Northern Cyprus is less crowded compared to Southern Cyprus. Fewer tourists also mean less trash. However, many beaches are still dirty because a lot of plastic is washed ashore from the sea. I am glad that there are always projects aimed at promoting cleanliness and order.
- Key Problem: Pollution threatens wildlife, including endangered sea turtles, and impacts tourism.
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Efforts in Action:
- SPOT (Society for the Protection of Turtles): Protects nesting sites and removed 3 metric tons of trash in 2020.
- Let’s Make Cyprus Green (LMCG): Organizes cleanups and promotes waste prevention.
- Municipal Initiatives: Local governments and volunteers conduct regular beach cleanups.
- Results: Increased sea turtle populations, cleaner beaches, and improved water quality.
- How You Can Help: Volunteer for cleanups, reduce plastic use, and support eco-friendly businesses.
Upcoming Event:
Join the next cleanup on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Yeni Boğaziçi. Meet at 10:00 AM to help protect Northern Cyprus’s beaches.
Together, these efforts are restoring the coastline and safeguarding marine life.
North Cyprus Marine Turtle Conservation Project
Major Cleanup Programs
Northern Cyprus is home to several impactful beach cleanup efforts that blend community involvement with conservation goals.
Let’s Make Cyprus Green Projects
Let’s Make Cyprus Green (LMCG) leads cleanup events while promoting awareness about waste prevention. Their mission emphasizes stopping trash before it reaches waterways. Throughout the year, they organize cleanup activities and collect data to support long-term solutions.
Their recent initiatives include:
"Litter throughout our island and waterways is a serious problem for all of us." – Let’s Make Cyprus Green
On April 2, 2024, LMCG volunteers partnered with Beach Token ($BEACH) for a major cleanup at Lady’s Mile Beach. Later, on September 18, they collaborated with GenPro for World Cleanup Day at Dasoudi Beach in Limassol.
While LMCG focuses on waste prevention, SPOT addresses wildlife conservation alongside cleanup efforts.
SPOT Sea Turtle Protection
The Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT) integrates beach cleanups with efforts to safeguard sea turtle nesting habitats. Their work not only clears debris but also ensures these areas remain suitable for nesting. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to sea turtles, causing entanglement and ingestion issues.
Key initiatives by SPOT include:
- Regular monitoring of beaches
- Protecting turtle nests
- Removing harmful marine debris
Town-Led Beach Care
Municipal programs also play a crucial role in keeping beaches clean. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment oversees these efforts, with local activist groups conducting twice-daily cleanups in prominent coastal areas.
One standout example occurred in 2019 when Dipkarpaz and Yeni Erenköy Municipalities organized a large-scale cleanup. This event brought together municipal leaders, ministry representatives, and over 500 student volunteers.
In September 2021, seven coastal municipalities participated in a visit to Çıralı. The purpose was to learn how to better coordinate conservation efforts with local stakeholders. These lessons have since influenced more effective beach management practices across Northern Cyprus.
Results of Beach Cleanups
Efforts to clean up beaches in Northern Cyprus have shown clear results, benefiting both the environment and marine life.
Less Ocean Trash
Beach cleanups have led to a noticeable reduction in trash along the coasts of Northern Cyprus. In 2020, SPOT volunteers organized multiple cleanup events, building on earlier successes like the 2019 operation where over 500 schoolchildren participated. These initiatives highlight the community’s dedication to tackling coastal pollution.
"We get anything from little plastic spoons to huge fridges wash up on our shores… Nesting females will often give up digging if they encounter a big piece of plastic in the sand, while newly hatched baby turtles that are coming up through the sand might find their passage physically blocked."
– Ceren Barlas, SPOT
The removal of debris not only clears the beaches but also creates safer spaces for marine animals to thrive.
Better Wildlife Health
Cleaner beaches have had a direct impact on local wildlife, especially sea turtles. Monitoring efforts have shown an increase in populations of both green and loggerhead turtles, thanks to ongoing protection and cleanup projects.
"Numbers have increased a lot because of the protection [we give them]. It’s the best project in the whole of the Mediterranean, if not the whole world."
– Kutlay Keço, chairman of SPOT
Cleaner Sea Water
Reducing trash on beaches has also improved the clarity and quality of the surrounding seawater. Regular monitoring at 59 coastal sites keeps a close eye on pollutants, especially plastics, which make up about 95% of waste in the Mediterranean’s waters and beaches. During tourist seasons, waste levels tend to spike by 40%, but targeted programs like "Plastic Free Beach" help counteract this rise by combining cleanup efforts with prevention.
