The Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) works to build local capacity to better protect and manage Cyprus’ valuable natural and cultural resources.

SAVE work is focused on three critical resources areas:

• Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management;
• Cultural Heritage Conservation, Preservation and Restoration; and
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

 SAVE supports this work through many public education, outreach and sustainable development efforts and through the provision of small grants.  Capacity building through side-by-side technical assistance and demonstration projects is at the heart of SAVE’s approach as is providing resource managers with the appropriate tools to meet their needs.  Joint implementation of pilot projects that serve as examples of effective and efficient environmental and cultural heritage practices lay the foundation for SAVE’s work.  SAVE strives to be demand-driven and flexible in adapting specific activities to meet the critical needs of local environment, natural resource and cultural heritage managers and GIS practitioners.

Environment and Natural Resources. SAVE’s Environment and Natural Resources team focuses on improving management of critical resources, including through activities in the following areas:

• Water Conservation            
• Water Management
• Water Costing
  
• Marine Turtle Conservation
• Xeriscape (Water-wise) Landscaping
• Wastewater Management
• Solid Waste Management

Cultural Heritage.  SAVE’s Cultural Heritage team carries out a wide range of capacity building activities to improve technical skills and management capacity to better protect and promote the very rich and unique cultural heritage of Cyprus.  Efforts are focused on demonstration training in conservation and preservation techniques, cultural tourism promotion, documentation, and critical conservation interventions.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Improved Land Use Planning.  SAVE’s GIS team developed a comprehensive and state-of-the-art GIS-based tool to provide the basis on which informed resource management decisions can be made. SAVE is consolidated data related to environmental resources, heritage sites, and land cover. 

Small Grants.  SAVE’s Small Grants Program provides grants to local organizations with innovative approaches that support SAVE’s overall objectives of improved environmental and cultural heritage management and protection.  Grant proposals are solicited every quarter. 

SAVE is part of the overall U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program in Cyprus which is designed to contribute to an eventual political settlement by addressing the gap between the Turkish Cypriot community (TCC) and the Greek Cypriot community (GCC) in the numbers of individuals, small and medium enterprises and public services with the experience and capabilities to meet the economic and political challenges of the global economy.  The overall Mission strategic objective is: Conditions to foster a durable settlement in Cyprus are strengthened.

SAVE is a five year contract, awarded on 20 September 2005 and running through January 31, 2011.