Cypriot volunteer Klitos Papastylianou has received the Commonwealth Points of Light award in honour of his service campaigning for the protection of songbirds in Cyprus. He is the 32nd volunteer to be presented with this award.
According to a press release by the UK High Commission in Cyprus in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London on 19-20 April, Queen Elizabeth – as Head of the Commonwealth – is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 52 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond.
By sharing these stories of service, the Heads of Government meeting will celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.
Klitos Papastylianou is an environmental activist who is working to protect natural habitats and biodiversity in Cyprus. During the migratory season Klitos actively campaigns against the illegal trapping and killing of over 2 million songbirds every year in Cyprus, which are later sold as delicacies in a black market multi-million pound industry. He also supports public consultation of construction projects across the island, to ensure the environmental impact is minimised.
The award for Klitos Papastylianou was presented by Deputy British High Commissioner to Cyprus Ian Whitting.
Receiving his award Papastylianou said that he considers the award recognition of efforts in place to tackle two severe challenges for the protection of biodiversity in Cyprus: on one hand the illegal, mass and uncontrollable trapping and smuggling of wild birds and on the other hand the insufficient policy to safeguard, preserve and manage natural habitats. I wish this award can contribute towards achieving these goals, he said.
Ian Whitting said that Klitos’ voluntary work in these areas is exemplary and therefore he thoroughly deserves the Commonwealth Award. We hope this can serve as an incentive for further cooperation between us and Cypriots to continue to protect the environment of this beautiful island.
