Environmental Groups React to Akamas Project

Four environmental organizations – Terra Cypria, BirdLife Cyprus, Cyprus Wildlife Society, and the Initiative for the Protection of Natural Coasts – have voiced their opposition to the Department of Forests' announcement regarding projects in Akamas.

The organizations cite a "lack of understanding of reality" on the part of the Department of Forests, claiming violations of legally binding terms of the environmental approval for the Akamas National Forest Park Sustainable Development Plan and Phase A' for the improvement of the road network.

They note that all members of the Ad-hoc Committee for the Special Ecological Assessment, except for the Department of Forests, have recognized the violations. Furthermore, they state that the errors of the Department of Forests have been acknowledged by the Scientific and Technical Chamber of Cyprus, independent experts, the Audit Office, the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment, the President of the Republic, and the Council of Ministers.

The organizations call on the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment to publish the findings of the investigations into the violations.