Destroying your habitat

Sir,
As regular visitors to Cyprus, my wife and I have witnessed the large amount of development which is taking place on the island, We have also noticed the sharp decline of the wildlife in these areas. The habitat of birds and reptiles is slowly being eroded by the developers, as scrubland and trees are dug out. Is there a government policy of preservation in place as in other European countries or are developers allowed free rein? It may appear to be a trivial issue at this stage, but the wholesale destruction of such habitat will have serious repercussions in years to come as witnessed in countries such as Africa and Asia. Please respect your beautiful island.

Robert Crowther, Wakefield , West Yorkshire

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.