Frederick University strengthens collaboration with government authorities and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through its participation in the Pandoteira project, a 10-year EU LIFE-funded initiative supporting the effective management and long-term sustainability of Cyprus’s Natura 2000 network.

Through these partnerships, the University contributes to biodiversity conservation, environmental education and the implementation of sustainability objectives, demonstrating the role of cross-sectoral cooperation in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Formal Partnerships with Government and Regional Environmental Organisations

Pandoteira, also known as LIFE IP Physis (LIFE18 IPE/CY/000006), brings together 13 partners, including government departments, universities, environmental NGOs and private-sector organisations. The project is coordinated by the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, with Frederick University participating as an associated beneficiary.

The partnership includes key public authorities, such as the Department of Forests, the Game and Fauna Service, and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, alongside environmental organisations including Terra Cypria – The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, BirdLife Cyprus and the Federation of Environmental Organisations of Cyprus. This formal collaboration provides a framework for cooperation between government, academia and civil society on shared environmental priorities, including protected-area management, biodiversity conservation and public awareness.

By participating in this multi-stakeholder partnership, Frederick University contributes academic expertise and educational activities to a wider national effort to support the conservation and sustainable management of Cyprus’s natural environment.

Translating Collaboration into Practical Action

Frederick University’s partnerships under Pandoteira extend beyond formal project participation to practical initiatives involving public authorities, environmental NGOs, students, local communities and businesses.

In collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the University developed educational board games about the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). Created by students from the University’s Departments of Arts and Communication and Education, the games explain the species’ life cycle, the threats it faces and actions that can help protect the species and its marine habitat. The games were formally handed over to the Department in July 2024 and incorporated into Pandoteira’s public-awareness activities, supporting environmental education and the dissemination of conservation knowledge. Since May 2022, Pandoteira partners, under the guidance and coordination of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, have delivered interactive educational programmes in 29 schools across Cyprus. To date, more than 2,336 pupils have learned about protected marine species and the marine environment through hands-on activities and educational games.

The University has also worked with Terra Cypria to deliver free educational workshops on sustainable business planning and environmentally friendly marketing for businesses operating within or near Natura 2000 protected areas. In these activities, Frederick University provided training to help participants integrate environmental considerations into business planning, marketing and local product development. The workshops also engaged community leaders and highlighted opportunities to combine local economic activity with environmental protection.

These initiatives demonstrate how partnerships between a university, government departments and environmental NGOs can support the practical implementation of sustainability objectives through education, capacity-building and community engagement.

Connecting Partnerships with SDG Policy and Implementation

Frederick University’s participation in Pandoteira illustrates the contribution of cross-sectoral partnerships to the implementation of environmental priorities in Cyprus. By working with public authorities and environmental NGOs, the University supports efforts to improve awareness of biodiversity, promote responsible practices in and around protected areas, and strengthen cooperation among stakeholders involved in nature conservation.

The University’s wider environmental work also includes collaboration with the Department of Environment on the preparation of Cyprus’s Biodiversity Strategy, as recorded by Frederick University’s Nature Conservation Unit. This provides an additional example of the relationship between the University’s environmental expertise and government-led biodiversity planning.

Through formal partnerships, collaborative projects, knowledge-sharing and practical educational activities, Frederick University demonstrates how relationships with government authorities and regional environmental NGOs can contribute to SDG-related policy priorities and their implementation in Cyprus.

More info about the project can be found here: https://pandoteira.cy/