Larnaca Municipality, the Environment Department and the Game and Fauna Service have expressed serious concern over a new incident of illegal vehicle entry into Larnaca Salt Lake, where two cars were found immobilised inside the protected wetland.
In an announcement, Larnaca Municipality emphasises that Larnaca Salt Lake constitutes one of Cyprus’s most important natural treasures and is integrated into the NATURA 2000 Network and the Ramsar Convention, with exceptional importance for wildlife and particularly for the waterbirds it hosts.
Since 1997, it notes, the lake has been under strict protection under national and European legislation.
Thus, any activity which may directly or indirectly affect the ecosystem, species or species’ habitats constitutes an offence under the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Laws of 2003 to 2015 and the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Laws of 2003 to 2021.
“Despite repeated instructions, awareness campaigns and signage in the area, some continue to ostentatiously ignore the rules and engage in unacceptable actions that endanger the Salt Lake’s ecosystem,” the announcement adds.
Larnaca Municipality, the Environment Department and the Game and Fauna Service emphasise that such behaviour which harms our natural heritage is not acceptable and all authorities must cooperate to impose the sanctions and corrective actions provided for by law to prevent similar incidents recurring.
The issue was highlighted in a report by Dialogos, according to which both vehicles are registered to the same owner who is abroad and were being used by his son.
The latter attempted to cross the Salt Lake, resulting in his vehicle becoming immobilised due to mud after recent days’ rain softened the ground.
He then decided to call for help, resulting in the second vehicle also arriving at the Salt Lake, which also sank into the mud.
The Game and Fauna Service has already imposed an out-of-court fine of €2,000 for intervention/damaging activity that degraded the habitat under the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Laws, the announcement states.
For its part, the Environment Department is investigating ways to immediately remove the vehicles, which have become trapped inside the Salt Lake, in cooperation with other services to avoid further impact on the wetland.
Police were also informed of the incident last Wednesday.
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