One of the oldest handicrafts, whose practice has been fading away in the last decades, is being promoted thanks to the Darwin project for the restoration of Akrotiri Marsh. Soft basketry weaving used to provide substantial financial income to the residents of Akrotiri village. However, since basketry products have been replaced by other contemporary items in […]
On 21 June 2016, we were invited by PwC to the Closing Event for all the projects that won funding under the EEA Grants NGO Fund for Cyprus for the 2009-2014 period. At the event there was a presentation of all the projects that had won funding and two panel discussions on issues relating to
Closing Event of EEA NGO grant for Cyprus Read More »
The effects of manmade climate change are dramatic and uncontested and whereas mitigation still remains a priority, it’s now recognized that adaptation is essential too, because there is no escaping the effects of climate change, whatever we do. BirdLife International has always been advocating ecosystem based adaptation, which is based on the fact that healthy
Climate Change Adaptation Workshop Read More »
As the four-month spring/summer survey season (March-June) comes to a close, BirdLife Cyprus volunteers have completed over 350 surveys across the length and breadth of Cyprus. In all, around 30 volunteer bird recorders – including some office staff and four full-time visiting volunteers (Shannon O’Grady, Anders Gray, Nathan Wilkie and Ellie Ellwood) – have undertaken surveys for
Survey season concludes Read More »
The significant damage caused by the recent fires in Solea and Argaka, is undoubtedly one of the largest in recent decades and constitutes serious damage to the habitats and species. It is estimated that around 10-12 square kilometres of Natura 2000 area were burnt, with many woodland bird species affected, including Bonelli’s Eagle, the only Eagle
Burnt forests and natural habitats must be allowed to reforest naturally Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus expressed its serious concerns and opposition to the law amendment prepared by the Game and Fauna Service with title ‘The Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Species (Amendment) Law of 2016′, during the recent discussion held at the Environment Committee of the Cyprus Parliament on 29 June 2016. The proposals of the Game
Catastrophic law amendment proposed by the Game and Fauna Service Read More »
On 16 June 2016, the European Commission announced the start of an infringement procedure against Poland relating to plans that would see an increase in logging in the Białowieża Forest – one of Europe’s largest expanses of primeval forest, and a Natura 2000 and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Commission’s decision to begin the infringement
BirdLife Cyprus completed its report with the latest findings of the on-going and systematic surveillance programme on illegal bird trapping for the autumn 2015 season. Based on the analysis of the survey data, 19km of net rides were active during the autumn season of 2015 within the survey area covering Larnaca – Famagusta and Ayios
BirdLife Cyprus publishes its autumn 2015 trapping report Read More »
The consultations with the local communities over management plans for Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Natura 2000 sites for birds, have finally been completed. Between November 2014 and June 2016, BirdLife Cyprus and its project partner, I.A.CO Ltd, conducted almost 50 community consultations in local coffee shops, community and visitor centres from Sotira in the East to Neo
Management Plan Consultation meetings completed Read More »
In light of the tragic fire events that broke out over the last days BirdLife Cyprus highlights the imperative need for forests and natural habitats to be protected from urban sprawl and states the following: The significant damage caused by the recent fires is undoubtedly one of the largest in recent decades and constitutes serious
Forests and natural habitats must be protected from urban sprawl Read More »
Exactly two months ago, on a beautiful spring Sunday, BirdLife Cyprus celebrated the launch of the drawing competition ‘153 birds’ at the Famagusta Gate Moat in Nicosia, with fairytales, songs, smiles, old and new friends. Today, on the final day of the competition, we review the last two months: we have received nearly 300 incredible
What next with the ‘153 birds’? Read More »
The European Commission was supposed to present the results of its “fitness check” of the Birds and Habitats Directives (Nature Directives) at a Dutch Presidency conference “Future-proof Nature Policy” on 28-30 June 2016. The document was supposed to serve as a basis for discussions, about the implementation of the Nature Directives in the Member States,
Dutch Presidency cancels high profile nature conference Read More »
Watercolours, pens or coloured pencils? Let your imagination run wild, take part in BirdLife Cyprus’ drawing competition ‘153 birds’ and discover the magical world of birds while helping raise awareness about birds. Birds can be found in all corners of the globe, enriching our lives with sounds and colours. Cyprus hosts many different bird species,
Do you enjoy creating art? Discover the world of birds through drawing Read More »
Only 17 days left to submit your drawing and enter our ‘153 birds’ drawing competition! The competition is open to everyone and we look forward to receiving drawings from young and old from all over Cyprus and abroad! The lucky winners will also be awarded prizes, in two categories: children and teens (up to 17 years
Did you submit your drawing for our ‘153 birds’ drawing competition? Read More »
For the 10th year running, BirdLife Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot bird protection society KUŞKOR jointly organized a boat survey of our one-and-only breeding colony of the rare Audouin’s gull Larus audouinii at Kleides islands, off the tip of the Karpasia peninsula. This year’s survey took place on 28 May 2016, with our Chairman Melis
10th annual Audouin’s gull boat count completed – our rarest gull continues to decline Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus successfully held its first Open Day on 14 May 2016, on the occasion of World Migratory Bird Day which was on 10 May. Over 80 people attended the event and were informed about BirdLife Cyprus and its actions, birds in Cyprus, bird migration and the persistent problem of illegal bird trapping. The “younger
BirdLife Cyprus hosted its first Open Day! Read More »
Our team of skilled local volunteer recorders is once again forming the backbone of our bird monitoring effort for 2016. Added to this on-island team, visiting full-time volunteers are once again making an invaluable input to our 2016 programmes for common breeding birds, nocturnal species, Rollers and forest birds. These dedicated and capable visitors –
Full-time volunteers to the fore Read More »
In the coming weeks, the European Commission is expected to publish its conclusion on the ‘fitness check’ of the Nature Directives and hold the annual Green Week. For this reason on 16 May 2016 BirdLife Europe, the BirdLife International EU partners and citizens across the EU took to social media to remind Commissioner Vella and
What is happening with the Nature Directives? Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus congratulates the 56 new Members of Parliament, and expresses its contentment with the composition of the new Parliament as 21 out of 56 MPs are among those who signed BirdLife Cyprus’ manifesto and pledged to protect Cyprus nature, during the #WeNatureCy campaign. Citizens’ response was overwhelming, with the campaign video having received more than 600 shares and more than
Nature protection asks for a vote of confidence from the new Parliament Read More »
BirdLife Cyprus welcomes the recent report by the Commissioner of Administration and Human Rights (Ombudswoman) regarding the ‘alternative plan’ for selective hunting of blackcaps, which was published on 11 April 2016 (the report is available, only in Greek, at the Ombudswoman’s website here). The report is the result of a complaint submitted by the Committee Against
Ombudswoman’s report on ‘alternative plan’ does justice to environmental organisations Read More »
Civil society finally had the opportunity to officially voice its opinion about the sustainability of all forms of bioenergy as the European Commission in February opened a public consultation on a new EU policy on sustainable bioenergy for the period 2020-2030. BirdLife Europe’s contribution to the consultation stresses the fact that the current use of
NGOs urge the European Commission to change unsustainable bioenergy policy Read More »
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