Environmental groups oppose new antenna installations in Akrotiri

On August 7, 2026, the environmental organizations BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria voiced strong opposition to proposed plans for installing new antennas in the Akrotiri region. The groups argue that the project poses a significant threat to the local ecosystem, which is recognized as a vital biodiversity hotspot within the Eastern Mediterranean.

Akrotiri Salt Lake is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, and it is part of the Natura 2000 network. Citing two decades of scientific research, the organizations warned that existing antenna infrastructure has already caused bird deaths and collision risks. They are now participating in a formal public consultation process, urging authorities to apply the precautionary principle and ensure transparency before approving any further developments that could increase cumulative environmental pressures on this sensitive migratory corridor.