2025 was an exciting year for Terra Cypria, full of challenges, upheavals, moments of joy and moments of sorrow. Above all, however, it was a year rich in actions aimed at protecting our natural environment through conservation programmes, the promotion of sustainable policies, the education of today’s and tomorrow’s citizens, and the active participation of society.
With your support and involvement, we achieved important goals, organised events, and completed projects that left a meaningful impact on both the environment and society. For yet another year, we stood firmly against practices that degrade nature, putting forward well-documented positions and promoting solutions for the effective protection of our natural heritage.
“As the year comes to an end, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The year we are leaving behind was not an easy one, but it was meaningful. In every difficulty, we responded with cooperation, perseverance, immediate action and tangible results. Our work is our success.
We enter the new year with clarity, determination and commitment to our goal, which is none other than the protection of our shared natural heritage.
Thank you for standing by our side. Hope is not a feeling; it is a way of life and an act of responsibility. And we consciously choose it — and we fight for it tirelessly, every single day.
I wish you Happy Holidays and a New Year filled with health, strength and hope for the future.”
– Koulla Michael, Executive Director
Continuing the fight for nature protection
We continued to report and intervene in cases of environmental violations and crimes against nature and wildlife, demanding accountability and the enforcement of laws and directives governing nature protection.
The voice of civil society was amplified through our Foundation in public consultations and meetings with competent authorities, strengthening dialogue on the responsible management of our natural resources.
Akamas Peninsula
Following the exposure of serious violations of the environmental approval conditions of the Sustainable Development Plan for the Akamas National Forest Park, we continued to exert pressure on the competent authorities. Our interventions contributed to:
- the issuance of a Supplementary Appropriate Assessment Report (March 2024), and
- the Compliance Report (August 2025) for Phase A of the road network.
In 2025:
- We warned that the Akamas Peninsula remains under threat.
- We reported new illegal refreshment facilities operating within the heart of the protected area.
- We highlighted violations of essential environmental conditions.
- We exposed illegal private events in environmentally sensitive areas, contributing to improved control and monitoring procedures.
- We kept the open case file on the conservation of the Akamas Peninsula and the sea turtle nesting beaches of Chrysochou Bay open before the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention. As long as effective protection of the area, its species and habitats is not ensured, we will not allow this file to be closed.
In addition, in October 2025, the Department of Environment issued an Appropriate Assessment Report for a proposed large-scale holiday development in the Xerolimni area, taking into account the unanimous negative position of all members of the Ad-hoc Committee, who recommended the rejection of the project due to serious, negative and irreversible impacts on Natura 2000 protected areas and priority species, particularly sea turtles.
Akrotiri Peninsula
Our efforts to protect the Akrotiri Peninsula intensified.
In 2025:
- We exposed repeated water pollution incidents and illegal discharge of liquid waste.
- We submitted well-documented recommendations to the Parliamentary Committee on Environment regarding Akrotiri Salt Lake and Lake Makria.
- We documented new pollution cases and demanded the immediate application of the Environmental Liability principle and restoration measures.
- As a result of our reports, significant fines were imposed and a committee was established to manage stormwater entering the Akrotiri wetland.
- Together with our volunteers, we carried out daily patrols along Lady’s Mile beach throughout the sea turtle nesting and breeding season, recording nests, pressures and threats, and reporting directly to the British Bases Administration. Volunteer presence significantly reduced illegal activities and ensured immediate preventive action.
Biodiversity & wildlife protection
In 2025, we played a decisive role in a series of critical interventions:
- We exposed violations of environmental legislation at a wind farm within a Natura 2000 area.
- We stood firmly against the legalisation of falconry.
- We achieved the cancellation of a rally in the Paphos State Forest.
- We secured a ban on hunting dog training during the nesting period.
- We opposed illegal bird trapping.
- We succeeded in having the Republic of Cyprus support the precautionary principle and vote for a temporary halt to deep-sea mining activities.
Environmental governance & spatial planning
We took well-documented positions on policy and development issues:
- We raised concerns about small private desalination units.
