission mid-term assessment of implementing the EC Biodiversity Action Plan reported, in 2008, that Cyprus had identified 36 SCIs under the Habitats Directive, covering 711 km2 and 7 SPAs under the Birds Directive covering 788 km2. However, it was noted that none of the Natura 2000 sites had completed/agreed management plans. Cyprus proposed the acquisition of a management planning tool for its SCIs and SPAs, as well as implementation of urgent actions in five threatened SCIs - three of which are also SPAs. A number of factors are exerting pressure on these SCIs due to past and present human activities, including recreation, fisheries, wildfires, water management, exotic species plantations and expansion of cultivations. These factors have been degrading and/or shrinking the extent of priority habitats Posidonia beds*, Zizyphus lotus mattoral*, Vernal pools*, Alnus orientalis riparian woodland*, Quercus infectoria woodland* and Pinus nigra forest*. Objectives This first ever LIFE Nature project to be financed in Cyprus aimed to move the country forward in its protection of Sites of Community Interest. It thus targeted effective conservation of several targeted habitats and species. Having two strands, the project aimed on the one hand to elaborate specific management plans and create national management guidelines, which would ensure the effective long-term management of SCIs in Cyprus. On the other hand, the project planned to implement specific, immediate and one-off actions in five pilot pSCIs to secure a favourable conservation status for key habitat types and species. As well as having direct benefits on the target areas, it was hoped that the pilot actions would set standards and create experience in the management of Natura 2000 sites in Cyprus. Finally, the project planned to prepare and maintain a systematic monitoring and data storage scheme and develop capacity and experience in competent administration of SCIs. Raising the awareness by site users and the general public of the Natura 2000 network and its importance was another element. Results The Comanacy project succeeded in implementing conservation and protection measures in five Natura 2000 sites and in establishing the agreements and developing the capacity necessary for their long-term management. The project marked an important step forward in Cyprus’ nature conservation story. The major success of the project was that it established management plans for four of the five SCIs covered: Kavo Gkreko; Diarizou Valley; Vouni Panagias; and Troodos National Forest Park (NFP). These were approved by the central authorities in June 2008, although their finalisation is pending deliberations at the local level. Non-recurring interventions in the SCIs were carried out to have immediate impact on their conservation status. In Kavo Gkreko, the project removed exotic species and planted native Zizyphus lotus mattoral (5220*), and installed an anchoring system for vessels to protect Posidonia beds*. It conducted detailed mapping and signposting of Vernal Pools (3170*) in Kavo Gkreko and Serpentinophilous grasslands (62B0*) in Troodos NFP. It created pools in Diarizou Valley and undertook garbage clearing and removal of acacia plantations for the re-establishment of halophytic vegetation in Alykes Larnakas. Other habitat restoration and pilot management efforts included: enhancement of Alnus orientalis riparian woodland* pilot restoration works for Querqus infectoria woodland (93A0)* enhancement of the population of Scilla morrisii* pilot management of Pinus nigra forest (9536*) protection of Peat grasslands (6460*) protection of the populations of Chionodoxa lochiae* and Pinguicula crystallina* enhancement of the population of Arabis kennedyae*The project introduced sophisticated GIS tools for recording data on all the protected areas of Cyprus. Complementary to and integrated into the management plans, eleven monitoring plans were prepared for targeted habitats and species of flora and fauna. Following the project’s actions and systematic monitoring these plans were revised and developed. The management plans, monitoring plans and the data on priority habitats, species and aquatic parameters recorded in a new system during the project all contribute to building the capacity of the competent authorities to manage the entire Natura 2000 network in Cyrpus. The project instigated the preparation of another 21 management plans for Natura 2000 sites: 8 of these were completed within the project duration. The project contributed to public awareness on the environment and Natura 2000 through radio and TV spots, participation in events, brochures, open air and mobile exhibitions, and signposting at the project sites. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).