BirdLife Cyprus has strongly criticised the ongoing drainage of Paralimni Lake, warning that the move threatens one of Cyprus’s most important protected wetlands at a crucial time for wildlife. According to the organisation, the drainage began on Monday after part of the embankment holding back the water was removed, with the consent of competent state services and following pressure from Paralimni Municipality. BirdLife Cyprus said the move was justified on the grounds of mosquito control and high salinity in the aquifer.
The organisation said the action is taking place during the breeding season for birds that depend on the lake’s shallow waters and muddy edges. Species such as the black-winged stilt, spur-winged lapwing and little ringed plover are nesting at this time, it said, warning that sudden changes in water levels can lead to the abandonment of nests and the loss of habitats. The presence of water around nests also helps protect birds from predators.
BirdLife Cyprus also noted that Paralimni Lake is the most important habitat of the endemic Cyprus grass snake, whose breeding season begins in late spring. Water and suitable microhabitats are critical for the survival of the species, it said. The organisation added that, instead of a scientifically supported approach to managing the lake’s water balance, “once again we are witnessing unilateral drainage actions, without transparency, without scientific documentation and without clear knowledge or information about their impact”.
BirdLife Cyprus called for the immediate restoration of the embankment and the closure of the channel, while also urging authorities to prevent similar drainage actions in the future. It also called for the completion and implementation of the recommendations of the hydrological study that will determine the lake’s required water balance, the establishment of a management committee for Paralimni Lake, and the removal of all illegalities within the protected area.
Source: CNA