- We advocated for effective protection of Natura 2000 areas through conservation objectives and management measures.
- We proposed measures to address illegal landfills and prevent environmental damage from wildfires.
- We opposed mass, non-selective illegal bird trapping.
- We resisted the uprooting of centuries-old trees for photovoltaic parks.
- We contributed to strengthening measures to protect fertile agricultural land and reforestation areas from photovoltaic installations.
- We called for the rejection of the proposed extension of Glafkos Clerides Avenue through the Cyprus Institute and Athalassa National Forest Park.
- We supported a sound legislative proposal banning Renewable Energy Projects in environmentally sensitive rural areas.
Over 3,000 people trained through the Cyprus Environmental Studies Centre
In 2025, the Cyprus Environmental Studies Centre (CESC)) continued to be Cyprus’ leading environmental education centre. Celebrating 30 years of operation, CESCremains the most experienced and long-standing centre for environmental learning and awareness in Cyprus.
Students and university students from public and private institutions in Cyprus and abroad, as well as adult groups, participated in our applied environmental education programmes covering environment, ecology, biology, geography, geology and sustainable development.
Participants were hosted at our facilities in Kritou Terra for multi-day programmes, while one-day programmes were also implemented both at CESCand across Cyprus through school and community visits.
CESC continues to support host communities by strengthening local economies, increasing visitation, promoting the area internationally, and demonstrating that educational tourism is a truly sustainable form of tourism with tangible benefits for local communities.
Natura 2000 education through nature-based experiences
Through the LIFE IP Pandoteira project, we organised events across the island to bring communities closer to nature and raise awareness of the importance of the Natura 2000 Network, including:
- World Reptile Day
- Natura Day Celebration
- “Be a Scientist for a Day”
- World Wetlands Day – Larnaca Salt Lake
- 3rd Pandoteira Educational Workshop in Lofou
- Workshop for Public Prosecutors of the Republic
Taking action on the climate crisis
In January, we submitted our report on the creation of a National Climate Law to the President of the Republic and all competent authorities, opening the discussion for more effective climate and energy action.
We continued our climate initiatives by organising events that promoted public dialogue and citizen participation, including:
- the conference “Media and Climate: From Information to Participation”, and
- a conference on Energy Communities, promoting participatory and sustainable energy transition.
In parallel, in collaboration with Dr. Theodoros Zachariadis, Associate Professor at Cyprus University of Technology, we prepared the study “Slow but Tangible Progress: The Significant Benefits of Decarbonisation for the Cypriot Economy”, documenting the economic benefits of ambitious and timely climate and energy policies.
Completion of the bicommunal project “Environmental Caretakers”
The Environmental Caretakers project (implemented in collaboration with UNDP Cyprus & OSASG-Cyprus) was successfully completed through actions engaging young people from both communities around shared environmental challenges, including:
- Climate crisis and everyday life
- A walk in the heart of Nicosia
- Educational scavenger hunt and picnic in Platania
- Troodos hike
- Learning about bats
The project concluded with a final closing event.
Our supporters – our strength
In 2025, our community continued to grow. Our supporters were not just by our side — they were part of the action.
With more people actively supporting our work, we built a vibrant community that participates in our activities and strengthens our mission. Through excursions, workshops and hands-on nature experiences, we grew closer, and your trust gives us the strength to continue.
👉 Become a supporter and support our work here.
Looking ahead
In 2025, we continued and intensified our efforts to protect nature, biodiversity and wildlife, intervening decisively in critical environmental policy issues across Cyprus.
Through parliamentary committees, consultations, education programmes, events, and media interventions, we continue to fight for the protection of Cyprus’ natural heritage.
This year, people turned to us to report environmental crimes, document violations and call for action — placing their hope in us. We did everything possible to respond, especially to the most serious environmental threats. We gave voice, demanded solutions and stood firm.
As defenders of the environment, we did not allow any external pressure to divert us from our mission: the protection of our shared natural heritage — for all of us and for our children.
And this is our promise for 2026.
From the entire Terra Cypria team, thank you.