Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Nicholas Jarraud, the Environmental Analyst for the United Nations Development Program - Action for Cooperation and Trust (UNDP-ACT), stated that the housing boom and quarrying have negatively affected Cyprus. Saying that the buffer zone has turned into a sanctuary for wildlife, Jarraud pointed out that the two sides must cooperate for the continuity of species in the buffer zone.
UNDP Director for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States Ben Slay said it is necessary to do long-term planning for the protection of the environment and prevent its further destruction in north Cyprus.
The analysis by Nicholas Jarraud regarding the environmental problems in the UN-controlled buffer zone and the north Cyprus has been published in the monthly magazine called ‘Development and Transition’ which is conjointly issued by UNDP and the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. The magazine is published three times a year and was introduced at members of the ‘Cyprus Environmental Stakeholder Forum’ (CESF) at its first meeting organised in the buffer zone assisted by specialists from environmental organisations.
Ben Slay also assisted in the event and told the TAK correspondent that he has not yet found the opportunity to examine environmental problems in the North; however he recommended that in post-conflict countries like north Cyprus, long-term planning should be made to protect the environment and arrange the housing system.
In his article published in the magazine, Nicholas Jarraud pointed out that the current situation in Cyprus has negative environmental effects. He said that suspension of the EU’s environmental acquis in the North entails serious divergences in environmental standards, particularly regarding Environmental Impact Assessment reports, Corporate Environmental Responsibility, Urban Planning and the Establishment of Conservation Areas.
According to Jarraud weak technical cooperation between the two communities on environmental issues raises risks of fires as well as pandemic outbreaks in the buffer zone that can affect the other side too.
Jarraud said that “the buffer zone has become a de facto wildlife sanctuary.” He added that the buffer zone, covering 3 per cent of the island, hosts about 3,000 Cyprus mouflons, the island’s largest wild mammal that can be regularly encountered in Sirinkoy (the village of Variseia) within the buffer zone.
He reported that representatives and specialists in various fields of environmental protection from the two sides of the island have created a team called Cyprus Environmental Stakeholder Forum which will carry out studies to determine the biodiversity in the buffer zone. He added that in the past some ad hoc teams had realised various studies, however this is the first time that such a wide-ranging attempt at evaluating the flora and fauna of the buffer zone has been undertaken.
In his analysis Jarraud assumed that the buffer zone may also have protected plants and wildlife from the effects of the massive housing and tourism developments. He made reference to ornithologist Iris Charalambidou who stated that bird species such as the stone curlew are facing serious habitat loss outside of the buffer zone. If these birds have managed to establish breeding populations within the buffer zone, this could help secure their future on the island, he added.
Since 1974 there has been no socio-economic activity in some parts of the buffer zone, Jarraud noted, whilst other parts are farmed. As hunting is forbidden this fact may help protect endangered species. He continued in saying, however, that regular observations uncover evidence of hunting and illegal bird trapping in the buffer zone; even rubbish tips are observed in the area.

[Sotos]

Yet another benefit from the Turkish Peace Operation!

[Nikitas]

Wait till the European Union's ecologically minded misanthropes read this report. They will immediately drag the RoC to court demanding, and getting, the area declared Natura 2000, or some such shithouse scheme.

[roseandchan]

if you keep spoiling cyprus by building more and more concrete developments then you will loose the wild life. i argue this point with a lot of brits here. they blame hunting for the lack of wildlife, i blame them for buying new villas and the developers for building them and the goverment on both sides for allowing it. greed for cash is what happened. so what if the buffer zone becomes a protected enviroment, it can only be a good thing.