Reaffirming its leadership in sustainable coastal management, all 13 of Tel Aviv-Yafo’s public beaches have once again earned the prestigious Blue Flag certification for 2025. This honor, awarded by the International Blue Flag Committee and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), recognizes beaches that meet exceptional standards in water quality, safety, accessibility, and environmental education.

Each year, the Blue Flag is reassessed to ensure compliance with strict international criteria. For Tel Aviv-Yafo, retaining Blue Flag status across all its beaches reflects a sustained municipal commitment to clean seas, inclusive spaces, and community stewardship. The concept was brought to Israel through a Swedish environmentalist named Andreas Weil.

In Israel, the program is implemented by EcoOcean, a nonprofit organization of scientists and educators devoted to marine conservation. It is founded by Weil.

This achievement is especially significant in light of recent environmental challenges. The ongoing conflict with Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen.

In 2021, Israel faced one of its worst ecological disasters when an offshore oil spill contaminated more than 160 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. Tar washed up on beaches from Ashkelon to Rosh Hanikra, including Tel Aviv’s shores.

As Green Prophet reported at the time, thousands of volunteers joined cleanup efforts, collecting sticky, toxic waste by hand. The city’s rapid response and community-driven action helped restore the beaches and laid the groundwork for more rigorous monitoring and preventive strategies.

Beyond cleanliness and conservation, the Blue Flag also honors beaches for universal accessibility. Tel Aviv has prioritized infrastructure for people with disabilities, including accessible boardwalks, floating wheelchairs, tactile paving, and lifeguard assistance for people with mobility impairments.

This inclusive approach has made Tel Aviv’s beaches welcoming not just for locals and tourists, but for seniors, families, and people of all abilities.

A major focus of Tel Aviv’s beach management has been the elimination of single-use plastics. In 2019, the city passed a bylaw banning plastic bags, straws, and utensils at public beaches. As Green Prophet covered in our report on the ban, this was a bold move to combat marine litter and microplastic pollution.

Today, educational signage, waste separation bins, and awareness campaigns reinforce the city’s message: protecting the sea is a shared responsibility.

With 13 Blue Flags proudly flying, Tel Aviv-Yafo remains a regional and global leader in sustainable urban coastline management. As sea levels rise and marine ecosystems face increasing pressure, the city’s blend of policy, education, and public engagement offers a blueprint for others to follow.

Tel Aviv is about 30 kilometers away from a rare shark attack that killed a man that happened a couple of weeks ago near Michmoret beach and a desalination plant. A source we spoke with said that locals were feeding dead fish straight into the mouths of the sharks for some time, and that he believes the swimmer got caught in a current leading to panic, splashing and then a frenzied shark attack. Shark attacks are rare in Israel. It is the fourth one in decades.

Tel Avinians are usually more concerned about jellyfish swarms that come up from the Red Sea. After Egypt created the Suez Canal it led to an explosion in invasive species.

Blue Flags in the region – a win for Turkey

Turkey ranks third globally in the number of Blue Flag beaches, boasting 567 certified beaches as of 2024. The Antalya province leads with 233 Blue Flag beaches, followed by Muğla with 112 and Izmir with 64.

As of 2024, Lebanon does not have any beaches certified with the Blue Flag. While Lebanon offers beautiful coastal areas like Tyre, Batroun, and Byblos, they have not received this specific international certification.

Syria has no Blue Flag.

Cyprus boasts an impressive number of 76 Blue Flag beaches and 2 marinas as of 2024, making it one of the top countries in Europe for clean, environmentally managed, and well-equipped coastal destinations.

Check a beach before you book a destination. See Blue Flag Global.

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You might have heard about the so-called “blue zones” — five areas in the world that longevity expert Dan Buettner has identified as having residents who routinely live to be over 100. They are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California, and Ikaria, Greece. A new secret about the Ikaria diet is revealed.

A breathtaking drone view of Ikaria, Greece, showcases its pristine sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. This picturesque island is one of the world’s five “Blue Zones,” as identified by longevity expert Dan Buettner—places where people live significantly longer, healthier lives.

“[People from] Ikaria, Greece, live about eight years longer than the average American, largely without dementia—no discernible dementia,” Buettner revealed.

In contrast, the US faces a growing dementia crisis. An estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today, a number projected to rise to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the NIH. Meanwhile, in Ikaria, researchers found only three mild cases of dementia among all residents over 65.