The "Live Link" event series brought the plastic-free message to over 200,000 people. It introduced creative ideas, such as exchanging 30 collected cigarette butts for reusable water bottles, reducing single-use plastic waste while actively cleaning the beaches.
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How to Help Clean Beaches
Community initiatives are making it easier than ever to get involved in beach cleanup efforts. Here’s how you can contribute.
Where to Volunteer
In Northern Cyprus, several organizations are actively looking for volunteers to join their beach cleanup activities. Let’s Make Cyprus Green runs regular cleanup events throughout the year, combining waste collection with data gathering to support policy-making efforts.
The Marine Turtle Conservation Project (MTCP) takes a unique approach, blending beach cleanups with wildlife conservation. Since 1992, MTCP has been protecting marine turtles on Northern Cyprus’s beaches. Volunteers help patrol nesting areas, measure turtles, safeguard nests from predators, and even assist in public hatchling releases.
Start Your Own Cleanup
Want to take the lead? Organizing your own beach cleanup is straightforward with a bit of planning:
- Choose a beach and define the cleanup area.
- Get any necessary permits from local authorities.
- Arrange for proper waste disposal with local services.
- Gather essential supplies like gloves, trash bags, and a first aid kit.
- Use debris-tracking apps to log the types of waste collected.
These steps ensure your efforts make a meaningful impact.
Next Cleanup Events
Mark your calendar for the next big cleanup on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Yeni Boğaziçi. Volunteers will meet at 10:00 AM, and the cleanup begins at 10:30 AM. Don’t forget to bring gloves and garbage bags.
For more information or additional events, you can reach out to:
- Let’s Make Cyprus Green via their website.
- MTCP at +90 533 8725350 for details on turtle conservation activities.
If you’re interested in working with MTCP during the nesting season, applications are open until December 20 for the following year.
Keep Beaches Clean Long-Term
Maintaining the cleanliness of beaches in Northern Cyprus requires consistent effort and practical strategies. Recent studies highlight that plastics account for 95% of sea and beach waste across the Mediterranean, with waste generation in Northern Cyprus increasing by up to 40% during the busy summer months.
Reduce Plastic Waste
Cutting down on plastic is critical, as it represents 80% of beach waste in Cyprus. The Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) has introduced the "Plastic Free Beach" project (2022–2024) to address this issue. Key recommendations include:
- Use refillable water stations
- Bring reusable bags
- Pack snacks in washable containers
- Opt for products with minimal packaging
- Carry reusable coffee cups
This project has already reached over 200,000 people through "Live Link" events and educated 359 students about preventing plastic pollution.
Proper Trash Disposal
Since 80% of local beach waste originates onshore, managing trash effectively is essential. Here are some tips:
- Use designated waste bins
- Separate recyclables from general trash
- Take your trash with you if bins are full
- Report overflowing bins to local authorities
"Littering is entirely a man-made problem, and is entirely preventable." – Let’s Make Cyprus Green
Combining responsible waste disposal with sustainable consumption habits can help maintain clean beaches over time.
Support Eco-Friendly Businesses
In addition to waste management, supporting environmentally conscious businesses plays a vital role in protecting shorelines. For instance, Bare Hill Holiday Village has been recognized as an "Eco Friendly–Green Hotel" for installing a solar energy system that generates 50.0 kWp of electricity annually. With tourism increasing waste by 40% during the summer, choosing accommodations and services that prioritize renewable energy and limit single-use plastics can make a big difference.
From reducing plastic use to supporting green businesses, collective efforts can help preserve the beauty of our beaches for generations to come.
Conclusion
The cleanup initiatives in Northern Cyprus have significantly improved coastal management, as shown by data highlighting that plastics make up 95% of sea and beach waste across the Mediterranean region.
Main Points
The efforts of Let’s Make Cyprus Green have successfully kept waste out of waterways through regular cleanup events. These events not only reduce pollution but also provide important data to guide policy-making. The "Plastic Free Beach" project has made strides by certifying four beaches with plastic-free facilities by July 2023 and engaging over 200,000 people through "Live Link" events.
Northern Cyprus faces one of the highest municipal solid waste rates in the EU, with 609 kg per capita recorded in 2020. SPOT has tackled specific threats like polypropylene mesh sacks, which pose risks to sea turtles, through targeted campaigns.
The "Tourism Cares: Unite for a Cleaner Cyprus" initiative has organized nearly 60 cleanup events, setting a strong example for future environmental efforts. This program, a collaboration between TUI, the TUI Care Foundation, and the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative, highlights the impact of partnerships in driving environmental change.
These initiatives demonstrate how community involvement, education, and structured waste management can bring about lasting improvements to coastal environments.
