Some people think nature photography is a hobby, a mere pastime. In fact, it's quite the opposite: a life choice.

Fritz Pölking, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 1977

“We did not inherit the earth from our parents – but borrowed from our children.”

 Indian wisdom

The island of Cyprus is located in the eastern Mediterranean. The Republic of Cyprus has been a full member of the EU since May 1, 2004. Capital: Nicosia. Official EU language(s): Greek. Currency: Euro (€).

The first brood of six young swallows has fledged, and the parents proudly present their family. It's a stressful time for us, too, constantly on the lookout to make sure everyone survives. The adults are currently preparing the nest for the second brood.

Die erste Brut mit 6 Jungschwalben ist ausgeflogen, die Eltern päsentieren ihre Familie voller Stolz. Die Zeit ist auch streßig für uns, immer wachsam, das alle durchkommen. Die Altvögel bereiten gerade das Nest vor für die zweite Brut.

On my website, I report on the island's natural and birdlife. There are several endemic animal and bird species that live and breed here in Cyprus. For a large number of migratory birds, the island is a very important resting place in the spring on their way from southern Africa back to their ancestral habitats in Europe, and in the autumn on their way from Europe to their wintering grounds in southern Africa.

As a nature photographer, you strive to capture all animals, birds, and landscapes in optimal light and habitat to convey the beauty of nature to the interested viewer. Unfortunately, in recent years, with climate change and biodiversity disruption, it has become increasingly difficult for me as a nature photographer to see the problems with open eyes and point out the problems.

As a member of the NGO "BirdLife Cyprus," I try to provide supporting material for the work of the NGOs through photo and video contributions. We urgently need the NGOs as official mouthpieces for problem-solving with the authorities and the government.

The Akamas Peninsula National Park has been in planning for years. The entire peninsula is designated as a European Natura 2000 bird sanctuary. Unfortunately, authorities and ministries themselves barely adhere to the associated EU legal requirements.

Even during the planning phase for the national park, there were problems with individual stakeholders, municipalities, and authorities; for all of them, the issue of income from tourism is more important than nature conservation.

After the preliminary work began on the park grounds, it took only a few weeks to discover that the roadworks carried out did not meet the planning specifications at all. Instead of unpaved paths 4-5 meters wide, the contractor had built roads up to 15 meters wide, drainage channels, and power cables for lighting. And, as it later emerged after fierce protests from NGOs, some "senior officials" of the Forest Department had made private deals with the tourism lobby.

A review has been underway for a long time, and a public announcement about the national park is expected in the next few days.