The Ikarian Diet: A Mediterranean Marvel

What’s their secret? According to Buettner, diet plays a key role. On his Blue Zones blog, he explained that Ikarians follow the strictest version of the Mediterranean diet, relying on:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains, beans, and legumes
• Olive oil
• Moderate amounts of red wine

However, unlike other Mediterranean regions, Ikarians consume far less fish and meat, instead focusing on an impressive variety of wild and garden greens. “They regularly eat a hundred or so foraged wild greens like mustard, chicory, and fennel—plants we’d weed-whack in the U.S.,” Buettner noted. These greens are packed with antioxidants, boasting 10 times the artery-cleansing power of red wine.

Herbal Teas and Coffee: Longevity in a Cup

Another key to Ikarian longevity? Their love for herbal teas and coffee.

“Ikarians drink herbal teas every day, made from plants grown around their homes and in the wild,” Buettner said. Popular choices include oregano, dandelion, sage, and rosemary—herbs with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. A 2023 study found that drinking tea (both green and black) was linked to a 29% lower risk of dementia.

Ikarians also drink copious amounts of coffee. A 2010 study found that consuming 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily during midlife reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s by 65%. Another study in 2021 revealed that people who drank a mix of 2 to 3 cups of coffee and tea daily had a 30% lower risk of stroke and dementia.

The Lifestyle Factor: Movement & Social Bonds

Beyond diet, Ikarians benefit from a naturally active lifestyle and strong social ties. Unlike Americans, who often sit for long hours and rely on short, intense gym sessions, Ikarians engage in consistent, low-intensity movement throughout the day. Since the island is mountainous, even a simple trip to the store involves uphill walking.

Additionally, social isolation is rare in Ikaria. “Ikarians are much less likely to suffer loneliness and depression than Americans,” Buettner wrote. “And depression increases dementia risk by 50%.”

Lessons from Ikaria

To embrace the Ikarian way of life:

• Eat a plant-heavy, antioxidant-rich diet with plenty of wild greens.
• Swap sugary drinks for herbal tea and coffee.
• Stay socially connected and engaged.
• Move naturally throughout the day, rather than relying solely on structured workouts.

In Ikaria, longevity isn’t just about adding years to life—it’s about adding life to years.

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Israel’s Sea Turtle Rescue Center rescued 15 sea turtles in recent weeks after dozens were found washed up on shore on Israeli beaches after a storm. About 20 had died. Normally over a course of a year the crew surveys about 250 turtles coming to shore. Within 3 days some 46 were counted, according to news reports. The terrible reason was eventually uncovered: an Italian crew had set off 20 underwater explosions hoping to find oil and gas in the Mediterranean Sea.

Piles of volunteers rushed in to help comb the coast for the sea turtles suffering from lung and internal cavity damage. Not only did the volunteers search, they also rescued the massive creatures helping carry each one back to the rescue vehicles. An average one weighs about 200 kilograms or more than 400 pounds.

The Turtle rescue center director Yaniv Levy told a local news channel Hadashot that some of the turtles had fluid, including blood, inside their lungs. Green Prophet could not reach him for comment. 

Marine vets rushed to the center where they set up a makeshift hospital to treat the turtles using both CT scans and X-rays to understand the injuries. Surgery was done when necessary. Only 15 turtles could be saved and now the turtles face a rehab period of up to a year. “I am quite sure we can put them back [in the sea],” Levy said.

At first the injuries were a big mystery then the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority figured out the likely culprit: an Italian marine seismic survey looking to find offshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea.

There were 20 explosions set off within 24 hours, as the survey researchers mapped the ocean floor.

The loggerhead and green sea turtles lay their eggs along the Israeli coast, and are greatly affected by environmental disturbances. Garbage and development along the coast is also putting the populations at risk, says the Sea Turtle Rescue Center.

Seismic airguns are used to find oil and gas deep underneath the ocean floor. Airguns are so loud that they disturb, injure or kill marine life, harm commercial fisheries, and disrupt coastal economies. Seismic testing is a process to create an image of the subsurface. The data obtained is then used by the oil and gas company to locate the most optimum place to drill for gas.

According to the NGO Oceana, seismic airgun testing currently being proposed in the Atlantic could injure 138,000 whales and dolphins and disturb millions more.

