Newsroom / CNA
The United Nations buffer zone in Cyprus, often called the "dead zone," has transformed over five decades of isolation into a thriving sanctuary for regional wildlife. However, experts suggest that this accidental ecological success could be preserved even if displaced residents are permitted to return.
The demilitarized strip was established following the 1974 Turkish invasion. Since then, the absence of human development has allowed nature to reclaim the land, turning a symbol of political division into a vital wildlife corridor.
According to Costas Constantinou, a professor of international relations at the University of Cyprus, the environmental rejuvenation is an unintended consequence of human displacement. Constantinou argues that human habitation could resume without destroying this fragile ecosystem, provided that resettlement follows strict environmental guidelines.
While under UN supervision, the buffer zone is not entirely empty. The corridor already hosts several active villages, farming initiatives, livestock facilities, and solar farms. It also functions as a neutral meeting ground for civil society groups and bi-communal technical committees from both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
The ecological shifts inside the zone were documented in a 2014 study conducted by Constantinou and Evi Eftychiou, a lecturer at the University of Nicosia. Their research showed that the lack of human interference allowed endangered species to multiply. Biodiversity tracking revealed significant population increases for hares, endemic mice, various bird species, hedgehogs, and turtles.
In the abandoned village of Variseia, restricted access helped the threatened mouflon—a native wild sheep—to thrive. More than 300 mouflon have been recorded in the area. Urban sections of the buffer zone show similar trends. In Agios Dometios, the wetlands and reedbeds of the Klimos River remain intact, protecting a local turtle habitat. By contrast, sections of the same river in developed neighborhoods like Engomi were paved over with concrete to build pedestrian walkways.
Abandonment has also introduced specific ecological challenges. Feral dog packs have become the dominant predators in the zone, altering the food chain. These packs frequently attack livestock and humans, while increasing the risk of spreading diseases such as echinococcus. On a botanical level, the area has become a safe haven for wild orchids, tulips, and mandrakes.
Beyond wildlife conservation, the buffer zone supports regulated human activity. UN-permitted farming and grazing have fostered cross-border economic cooperation between the two communities. This agricultural activity persists even as overtourism causes farming to decline in other parts of the island. The area also offers opportunities for organic farming due to the long-term absence of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Local economic partnerships exist in areas with a history of bi-communal cooperation, including Potamia, Dali, Lympia, Louroujina, and Pyla. Constantinou noted that these arrangements reflect long-standing local relationships where ordinary citizens find common interests despite political division. However, he cautioned against romanticizing the situation, pointing to unresolved issues like illicit smuggling and unregulated animal transport. He suggested that official bi-communal committees and UN peacekeepers could better manage these problems if given the authority.
Recent governance choices have caused local friction. The Cypriot government recently installed barbed wire fencing along sections of the buffer zone to manage migration. The decision faced heavy criticism from the UN and local border communities due to a lack of prior consultation, leading the government to remove the barriers.
Constantinou maintains that returning residents to the zone without a clear ecological plan would cause severe damage. He and Mete Hatay, a senior research consultant at the PRIO Cyprus Centre, authored a policy proposal advocating for the strategic resettlement of four abandoned buffer zone villages: Petrofani, Variseia, Agios Nikolaos, and Agios Georgios Soleas.
The proposal notes that successful international ecological parks integrate local communities into conservation strategies rather than excluding them. Constantinou concluded that careful, balanced resettlement under strict environmental standards is the only way to safeguard the ecological value of the area if the political status quo changes.
