We expressed our serious concerns about the multiple pressures and significant threats facing the Lady’s Mile beach on the Akrotiri Peninsula, which jeopardise the integrity of an area of special ecological value. The Akrotiri Peninsula is an environmentally sensitive region with unique characteristics, hosting important and protected types of natural habitats, as well as rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
Despite this, the area is under excessive pressure. Specifically, large quantities of freshwater flow into the Akrotiri wetland, while, at the same time, along the Lady’s Mile coastline, sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports, and events do not comply with any environmental approval conditions.
Our reactions, in collaboration with BirdLife Cyprus, were covered by several media outlets and social media. The issues reported at Lady’s Mile over the last years should serve as a lesson for the area’s future management. In this context, during the re-issuance of the relevant annual operating licenses for restaurants, facilities, and services for bathers, as well as the organisation of events along the coastline, legally binding environmental approval conditions must be imposed, and a zero-tolerance policy should be enforced against any violations.