The need for immediate measures to conserve and manage the area of Lake Paralimni are requested through the announcement of four environmental organizations by the Ministers of Agriculture and Interior.
In their letter, they request, among other things, the immediate closure of the canal and the avoidance of unjustified, uncoordinated and unilateral drainage of the Lake, the immediate application of the results of the forthcoming hydrological study for the needs of the species, which will determine the water level. the immediate issuance of Protection and Management Decrees for the EZD and SPA areas as required by the relevant legislation, the establishment of a Management Committee for Lake Paralimni to take action based on the Management Plans and Decrees of the area and will be managed between among others the water balance of the Lake as well as the removal of all illegalities within the protected area of Lake Paralimni.
The letter is as follows:
OPEN LETTER TO
Mr. Costas Kadis, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Mr. Nikos Nouri, Minister of Interior
January 31 2020
Subject: Immediate need for effective conservation and management measures for the Natura 2000 Lake Paralimni area
Honorable Ministers,
As you know, Lake Paralimni is part of the Natura 2000 Network, both as a Special Conservation Zone (SPA) and as a Special Protection Zone (SPA) for its importance, among other things, for the endemic and rare Nat snake Natrix natrix cypriaca and as a from the most important areas in Cyprus for the bird species Pellokaterina Vanellus spinosus and Kalamokanna Himantopus himantopus.
Despite its protection status, and although the Republic of Cyprus was convicted by an EU Court of Justice in 2012 for lack of protection, Lake Paralimni continues to face a host of significant pressures and threats.
These include the lack of coordinated water management that takes into account the needs of the designation species. Specifically, the earthen embankment that had been constructed in an outflow channel of the Lake in order to maintain the water level was removed in early January, without giving a justification by the Authorities. The removal of the embankment has resulted in the outflow of significant amounts of water from the Lake, which continues, a fact of particular concern in view of the breeding season of the species.
In addition, this important wetland is affected, among other things, by incompatible and unlicensed uses of the space, such as the operation of a shooting range, two racetracks (motocross) as well as a modeling track, in and near the protected area. The Lake also suffers from uncontrolled dumping of waste and debris, uncontrolled access, as well as incidents of poaching and illegal trapping.
The Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus (OPOK-NGO), the Cyprus Bird Association (BirdLife Cyprus), Terra Cypria-the Cyprus Foundation for Environmental Protection and the Initiative for the Conservation of Natural Coasts request from the competent Ministries:
- The immediate closure of the canal and the avoidance of similar incidents is unjustified, without coordination and unilateral drainage of the Lake in the future.
- The immediate application of the results of the forthcoming hydrological study for the needs of the designation species which will determine the water balance that must be observed.
- The immediate issuance of Protection and Management Decrees for the areas of EZD and SPA as required by the relevant legislation.
- The establishment of a Management Committee for Lake Paralimni to take action based on the Management Plans and Decrees of the area and will manage, among other things, the water balance of the Lake.
- The removal of all illegalities within the protected area of Lake Paralimni.
We are at your disposal for further discussion of the issue.
Sincerely,
Martin Hellikar
On behalf of the 4 environmental organizations
Famagusta.News