The Israeli Sea Turtle Rescue Center

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For years empirical evidence has suggested that the Mediterranean diet, which includes a lot of fish, nuts, olive oil, fruits and vegetables, is superior to others, but it has been exceptionally difficult to prove the relationship between food and diet given that so many other factors can influence a person’s health. Plus, let’s face it: how disciplined are any of us when it comes to food?

So professor of medicine Dr. Ramon Estruch and other researchers from the University of Barcelona traveled the globe to determine whether diet alone can be used to treat people who are at high risk of heart disease and then came up with a fail-proof method to test that hypothesis, the New York Times reports.

After consulting with professionals from around the globe, the researchers rounded up 7,447 people from Spain that exhibited all of the risk factors associated with heart disease, including smoking and excess weight, and split them into three control groups.

One of these was instructed to follow a low fat diet, while the other two groups were encouraged to consume stipulated quantities of olive oil or nuts; drinkers were even encouraged to drink seven glasses of wine each week.

After five years the study concluded early because of overwhelming evidence that a Mediterranean diet reduces risk of heart disease by 30 percent, according to NYT.

Rachel Johnson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association, told the paper that she thought the study was very impressive.

“And the really important thing — the coolest thing — is that they used very meaningful endpoints. They did not look at risk factors like cholesterol or hypertension or weight. They looked at heart attacks and strokes and death. At the end of the day, that is what really matters,” she said.

Even though no weight loss occurred as a result of the new diet, which eliminated processed, sugary foods while permitting high calorie nuts and oils, participants of the study experienced a dramatic increase in health and in a shorter amount of time than Dr. Estruch expected. He said he was surprised.

Results of the study were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine and some researchers have since expressed doubt of their merits. Doctors who advocate for vegan diets, for example, claim that the “awful control diet” of toxic junk food actually caused some of the participants to die of stroke or heart attack.

The researchers did admit that more research must be done to determine whether the diet would be effective for people who are at low risk of disease.

Other diets that complement the Med diet featured on websites like https://www.tasteaholics.com, includes the keto diet. The keto or ketogenic diet is a high-fat, protein and low carb diet that is used by nutritionists and doctors to force the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.

Olive oil, anyone? Here are 10 weird and wonderful uses.

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You might not be able to strut around in a thong or sun tan topless in the Middle East (unless you are at the Naked Dead Sea), but there are many beautiful beaches in the region that just don’t get enough fanfare. That’s why we have rounded up ten of the most sublime sandy destinations.

Find beaches from Abu Dhabi and Oman to Libya and Turkey with a focus on less-trafficked beaches that will refresh your soul while you soak up vitamin D.

Too much sun isn’t good for anybody, so be sure to pack some earth-friendly skin protection as you prepare for a cultural beach holiday complete with outstanding natural vistas.

We have included destinations that are relatively quiet, and that are as clean as they get in the Middle East and North Africa. Each country has its own special ambience, culture and history, so you’ll want to decide what you want out of your vacation and do further research. But this list should give you some ideas about what is available. Without further adieu, we start with one of the most well known of the region’s beaches.

 Aerial view of Oludeniz Lagoon via Shutterstock

1. Oludeniz (Blue) Lagoon – Fethiye, Turkey

Ranked as one of the top five beaches in the world, this beach is located on the Turquoise coast of southwest Turkey, where the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea meet. With blue water and a long, peninsular sandy beach surrounded by lots of green foliage, this is one of the most popular holiday destinations not only in Turkey but the entire Middle East region. Even so, you won’t have to fight the same kind of crowds you’d confront in popular Caribbean or European destinations.

2. Bandar Jissah – Outskirts of Muscat, Oman

Albeit well-known in the Middle East, this 220 hectare beach outside of Muscat is unspoiled. Translated as “haven,” the sands are abutted by the near-omniscient Hajjar Mountains and spill into the Sea of Oman. All kinds of activities are available, including cave exploration for the more intrepid among our readers, and the area is becoming increasingly tourism friendly.

3. Paradise Beach – Asilah, Morocco

For foreigners, Morocco is probably the easiest place to enjoy a beach holiday as the country is tolerant towards tourists. For that same reason, some of the most popular beaches can become unpleasantly crowded. However, this is less true at Paradise Beach south of Asilah – on the Atlantic Ocean. A quiet, windy destination that is reasonably clean and tranquil, the area is popular among water sports enthusiasts.

