Cyprus’ Tiny Forest: A Small Forest with a Big Impact on the Community

Planting Trees, Offsetting Emissions

The idea was born during preparations for the FEDARENE 2024 General Assembly, which took place in June in Protaras, Cyprus, under the auspices of the Cyprus Energy Agency (CEA). FEDARENE was looking for a concrete way to compensate for the event’s emissions — and that’s when CEA proposed the creation of a Tiny Forest.

As a result, the Municipality of Lakatamia now hosts the first Tiny Forest of the island – a 400 m² plot of land transformed into a dense, green forest of 1,350 native trees.

The forest now stands as a concrete example of local climate action and long-term environmental impact.

Nature-Led Innovation, Community-Driven Impact

Built using the Miyawaki method, the Tiny Forest applies dense planting of native species, designed to mimic natural ecosystems. These forests grow up to 10 times faster, are 30 times denser, and sequester substantially more CO₂ than conventional tree planting.

The social impact was just as powerful. During the planting, organised in the framework of the EU Climate Pact, CEA staff was joined by students from Agios Georgios High School, the Mayor of Lakatamia, Ms Fotoula Hadjipapa, and EU representatives.

The tree planting of the “Tiny Forest” closed with a symbolic gesture from the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, as students were gifted seeds—an invitation to continue cultivating the future of their community.

Rooted Locally, Replicable Everywhere

The forest improves air quality, offers cooling microclimates in urban spaces, supports biodiversity, and reduces the impact of flash floods and heatwaves. It requires low maintenance and can be easily replicated by other municipalities seeking quick, effective climate action.

Economically, it boosts local appeal, encourages nature-based skills development, and aligns with municipal strategies. By involving young people, city officials, and European partners, it fostered a sense of ownership and inclusion, proving that climate solutions can be deeply rooted in community values.

Replicable across Europe, this Tiny Forest shows how international events can leave behind more than memories—they can create permanent, local change. Other regions across Europe are invited to take inspiration and explore how such small-scale actions can deliver outsized environmental and social impact.

From a Seed to a Shared Future

This Tiny Forest shows that environmental action doesn’t need to be large-scale to be transformative. With just 400 m², it delivers real climate, social, and urban benefits—turning emissions into ecosystems and events into lasting legacies. As the Mayor of Lakatamia called it, it’s a “seed of change” and a promise for more sustainable urban living.

More than a greening project, it’s a concrete example of how EU and regional cooperation can bring the European Green Deal and EU Climate Pact to life on the ground. It’s a replicable model—rooted locally, aligned globally—that any municipality can adopt. One forest at a time.