Filenews 9 November 2024 - by Ioanna Mantzipia
One of the most important wetlands of the Eastern Mediterranean, Akrotiri Salt Lake, an environmentally sensitive area with unique characteristics, which hosts rare species of flora and fauna, is lost year after year. In the area there is a continuous ecological disaster, mainly due to the major development projects that have been carried out in recent years, causing the soil to be sealed, resulting in both Akrotiri Salt Lake and Lake Markia receiving excessive amounts of rainwater, turning the area into a swamp.
Although various efforts have been made by the competent authorities (British Bases and the Republic of Cyprus), it seems that there is no real will to solve the problem, which has been known for a long time. The area is undergoing rapid residential and other forms of development, with the consequences of the expansions being catastrophic for the entire ecosystem.
Speaking to "F", the executive director of Terra Cypria, Koulla Michael, stressed that the main problem in the area is due to the uncontrolled management of rainwater, which is channelled to Aliki and Lake Markia, disrupting the hydrological cycle and the ecological balance of the area, with serious consequences for fauna and flora. "The Akrotiri wetland is under enormous pressure from neighbouring developments, which are constantly increasing and sealing the ground, resulting in rainwater flowing into the wetland throughout the year. This disrupts the natural water cycle in the area," Michael explained. The excessive influx of fresh water at times when the wetland should not receive water has caused huge changes in the ecosystem, affecting the plant and animal species that live there, but also the very functioning of the ecosystem, he underlined.
The Executive Director of Terra Cypria reiterated the recent serious problem that has arisen with the discharge of sewage into Akrotiri Salt Lake, which brings another great environmental pressure. He noted that the competent Services of the British Bases and the Republic of Cyprus must publish the results of the analyses from the samples taken from the areas where the inflow of sewage was observed and inform about the measures they will take to repair any damage, but also to ensure that there will be no further pressure on the wetland.
Regarding the situation prevailing both in Akrotiri Salt Lake and Lake Markia, residents and friends of the area have repeatedly expressed their concerns to the competent authorities. Speaking to "F", Panicos Constantinou, a resident of the area, noted that rainwater from the northern regions is channelled into the lake through pipelines. "At the moment the lake, due to the fresh water, has caused an increase in the vegetation of the reeds, as a result of which its character changes and turns into a hotbed of mosquitoes and stench. The reeds, through a groove, enter the Akrotiri Salt Lake, resulting in the whole area turning into a swamp", he says.
Local residents are once again sounding the alarm, pointing out that the situation in the area has been known for years and the problems are becoming increasingly apparent. They refer to the lack of coordination between the authorities involved, both the Republic of Cyprus and the British Bases, as well as the failure to take immediate and substantial measures for the protection of the habitat. As they point out, this inaction leads with mathematical precision to an irreparable ecological destruction of the region.
It is noteworthy that Lake Markia, as it is known, is a Special Protection Area for birds and a special conservation area for habitats and species of flora and fauna. The area is home to rich biodiversity that includes important habitats, plants, birds, invertebrates and amphibians. The lake is one of the few nesting areas of the marsh duck and an area where many other species of waterbirds meet and is under the umbrella of the Ramsar Convention (the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance).
