Nicosia, Cyprus. BirdLife on Tuesday called on Cyprus’s new parliament to make biodiversity protection a priority, saying the legislature is taking office amid what it described as serious failures in nature protection.
Parliamentary oversight
BirdLife said the new parliament must exercise substantial parliamentary control, demand transparency and accountability in environmental decisions, ensure sufficient resources for the management of protected areas, improve implementation of environmental legislation and prevent further weakening of the law.
Akamas and Akrotiri
The group cited Akamas as one of the clearest examples of failure to implement environmental legislation, saying repeated violations there had gone without consequences and state commitments remained unfulfilled.
BirdLife said the new parliament must demand full compliance with the legally binding environmental terms of the Akamas Special Area of Conservation and accountability for recorded violations.
It also said there had been serious incidents of degradation at the Akrotiri salt lake and called for an immediate investigation, restoration of the wetland’s natural hydrological status and stronger protection of the area from further damage.
Illegal bird trapping
BirdLife said MPs should enforce the strict implementation of laws against illegal bird trapping, noting that around 726,000 animals were illegally trapped and killed in autumn 2025 alone.
The group called for the reintroduction of large fines for limesticks and the illegal shooting of migratory birds, and for action against organised trapping networks.
Call to government
BirdLife also urged the government to include areas of environmental concern among its priorities and to prevent what it described as further weakening of environmental legislation.
The group said the new parliament would be judged by whether it protects the natural heritage of Cyprus and ensures environmental laws are implemented in practice rather than only on paper.
