Groups call for scrutiny of proposed antennas at Akrotiri

Akrotiri, Cyprus. Environmental organisations Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus have raised concerns over plans to install new antennas in the Akrotiri area, citing its ecological importance and documented effects of existing infrastructure on birds.

Protected wetland and migration route

Akrotiri Salt Lake is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. It is also a special protection area and special area of conservation within the Natura 2000 network.

The wider area is among the eastern Mediterranean’s most important bird migration corridors.

Concerns over existing infrastructure

The organisations said scientific studies conducted over more than two decades had recorded bird deaths and collision risks linked to existing antenna infrastructure.

They said the findings provided an important scientific basis for assessing the new proposals and showed that the area was already under considerable pressure from existing installations.

Consultation process

Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus said public discussion of the plans was legitimate and should take place transparently.

Both organisations are participating in the consultation process and in the assessment of the project’s Appropriate Assessment study. They said they had submitted questions and requested further clarification and information to ensure that the assessment was complete, adequate, scientifically substantiated and compliant with national and European environmental legislation.

Call for precaution

Given the area’s ecological value and the documented negative effects associated with existing antennas, the organisations said any further development should be examined with particular care and in line with the precautionary principle.

They said their aim was to safeguard what they described as “our common natural heritage”.