Introducing Nissi Beach Resort, our May hotel of the month for biodiversity

Nissi Beach Resort understands the importance of balancing the economic benefits of tourism with protecting the natural areas that both visitors and Cypriots wish to enjoy. For this reason they have been working to protect and rejuvenate the Nissi Beach shoreline for the past 20-years. When they commenced this work the dunes were covered in an invasive plant species that was preventing native plant growth that would play a better role in supporting biodiversity. Hotel staff set about removing these plants and replacing them with species that are endemic to the area, helping to protect the dunes from erosion whilst rejuvenating populations of endemic plants. The video below explains how, and why, they have carried out this work.

9-years into their beach protection project, they set a goal of increasing the prevalence of a local sea lily that is important for biodiversity on the shoreline. Each November they sow 500 sea lily seeds in a nursery then plant them on the dunes the following March. This initiative has been a huge success along with another one to reinstate the prevalence of eurphorbia lemesiana. This plant was once very rare along the coastline and is still considered vulnerable in Cyprus yet, thanks to their careful efforts each year, the sand dunes now support around 500 of these precious plants.

Nissi Beach Resort works to educate guests and locals that visit the beach about the importance of protecting the dunes. They have created a nature trail and erected interpretive signs about the plants they will see and shoreline conservation. This allows people to enjoy the dunes without harming them. Every year they invite guests and people in their community to participate in beach cleans. This brings locals and visitors together, promoting meaningful cultural exchanges with all participants sharing a common goal of protecting the environment.