Every new development proposed for the Akrotiri area should be assessed with particular care, BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria said on Friday, commenting on plans to install new antennas in the area.
The two conservation organisations said they shared concerns raised by local communities about the project's potential impact on the natural environment.
"For more than two decades, scientific studies in the area have documented bird mortality and collision risks associated with the existing antenna infrastructure," they said in a joint statement. The findings, they added, provide a significant scientific evidence base and demonstrate that the area is already under considerable pressure from existing installations.
Consultations ongoing
BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria said they were taking part in the public consultation process and in the assessment of the project's Special Ecological Assessment. They stressed that any new development should be evaluated with particular care and in line with the precautionary principle.
The assessment, they said, should consider not only the standalone impact of the proposed project but also its cumulative effects alongside existing and planned future developments.
The organisations said they would continue to participate in the consultation and assessment process, guided by scientific evidence, transparency and the effective protection of the area's species, habitats and shared natural heritage.
Source: CNA
