Paradox of the buffer zone: How a symbol of division became Cyprus’s unexpected wildlife haven

The United Nations buffer zone in Cyprus, established following the 1974 Turkish invasion and subsequent division of the island, has transformed into a vital ecological corridor where nature has reclaimed land left untouched by human development for over half a century.

A region that has long symbolised the island’s political division has evolved into one of the most critical biodiversity hotspots in Cyprus. University of Cyprus International Relations Professor Costas Constantinou explained...