 Lifeguard post at Iztuzu Beach via Shutterstock

4. Iztuzu Beach – Dalyan, Turkey

Best visited between April and October, this gorgeous 4.5km beach on Turkey’s southwest coast is rarely busy. It boasts clean blue water and golden sands and also happens to be an important nesting area for endangered loggerhead turtles. It has been a part of the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area since 1988 following foiled attempts to create a large resort that would have put the turtles in jeopardy.

5. Al Gharbia – Mirfa, Abu Dhabi

Albeit a little bit difficult to reach, the beach at Mirfa is one of the most pleasant in all of the United Arab Emirates. Mirfa is one of seven main cities of the 60,000 square meter Al Gharbia region of Abu Dhabi, but you’ll want to head there quickly because by 2030 the place will be a sprawling resort area crawling with other tourists. And if you’re an active person planning for next year’s vacation, consider coming in April during the Al Gharbia Watersports Festival, when all kinds of adrenalin-pumping action is on offer.

 Paradise Beach south of Asilah via Shutterstock

6. Saidia Blue Pearl Beach – Bekane, Morocco

This beach is located on the northeastern tip of Morocco along the Mediterranean Sea and the border with Algeria. At 14km, this is one of the largest of the country’s resorts, but it’s not impossible to find a quiet place to relax with a book and umbrella. Travel in August and you might catch the annual folk music festival that doubles the fun.

7. Farwah Island Beach – Zwara City, Libya

Libya has 2,000km of shoreline along the Mediterranean Sea, so – as you can imagine – there’s plenty of beach to enjoy. For travelers who have their own cars, it might be worth hitting up Farwah Island, which is located 40km west of Zwara City. You’ll have to take a boat to reach the 470 hectare peninsula, the country’s only one, but it’s worth it to see velvety white sand beaches that are completely unspoiled.

 Beit Yannai Beach in Israel

8. Zuwarah Beach – Zuwarah, Libya

Easier to reach than Farwah, and slightly more populated, the beaches at this Berber town about 40 miles east of the border of Tunisia are still spectacular. And the Awassu festival in August offers swimming and sailing races and other activities. Be warned, however: the last time we tried to enter Libya, our visa request was denied due to the political instability right around the first post-revolution elections. The situation is considerably more tame now, but you’ll want to do your research before you get too excited about visiting this majestic country.

9. Marsa Alam – Marsa Alam, Egypt

Most foreigners head to Dahab or Hurghada on the Red Sea when they visit Egypt. As a result, both places can get crowded and dirty, though diving and snorkeling are spectacular and well-organized. But for something a little more tranquil, why not head further south to Marsa Alam. A quiet seaside town about 270km from Hurghada, it has more beach area and less of a meat market feel. It’s a great place to rejuvenate and you can get there by a bus en route to Aswan.

10. Beit Yannai Beach – Netanya, Israel

We would be remiss if we didn’t include at least one of Israel’s many fabulous beaches. Instead of the more popular Tel Aviv destinations, which are crowded with all kinds of beautiful people in the summer, we recommend Beit Yannai Beach in a rural setting north of Netanya (which is north of Tel Aviv.) Located in a nature reserve and an estuary of the Alexander River, this is a paid beach that is well worth the price. Remote and quiet, it is also very well maintained.

If we have forgotten your favorite beach in the Middle East and North Africa region, let us know in the comments. 

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An investigation is underway to determine the deaths of dozens of sea turtles that washed up on Egypt’s Mediterranean shore last week. Initial forays prompted suspicion that the turtles had eaten deliberately poisoned fish in Lake Bardawil, but conclusive results have not yet been published.

Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Mostafa Hussein Kamel established a committee to explore the cause of death of the 84 dead sea turtles, though some critics claim the ministry, the Egyptian Authority of Fish Resources and the Sinai governorate were all initially slow to respond. It isn’t clear which species have turned up in Egypt, but six out of seven marine turtles species are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

Professors from Suez Canal University and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency nature conservation sector are among the committee members tasked with determining the cause of death, and they are currently analyzing blood and tissue samples.

“The committee doesn’t want to rush to conclusions, as they are still working on more lab results,” Executive Coordinator of Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE) Noor Noor told Egypt Independent.

