A volunteer's Diary, 2008 (12)
Our Big Night Out
British High Commission gives its support
to conservationists
THIS week saw the sad
departure of project leader
Robin Snape, who is soon
to head to colder climates
for the great Antarctic
survey. It was also time for me to
return once again to the main base
at Alagadi after a regrettably short
stay out in the Karpaz.
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BHC Cocktail Party |
One of the highlights of my week
was being able to attend the annual
environmental evening held at the
British High Commission in
Lefkosa. After innumerable weeks
hanging out at the “Goat Shed” in
dirty shorts and T-shirts, it was all
rather exciting to be clean and
presentable for a whole evening and
to be in such impressive
surroundings. (The free bar
providing cocktails to order was also
something greatly appreciated by
most of the parched turtle warriors
present!) In previous years this
annual event was solely for the
members of the Marine Turtle
Conservation Project (MTCP). This
year, however, it hosted
representatives from various
Cyprus-based environmental NGOs,
as well as government officials from
both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek
Cypriot sides. The main speech of
the evening, given by High
Commissioner Peter Millett,
stressed issues relating to the
current lack of any recycling
facilities throughout the country.
With increases in tourist
development, pollution levels are
only set to rise, and the disturbance
such development can cause when
not done sensitively means the
future is looking less than positive
for not only the turtles of Cyprus,
but also its many other marine and
terrestrial species.
In the 2007 ICUN Red list of
threatened species, mammals such
as the Mediterranean monk seal are
listed as critically endangered,
whilst the horseshoe bat and wild
goat are vulnerable. Reasons given
for their fragile state include habitat
loss and degradation, disturbance
brought about by tourism and
recreation, and changes in native
species dynamics (effectively,
disruptions to their ecosystem).
Before Alagadi beach was offered
any kind of environmental
protection, the needs of local
development saw an estimated 100
tons of sand being removed from
the dunes on a daily basis, with
vehicles dangerously close to turtle
nesting areas. This is thankfully a
thing of the past where Alagadi is
concerned, and the closure of the
beach between 8pm and 8am helps
to decrease the amount of human
disturbance during turtle nesting
and hatching periods.
Not all beaches important for
nesting turtles have been afforded
such protection, however. In recent
years, the dumping of rubble and
cement on to beaches previously
frequented by adult females has
occurred along the north coast. Since
this time there has been no evidence
of any nesting activity and it is
doubtful if there will be any for the
foreseeable future.
Under current legislation and
initiatives such as Natura 2000, it is
hoped that improvements will
eventually be made in the
conservation status of certain
habitat types and species, which are
important both on a local and global
scale. This is no easy task, however,
and there is always a frustrating
time lag between the creation of
such laws, their implementation and
the positive effect they are hoped
ultimately to have upon the
environment.
With regard to such problems
currently facing Cyprus, it is hoped
that the future will bring increased
unity and cohesion between North
and South, creating a “united front”,
if not politically then at least
environmentally.
A final thanks must go out to the
High Commission who have agreed
to pledge the sum of £500, to be used
by the MTCP so that we may further
improve our conservation efforts out
at the Karpaz.
Diary by Lauren Finka
Reprinted from Cyprus Today |