The Phragmographysis project – first barrier inventory in Cyprus along Diarizos catchment to enable free-flowing connectivity

Introduction

The project focuses on the Diarizos River, which drains a 278 km² catchment in south-west Cyprus and comprises approximately 109 km of river network. Flow is perennial in the upper reaches and becomes intermittent downstream. Despite hydrological alteration, the catchment supports important aquatic and riparian habitats and species of European importance, including populations of the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

The river corridor overlaps four Natura 2000 sites and includes habitat types of European importance, such as riparian forests (92A0, 92C0, 92D0) and intermittently flowing Mediterranean rivers (3290). Land use transitions from forested uplands to agricultural areas downstream. River stretches are intersected by multiple small structures (e.g. culverts, fords, weirs), fragmenting longitudinal connectivity. Although identified in the River Basin Management Plan as a priority for connectivity restoration, the Diarizos River currently lacks the data and planning framework required to enable implementation.

Project context and opportunity

Rivers in Cyprus are highly fragmented by dams and numerous small barriers, yet no systematic inventory, prioritisation, or removal strategy exists. While the Water Framework Directive, EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and Nature Restoration Regulation call for restoring river connectivity, implementation is constrained by the absence of data, technical capacity, and dedicated funding mechanisms.

In the Diarizos catchment – identified in the River Basin Management Plan as a priority for connectivity restoration – no comprehensive barrier dataset or removal pipeline is available.

The Phragmographysis project addresses this gap by delivering the first field-verified barrier inventory and prioritisation framework in Cyprus. It directly enables action by producing a shortlist of feasible removal candidates and preparing an Open Rivers Programme A2 (pre-demolition) application. The project creates a replicable national model for barrier removal, enabling Cyprus to operationalise EU restoration targets while contributing to the broader European effort to restore free-flowing rivers.

Project aims

The project aims to establish the first comprehensive, field-verified inventory of river barriers in Cyprus and to create a clear, evidence-based pathway for restoring longitudinal connectivity in the Diarizos catchment. It will systematically identify, map, and assess barriers, and apply a multi-criteria prioritisation framework to determine suitability for removal based on ecological benefit, feasibility, and risk.

Key expected outcomes include:

• an open-access, georeferenced database and map of barriers
• a standardised and transferable methodology for barrier assessment and prioritisation
• a stakeholder-informed shortlist of at least five candidate barriers for removal
• the identification of 1-2 priority sites to be advanced through an Open Rivers Programme A2 grant

The project will also strengthen national technical capacity, support implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Nature Restoration Regulation, and provide a replicable model for scaling barrier removal across other Cypriot catchments.