Background Conservation efforts for birds have been very infrequent in Cyprus to date. The project, however, will develop a new cooperation between the Game and Fauna Service, which is the competent authority for bird conservation, and the Department of Forests. The project addresses 11 Annex I species of the Birds Directive, through management measures in three Natura 2000 sites (Kavo Gkreko, Koshi and Potamos Panagias Stazousas). Illegal practices, such as poaching and trapping of birds with lime-sticks and nets, are quite common and lead to the loss of a large number of mostly small birds. Intensified forest activities have gradually led to a drastic alteration of bird habitats, the reduction of openings in forest stands and to the introduction of alien plant species, which produce limited amounts of food for birds. Intensification of agriculture has resulted in the gradual abandonment of small agricultural orchards and ponds within the forests. Access points to water sources for birds in the project areas are particularly scarce. Objectives The project aims to implement conservation/management measures that will substantially improve ecological conditions for selected bird species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive found in three Natura 2000 sites in Cyprus. It also plans to demonstrate to Cypriot foresters and other stakeholders the benefits of adopting a more holistic forest management approach that addresses the needs of birds. These goals will be achieved by: improving the availability of food in the project sites; improving the availability of permanent water sources during the long dry period; enhancing nesting conditions in the sites; reducing human disturbance through more awareness and limiting access in sensitive areas; restoring bird habitats in the sites; contributing toward combating bird crime through strict enforcement of legislation and implementation of an effective communication campaign; introducing practices during routine forest management that favour birds; and increasing public awareness on the need to conserve bird populations. Expected results: A change in the forest management policy in Cyprus to incorporate bird conservation measures; Improvement of the conservation status of 11 Annex I (Birds Directive) bird species in the three project sites – through an increase of the number of nesting pairs of breeding species by at least 10%; Reduction by 30% of the average number of bird trapping/killing incidents recorded in the project sites – through strict enforcement of legislation, planned patrolling, an awareness campaign and limiting access to trapping sites; An integrated management plan for the Koshi site; Assessment of the population size for all the targeted bird species; Creation of five traditional agricultural fields with an area of 10 000 m2 in the three project sites; Installation of 200 nests, sowing of 30 000 m2 with cereals/legumes, establishment of 12 watering points, two rainwater collecting aprons, and construction of 350 m of stonewalls; Construction of a weir in the driest of the project sites (Koshi) along the main gulley; Removal of 6 000 trees/shrubs of alien/invasive species from Kavo Gkreko and Koshi; Restoration of 6 ha of five habitat types of Annex I (Habitats Directive) in the gaps created by the removal of alien species; and Public awareness activities including the production of a documentary on birds, organisation of bird-watching competitions among school children, workshops, educational excursions.