Three Villages Go Green: Çatalköy, Arapköy, and Esentepe, Northern Cyprus
ÇADER is a non-profit civil society organization founded in 2005 and currently comprising 107 members. Its activities are primarly focused on environmental activities, guided by it motto: “The Environment and Me”.
The organisation works closely with local authorities and schools serving Catalköy, Arapköy, and Esentepe. Together, these three villages cover an area of 75 km² and are home to approximately 14,000 inhabitants. They are located in the foothills of the Pentadactylos Mountain Range, a designated Natura 2000 site and an Important Bird Area (IBA).
The project aims to promote nature conservation at the grassroots level by making these three Cypriot villages more bird-friendly and creating a model that other communities can follow. This will be achieved through education, habitat improvement, and public outreach.
The educational component focuses on raising awareness and increasing knowledge about the importance of biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and the protection of natural resources such as soil, water, and air. It also addresses the adverse effects of climate change and the need for adaptation strategies.
During the first months of the project, the initiative was introduced to local authorities. Several events were organized to raise awareness of nature conservation and species protection among the local population. These included a clean-up event for World Soil day, a community planting event, and a series of environmental education seminars for schoolchildren.
