Birds, as other wildlife, depend upon the delicate balance of ecosystems for their survival. Restoring, protecting and properly managing habitats is key to the preservation of biodiversity. Akrotiri Marsh, a unique wetland within the Cyprus SBAs, is home to many bird and plant species, and has benefited from targeted conservation actions for the last 2 years thanks to a project funded by the Darwin Initiative.
 

At the end of 2016, the second and final volume of the landmark Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World by the Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) and BirdLife International was published. This ground-breaking new checklist presents for the first time independent taxonomic revisions for all the bird species of the world, incorporating the most up-to-date information and an exhaustive methodology in an entirely systematic and consistent way. The new taxonomy has been full adopted by BirdLife Cyprus, replacing the now outdated classification system we had been using until recently.

The first days of 2017 saw two more positive opinions given for projects that are planned to materialize inside or near the SPA (Special Protection Area) and SCI (Site of Community Interest) of Akamas peninsula by the Department of Environment.

The European Roller is an iconic species of European farmland. This summer visitor suffered large declines in the past in its breeding grounds in southern and eastern Europe and has already gone extinct in several central European countries. The main causes of decline are habitat degradation, due to intensification of agriculture and abandonment of traditional agricultural practices, loss of nest sites and high levels of persecution during migration.

A one year experimental study examining emotions and environmental action has successfully been completed by the Nestor Research Group of the University of Cyprus. This study was undertaken on behalf of Birdlife Cyprus, which funded this work through a grant from the A.G. Leventis Foundation. The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of reasoned argumentation and emotional appeals on the knowledge, attitudes and behavior related to illegal bird trapping. 

On Friday 9 December 2016, BirdLife Cyprus volunteers and staff, together with the Game and Fauna Service and the SBA Environmental Department, carried out the annual winter census of the Griffon Vulture for 2016/17. The team of observers covered seven look-out points spread across the vulture feeding range and known breeding and roosting cliffs, while the Game and Fauna Service set up cameras at the vulture feeding stations.