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http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=39346&cat_id=1

Cyprus turning into a desert island

CYPRUS will be turned into a desert island if the necessary steps to avert environmental changes aren’t taken in time. According to the Chairman of the House Environment Committee, Cyprus is facing serious problems in planning how to deal with the changes, which will have very serious consequences on Cyprus’ human life and economy. Speaking after a discussion on the issue of desertification yesterday, Yiannos Lamaris said the phenomenon was now “visible to the naked eye”, adding that the main reason behind it was human intervention. He said Cyprus lacked the necessary planning to deal with excessive pasturing and pointed out that in the Akamas peninsula alone, there were currently 12,000 animals grazing uncontrollably. “With mathematical accuracy, Akamas will turn into a desert in just a few years, due to uncontrollable grazing,” said Lamaris. A similar problem is being faced in the Pissouri-Avdimou area, he added.

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