‘Trapping under derogation’ is an argument often heard in public discussions on the hot issue of illegal bird (ambelopoulia) in Cyprus. The European Court of Justice has effectively closed the door on this pro-trapping argument with its conviction of Malta. The court decided that Malta was in breach of its European obligations for the protection of birds, by allowing the trapping of seven bird species under derogation. The Directive allows derogations only under specific and strict conditions, which do not include “tradition”.

BirdLife Cyprus is outraged by the latest developments on the Zakaki Casino, at Akrotiri Peninsula, which is set to go ahead without any proper assessment of impacts on the environment and wildlife. This goes against both EU and Cypriot laws.

Last Saturday we spent a magical afternoon at Oroklini Lake celebrating the award for the restoration of this important wetland. 

The EU Action Plan for the Turtle Dove is a major step forward for the protection of this threatened species, but only if the measures proposed are put into action, including the restriction of hunting.

At the northeast tip of the Karpasia Peninsula, a remote chain of rocky islets is home to the world’s easternmost breeding colony of one of Europe’s most elegant and distinctive gull species, the Audouin’s Gull. 

The European Commission’s infringement procedures against Cyprus echo the longstanding positions and concerns of NGOs over failures on nature protection issues.

Today the European Commission released their highly anticipated Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. The new plan does not guarantee any spending on biodiversity and grotesquely slashes funds ring-fenced for the environment with cuts going as far as 80% across the board. 

Τhe LIFE Oroklini project partners, the Game and Fauna Service, BirdLife Cyprus, the Environment Department, the Department of Forests and Voroklini Community Council, invite you to Oroklini Lake on Saturday, 26 May, 5pm to celebrate together the awarding of the restoration project of this important wetland.

The LIFE Oroklini project has been awarded as ‘Best LIFE project’ together with 27 other conservation projects funded by the EU. This award rewards the effort for the restoration of Oroklini Lake and also highlights the importance of protecting important areas for wildlife as well as the importance of funding programs such as LIFE.

What do a Swift, a Grey Heron and a Marsh Harrier have in common? They have all made epic journeys of thousands of kilometres over land and sea, and are currently passing through Cyprus! To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day we invite young and old to Athalassa Park on Saturday 12 May 2018 at 4pm to discover together the wondrous world of migratory birds.