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The report examines how environmental issues in Cyprus can either exacerbate conflict or facilitate peace-building. It analyzes the political, legal, and administrative asymmetries between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot administration, noting that fragmented planning leads to environmental degradation, such as illegal quarrying in the Pentadaktylos and Androlikou/Gündoğdu areas. The document reviews various levels of cooperation, from intergovernmental organizations like the UN and EU to the Bi-communal Technical Committee on the Environment (BTCE) and grassroots ENGOs. It concludes with proposals for a Buffer Zone Peace Park, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, and a bi-communal ecological studies centre in Varisheia to foster long-term reconciliation.

• Environmental protection in Cyprus is fragmented due to political and administrative separation, meaning there is no common 'Development Plan for the Island of Cyprus' to assess the ecosystem's carrying capacity.
• Illegal and unsustainable quarrying has caused significant damage in the Pentadaktylos Mountain Range and the Androlikou/Gündoğdu Gorges, leading to habitat loss and the endangerment of rare species, including the fruit bat (rousettus aegyptiacus).
• The Bi-communal Technical Committee on the Environment (BTCE), established in 2008, focuses on unifying environmental elements and best practices, such as a joint action plan for combating wildfires in and around the UN Buffer Zone.
• The Cyprus Buffer Zone has become a 'de facto environmental sanctuary' due to the lack of human activity, providing critical refuge for the endangered Cyprus mouflon (ovis orientalis ophion), particularly in the abandoned village of Varisheia.
• Bi-communal cooperation has occurred through various non-governmental channels, including joint campaigns against illegal bird trapping and collaborations between the Cyprus Wildlife Society (CWS) and the Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT) for sea turtle conservation.
• The report proposes the creation of a Peace Park in the Buffer Zone, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the Akamas, Agia Eirini, and Karpas peninsulas, and a bi-communal ecological studies centre in Varisheia to promote sustainable peace-building.

APA

Hadjimichael, M., & Papastylianou, K. (n.d.). Layout 1. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7b37c284-cbd3-4a24-82a0-235cc6787d4a/Hadjimichael Papastylianou - Environmental protection and cooperation PCC Report 6-2019.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Hadjimichael, Maria, and Klitos Papastylianou. Layout 1. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7b37c284-cbd3-4a24-82a0-235cc6787d4a/Hadjimichael Papastylianou - Environmental protection and cooperation PCC Report 6-2019.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hadjimichael |first1=Maria |last2=Papastylianou |first2=Klitos |title=Layout 1 |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7b37c284-cbd3-4a24-82a0-235cc6787d4a/Hadjimichael Papastylianou - Environmental protection and cooperation PCC Report 6-2019.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hadjimichaelndlayout, author = {Hadjimichael, Maria and Papastylianou, Klitos}, title = {{Layout 1}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7b37c284-cbd3-4a24-82a0-235cc6787d4a/Hadjimichael Papastylianou - Environmental protection and cooperation PCC Report 6-2019.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }