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- Ελληνικά
It is always a pleasure to be in Paphos, which I love very much. As an official, I feel a special responsibility and dedication to the protection and sustainable development of both the city and the province, as well as all areas of Cyprus.
Paphos has taken very important steps, implementing various projects and actions that contribute to the protection of the natural environment and the enhancement of its archaeological, historical and contemporary culture, and supporting environmental initiatives such as this one.
The Mediterranean Sea faces one of the highest levels of plastic pollution in the world. It is estimated that, according to 2020 figures, the plastic stock accumulating in the Mediterranean Sea is around 1.2 million tonnes.
Marine pollution is caused by serious anthropogenic pressures, to which agriculture, coastal activities, improper and/or inefficient solid waste management, shipping and the very strong tourism industry contribute. Tourism is cited as the biggest contributor to the deterioration of litter on the beaches of Mediterranean islands.
Scientists note that due to this marine litter the biodiversity of the Mediterranean is "definitely under threat", affecting at least 134 species. On the occasion of World Turtle Day today, it should be said that sea turtles are an endangered species, mainly due to plastic pollution. One in two turtles, statistically, consumes plastic, bags, etc., thinking they are jellyfish, creating a feeling of satiety that leads to death by starvation without realising it. It is estimated that approximately over one million sea turtles die every year from ingesting plastic or getting trapped in litter, equivalent to about 10% of the total sea turtle population.
In Cyprus, our beaches are valuable both for tourism and our economy and, most importantly, for the environment. However, more than 80% of the litter collected from Cypriot beaches is plastic. It is no coincidence that up to five times more litter is found on tourist beaches with cigarette butts making up the majority of plastic litter (42.5%).
Plastics do not decompose naturally, but break down into microplastics with very harmful effects on the environment, marine life and biodiversity, and human health! Microplastics, which mainly come from packaging, bottles, bags, straws, etc., enter the food chain through fish and end up in our bodies through food and breathing.
But today, we are here to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We are inaugurating the first "plastic-free beach" in Paphos province, the SODAP beach. The initiative is under the auspices of the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment and is part of the "Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free" project implemented by the TUI Care Foundation and the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association (CSTI).
At the "plastic-free beach" the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association has installed a cooler for cold and free water and the Municipality of Paphos undertakes its maintenance and supply of drinking water, aiming to encourage visitors to avoid the unnecessary use of plastics. Visitors are invited to have their own water containers, bottles, heaters as well as reusable containers for other beverages to be supplied by the beachside businesses and therefore the cooperation of everyone in this project is essential.
The Office of the Environment Commissioner considers this initiative as a trigger for a more comprehensive sustainable management of our beaches and marine environment. Our aim is to find good practices to completely avoid the use of plastics on beaches. This can only be achieved through synergies between all stakeholders of each coastal area, such as local authorities, restaurant, café and hotel owners. Pafos Municipality for supporting this initiative, the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association, the TUI Care Foundation and the students of the International School of Pafos for the artwork placed on the beach.
With the participation of all of us, we can certainly make a difference.
(ASP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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