The annual arrival of flamingos to Cyprus’s coastal wetlands, a celebrated natural spectacle, is now underscored by significant ecological concern. The first flocks of the season have been sighted at Larnaca Salt Lake, marking the beginning of their winter residency. However, conservation authorities have concurrently revealed data indicating a stark and sustained decrease in the numbers of these iconic birds wintering on the island over the past decade, prompting the launch of a major, decade-long protection initiative.
Systematic monitoring conducted over more than twenty years by the national Game and Fauna Service in collaboration with BirdLife Cyprus has provided a clear, troubling trajectory. Nikos Kassinis, a Senior Officer with the Service, presented the figures at the recent 4th International Flamingo Symposium in Italy. "From 2013 to the present, a decline of 14–31% is observed," Kassinis stated. While between five and ten thousand of the birds still typically grace Cypriot lakes each winter, constituting over one percent of the regional population, the downward trend is unambiguous.
The primary culprits behind this decline are multifaceted and anthropogenic. Experts point to a destructive combination of climatic and human pressures. Recurring droughts diminish crucial wetland areas, while the inflow of contaminated or poor-quality water degrades the aquatic ecosystems, drastically reducing the abundance of the small invertebrates that flamingos filter from the water. Furthermore, habitat encroachment from infrastructure projects and disruptive activities in the vicinity of these sensitive zones continues to fragment and degrade their wintering grounds. Key sites affected include the Akrotiri and Larnaca salt lakes, Paralimni and Oroklini lakes, and several water bodies in the Famagusta region.
In direct response to this crisis, a comprehensive conservation project has been initiated. Co-financed by the European Union’s LIFE Programme, the ten-year Pandotira Project is specifically designed to address the knowledge gaps hindering effective protection. Its objectives are to meticulously quantify the various threats and to deeply understand the precise ecological requirements of flamingos within the Cypriot context. The research will focus on Natura 2000 network sites, which are designated as Special Protection Zones under EU law, aiming to translate scientific findings into targeted, practical conservation actions.
The implications of the declining flamingo population extend beyond the fate of a single species. These elegant birds are considered indicator species, whose health reflects the overall condition of the wetland habitats they occupy. Their diminishing numbers signal the deteriorating state of these vital ecosystems across the Eastern Mediterranean. The success of the Pandotira Project, therefore, is critical not only for reversing the fortunes of the flamingos but also for guiding the restoration and sustainable management of Cyprus’s protected wetlands. The sight of flamingos against the island’s sunset may remain, but ensuring it endures for future generations now depends on swift and science-led intervention.