“This includes samples of dead turtles and one that is still alive although in critical condition. But some of the professors indicated that the mass deaths occurred as a result of poisoned fish that were consumed by the turtles, however this theory remains under inspection.”

Suez Canal University oceanography professor Magdy Elwani told the paper that it is common for fishermen to poison marine turtles. As fish stocks dwindle and their livelihood suffers, the fishermen eliminate their competition by feeding the turtles small tainted fish.

He added that it can sometimes take weeks for the turtles to die as the poison is absorbed into their bodies; the last two turtles to succumb in this last event are currently being examined to “verify the poison theory.”

Other possible explanations for one of the largest mass die offs of sea turtles in Egypt’s history include pollution or changes in water salinity, though no immediate signs of either presented themselves.

We should know more about the lab results next week, so stay tuned for details.

:: Egypt Independent

Image of sea turtle, Shutterstock

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Noble Energy, the Houston based energy company, has been working with both Israel and Cyprus to find commercial quantities of natural gas under the eastern Mediterranean seabed . Noble Energy’s Mediterranean undersea energy exploration has included the Leviathan and Tamar gas fields, together with energy tycoons like Delek Energy’s  Yitzhak Tshuva. The natural gas finds so far are estimated to be able to provide Israel with enough natural gas to satisfy energy needs for 150 years – if handled wisely.

Further exploration by Noble and other energy companies are now revealing that oil deposits, located under some of the gas fields, may also be worth going after; even though this would involve very deep and environmentally risky drilling processes. These gas fields include the Leviathan field, off Israel’s coastal city of Haifa; and the Aphrodite gas field off the southern coast of Cyprus.

Marine biologists specializing in the sea life found in these waters are concerned that these oil hungry businesses are threatening Mediterranean marine life, especially its cetacean population of dolphins, whales and porpoises. According to Globes, Noble claims that following a 5,800 meter seismic survey, they have a17% chance of striking oil deposits estimated to be between 210-1,490 million barrels of oil equivalents. At 7,200 meters, there is an 8% possibility of success, giving a total of 25% possibility for the two strata layers.

Environmental concerns are not the only issue concerning Noble Energy’s activities: A Turkish based organization known as the International Strategic Research Organization, published an article dealing with Noble Energy’s agreement with Greek Cyprus to explore possible oil deposits in the Aphrodite gas field located off southern Cyprus.

The article, which appears to take Turkey’s energy claims to the area into account, warns that Noble Energy is “behaving too boldly” due to the risks and high costs involved; which could bankrupt the company due to high and unforeseen risks. These risks appear to include eventual confrontation with Turkish naval and air forces which are present in the area and are occasionally involved in military exercises.

Possible terror attacks are also a factor, says the article.

Aside from the strategic and political aspects, the article notes that the sea is too deep in this area (more than 1500 meters) and that an additional 2600 meters of seabed needs to be drilled in order to reach such deposits. These problems are reminiscent of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which lasted five months and resulted in millions of gallons of crude oil  gushing into that body of water – perhaps damaging the marine life there forever.

Noble Energy will have to take all of these risk factors into account and then decide if the rewards of extracting oil from this areas are worth the potential risks involved.

Read more about deep sea energy projects in the eastern Mediterranean:

Israel’s Offshore Natural Gas Good to Burn for 150 Years – if Handled Wisely

Mediterranean Agency Could Avert Offshore Marine Disasters

Greek Cyprus Fearful over Offshore Gas Well Drilling

Photo: MNN/NOAA

The post Noble Energy May be Pushing its Luck by Drilling for Deep Oil in the Med appeared first on Green Prophet.

The annual olive harvest is here in the Middle East again. For people living in Mediterranean and Middle East olive producing countries, they can enjoy pickling their own olives due to the proliferation of olive trees in these locations. Here in Israel where I love, many private and public gardens and parks have olive trees growing in them; making olives available to anyone taking the time to pick them during the annual autumn olive season.

In a previous Green Prophet article about preserving olives, I explored how easy home picked olives are easy to pickle and are usually ready to eat after being stored in pickling brine for at least two to three months. After doing this for several years, I have found that one can experiment using various spices in their pickling ingredients that include rosemary, thyme, black peppercorns, cayenne peppers (to give the olives a “kick”) and bay leaves.

