For more than seven decades, the Cyprus Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Federation has been a pillar of environmental protection, director general of the interior ministry Elikkos Ilia said on Sunday.

Speaking at the 59th annual Pancyprian conference of the federation, he also said the body had supported the proper management of hunting in our country.

Through its work, he said the federation highlights that hunting, when practiced with rules, ethics and responsibility, can coexist harmoniously with the preservation of the natural wealth and biodiversity of Cyprus.

He also referred to the federation’s actions to protect the area of Akamas, which he described as “an emblematic hunting ground with special natural, environmental and cultural value”.

“This attitude highlights the responsibility and sensitivity that characterises the entire hunting family,” he added.

Ilia also said that the federation works in cooperation with the Game and Wildlife Service to maintain the population balance what is hunted.

This, he said, is the result of the organised and responsible management of hunting, “which refutes misconceptions and highlights the role of the hunter as an ally of the natural environment”.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of an agreement signed between the Pan-European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE), the European Federation for Hunting and Wildlife Conservation and BirdLife, marking formally that hunting and nature conservation can and must coexist.

“What started as a need for better dialogue has now evolved into a stable and constructive framework for cooperation,” Ilia said.

“Through this collaboration, hunters and environmental organisations joined forces on common goals, such as restoring biodiversity, conserving migratory birds, properly implementing EU legislation and recognising the essential role of rural people in land management.”

He said the government recognises the social, cultural and environmental role of hunting in Cyprus and supports legal hunters who operate responsibly.

“Only through cooperation and a common vision can we ensure the future of hunting and our natural environment,” he concluded.