A loggerhead turtle swims in the open sea off Zakynthos in Lagana Bay (Credits: PA)

Turtle nests around British Armed Forces bases in Cyprus are thriving thanks to conservation efforts by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and civilian volunteers.

The Ministry of Defense said that by 2022 there will be a total of 172 green turtle and loggerhead turtle nests in the western and eastern Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), as well as in Akrotiri, Episkopi and Dhekelia, home to British forces conducting operations in the region supporting Hawksbill turtles have been identified.

Conservation work is carried out by volunteers consisting of military and civilian personnel who oversee all breeding beaches.

Not only do they report turtle tracks, but also illegal and harmful activities, including overnight camping and lighting bonfires at late-night beach parties.

The Environmental Division of the Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA) coordinates turtle conservation efforts and works with SBA volunteers and police.

Alexia Perdiou, SBAA environmental officer, said: “We welcome the increasing number of turtle nests on base beaches in recent years, which is a reflection of the essential work we do alongside our legion of military and civilian volunteers – patrolling beaches and tracking turtles. daily in the early morning hours during the summer months.

Turtles are in danger of extinction in several parts of the world (Credits: Getty Images)

“By making sure we don’t come into direct contact with turtles or hatchlings, we ensure nesting sites are protected from both human activity and invasive predators, which together with wider conservation efforts across Cyprus will ensure these incredible animals continue to thrive .”

The SBAA is also supported by the Defense Infrastructure Organization (DIO), which provides stewardship funding for conservation work to protect nesting beaches to meet shared goals and legal obligations to protect designated sites and habitats.

DIO’s environmental advisor for Cyprus, David Reynolds, said he was “very excited” about the increase in breeding success, adding: “It is the result of a unique and strong partnership of many years of hard work and now we can really start the results of our work.’