Researchers at The Cyprus Institute have developed the first nationwide tree-level inventory of biomass and carbon stored in Cyprus’ trees, providing a new tool to monitor forests, assess wildfire damage and support climate adaptation.
The inventory combines artificial intelligence with field measurements collected by the Cyprus Department of Forests to estimate tree biomass and carbon stocks across the island. Researchers said the approach enables systematic and repeatable monitoring of changes in forests over time, improving the accuracy of carbon accounting and forest management, Cyprus Business News reported.
The study found that nearly one-third of Cyprus’ tree cover is located outside forests, highlighting the important role of urban and rural trees in storing carbon and supporting biodiversity. Athalassa National Forest Park in Aglantzia was identified as an example of an urban area with a high concentration of large trees contributing significantly to carbon storage.
The inventory also showed that gains in forest carbon storage over recent years have been largely offset by recurrent wildfires and drought-induced tree mortality.
According to the study, wildfires have affected more than 360,000 trees since 2014, resulting in the loss of over 300,000 tonnes of biomass and 140,000 tonnes of stored carbon. Researchers said the new AI-based methodology captures losses from smaller and isolated wildfires that were difficult to quantify using previous techniques.
Beyond estimating carbon stocks, the inventory provides a scientific framework for monitoring forest resources, evaluating post-fire restoration programmes and assessing the impact of climate change on Cyprus’ ecosystems.
Researchers said the system could strengthen evidence-based forest management by helping authorities track changes in tree biomass and carbon storage while improving planning for wildfire recovery and climate resilience.