The most common types of olives available in my neighborhood are the narrow and pointed Syrian olives and the larger, egg shaped Mazanillo olives. These are some of the best olive groves are in the Galilee Region of Israel and on the West Bank; although there are a lot of political issues over Palestinian olive groves getting damaged and even cut off by the separation barrier erected by Israel.

Although it is possible to mix these two olive species when pickling, it is not recommended to do so as each species has a different flavor with the Syrian ones being more bitter. With the Syrian olives, unless you like their bitter taste, it is recommended to “crack” them by opening them with a wooden mallet which allows the pickling brine to remove the bitter taste. With both olive species, soaking them daily in fresh water for at least two weeks prior to pickling is a must as well.

In previous Green Prophet articles it was reported about threats to Mid East olive growers and suppliers due to falling olive oil prices ; partially due to heavy subsidizing by several European Union countries.

While I haven’t yet tried to make my own olive oil, there are recipes for doing this on the internet. But with olive oil prices being so low, as previously mentioned, excellent varieties of locally produced virgin olive oils are readily available at attractive prices.

My recommendation is not to be tempted to purchase olive oils from countries like Italy and Spain, which are “dumping” their products in many countries, including the Middle East. It’s obviously better to support local growers and producers and not those elsewhere.

Read more on olives and olive related issues in the Middle East:
Israel’s Separation Barrier Could Disrupt Ancient Way of Farming Since Roman Times
Cheap Olive Oil Threatens to Destroy Mid East Growers and Suppliers
Preserving Olives the Green Prophet Way
Picking Olives for Pickling

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Unlike the dubious global warming theme park in the United Arab Emirates “Ice Land”, where extraordinary amounts of water go to waste, Israelis are trying to tackle northland conservation in a more sane manner. Thanks to Greenpeace Mediterranean, a sliding glacier with polar bears will be visiting the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel this week to educate locals on the problems caused by energy companies rallying to grab their stake in the arctic and North Pole. The campaign is part of Greenpeace’s “Save the Arctic” movement.

The moving glacier is really an ice-shaped platform, and it will haul people costumed in polar bear suits who no doubt will be extraordinarily hot in their suits.

According to the JPost “in addition to transporting the glacier platform around Tel Aviv, Greenpeace activists in Israel will be sending giant polar bear escorts to recruit Israelis to protect the North Pole throughout the coming weeks, the local group said.”

Greenpeace aims to get half a million signatures against the energy companies such as Shell who want to begin experimental energy drilling in the arctic.

If you want to see the North Pole stay pristine you can sign the Greenpeace campaign to “save” the arctic. I did.

::JPost / image via Greenpeace

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“Going green” is a new defense tactic modern military: From the use of solar energy to power field re-chargers for communication equipment to finding new ways to supply troops with drinking water by moisture condensation from vehicle AC units. Armies going green is a new tactical offensive in warfare, especially when it means saving fuel and resulting in less need for fuel supply lines. Cyprus, a small EU island off the coast of Greece and Turkey is the latest army to join the trend. Their reasoning: It’s good for the young troops.

The Greek Cypriot National Guard is adopting eco-management policies set forth by the EU Commission’s European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), according to the Cyprus Mail. They are the first EU army to do so.

Cypriot Defense Minister Demetris Eliadis says: “In an organized society with young people, applying environmental management schemes is an achievable target with real benefits to the environment and is especially important for the environmental consciousness of our recruits.”

The new eco camp, the Lieutenant General Stylianos Kalmbourdjis army camp, located in Delikipos near Larnaca, is incorporating a system of ecology managrment that includes energy and material efficiency, water consumption, waste management, biodiversity and  control of greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment policies  include training troops in ecology management policies and afterwards carrying out periodic audits to correct mistakes made in implementing these policies.

This military camp will be listed on the EMAS environmental database and will be be used as an example for other such bases. Some of the most noted green policies being followed are the use of photovoltaic or solar cells for creating electricity and the recycling of wastes, including the use of recycled water.

Recycling of water by military camps is also for the non-military as well. In an example in Israel’s Negev desert region, recycled waste water is being diverted to provide water for a small lake in a nature park.

::Cyprus Mail

More articles on militaries going green:
Army Sewage Irrigates Nature Park in Israel
Going Green is a Tactical Offensive in War
The IDF Adopts Solar Energy Field Rechargers in Army Practices

Image of grass army boots from Shutterstock

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