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BirdLife Cyprus has criticized the ongoing drainage of Lake Paralimni, warning that the work is taking place during the peak nesting season for protected bird species in the Natura 2000 wetland.
The organization questioned the basis for removing water from the lake, despite the process being approved by the Department of Environment and carried out in the presence of state authorities. BirdLife Cyprus said key details remain unclear, including what management framework is being followed, what water level is required to protect breeding birds, who is supervising conditions at the site, and what benchmarks will determine when the drainage ends.
The group also rejected claims that mosquito control justifies lowering the lake’s water levels. According to a study commissioned by the Environmental Authority and published in May 2021, the primary mosquito breeding sources in the area are linked to human activity. These include abandoned swimming pools, unfinished building sites, and stagnant water near residential zones rather than the natural ecosystem of the lake itself.
BirdLife Cyprus also disputed arguments connecting the wetland to the salinity of the Kokkinochoria aquifer. The organization said the aquifer’s deterioration has long been associated with excessive water extraction through licensed and unlicensed boreholes, which has allowed seawater intrusion. The Water Development Department classifies the aquifer as being in poor condition because of this phenomenon. Published data, according to the group, does not support claims that the lake’s water contributes to the salinity problem.
The environmental organization described Lake Paralimni as an important habitat that has benefited in recent years from improved water management and the continued presence of water during the breeding period. The wetland hosts dozens of bird species and has become an important natural area for the region.
BirdLife Cyprus said long-term protection of the lake requires a coordinated management strategy based on ecological research, preservation of the wetland’s hydrological balance, and cooperation between state agencies, local authorities, and environmental organizations. Public awareness campaigns and promotional activities can support conservation efforts, the group said, but they are not a substitute for proper environmental management.
