In many ways, 2019 was a challenging year for nature in Cyprus, but despite that, or because of it (!), we have a lot to be proud of, having worked tirelessly to safeguard birds and their habitats. As the year comes to an end, we take a look back at some of the things that we achieved in 2019.

BirdLife Cyprus, the Game and Fauna Service, Terra Cypria-The Cyprus Conservation Foundation and the Vulture Conservation Foundation have joined forces to provide a lifeline for the threatened Griffon Vulture through ‘LIFE with Vultures’, a new four-year project aiming to prevent the extinction of the species in Cyprus.

Just days after often virulent reactions against BirdLife Cyprus’ effort to save Ezousa Valley from the proposed Paphos - Polis motorway, the European Commission calls on Cyprus to correct ‘systemic failure’ to protect its Natura 2000 sites.

The contrast could hardly be greater. While the Cyprus Police anti-poaching unit, which used to be one of the best available anti-trapping tools, is shut down, the impressive progress in the British Bases is proof that ‘where there's will there's a way’ when it comes to combating illegal bird trapping.