akamas roadworks — akamas roadworks — The forestry department’s handling of roadworks in the Akamas national forest park has drawn sharp criticism from several environmental organisations, who labelled its recent statements as ‘arrogant’ and ‘provocative’.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
On Wednesday, the forestry department expressed satisfaction with a report that sanctioned the resumption of roadworks, stating it felt both “satisfied and justified” about the re-evaluation process. This prompted a vehement response from groups including Terra Cypria, BirdLife Cyprus, Cyprus Wildlife Society, and Cyprus Natural Coastline, who issued a press release on Thursday detailing their concerns.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
According to the environment department, the green light for restarting the roadworks came on August 12, after the project had been stalled since October 2023 due to widespread criticism. The department assured the public that it had adhered to all environmental conditions necessary for the project’s continuation. However, environmental advocates have contested this claim, asserting that the forestry department has ignored significant violations of environmental regulations.
In their statement, the environmental organisations pointed out that the forestry department had “violated a multitude of legally binding and essential conditions” of the environmental approval for both the sustainable development plan and the initial phase of road network improvements. They reminded the department that since the halt in construction, multiple parties—including independent experts and government bodies—have acknowledged these violations.
“The arrogance and provocation that the forestry department continues to show is truly impressive,” the organisations stated, questioning the department’s confidence in its re-evaluation findings. They noted that other stakeholders, apart from the forestry department, have identified serious infringements, which raises concerns about the department’s self-assessment.
Specific grievances include the demolition of support walls along protected areas, the removal of a critical water pipeline, and a comprehensive re-evaluation of water supply works that affect the region’s ecology. These actions have prompted calls for accountability from the environmental organisations, who urged the agriculture minister, Maria Panayiotou, to intervene and address what they termed an “unacceptable stance” from the forestry department.
In a related development, the Cyprus Environmental Movement prepared a memorandum for President Nikos Christodoulides, highlighting the irreversible damage already inflicted on the Akamas environment. They expressed concerns about the ability of those responsible for the initial works to monitor compliance moving forward, calling for transparency regarding ongoing investigations into the matter.
“Experience shows that environmental destruction, as witnessed in this case, cannot be restored,” the movement cautioned, pressing for the identification of those responsible for the ongoing environmental degradation. They demand public access to the findings of all administrative and disciplinary investigations related to the Akamas project.
The environment department’s report earlier this month noted that measures would be implemented to minimise the environmental footprint of the roadworks in Akamas, with the first phase initially commencing in September 2022. However, the projects were paused in October 2023 due to backlash from environmental groups, leading to a cabinet-ordered reassessment in December 2023. A special ecological assessment was subsequently released in March 2024, focusing on the potential impacts of the roadworks on protected species and habitats.
Despite the assurances from the forestry department, the environmental organisations remain sceptical about the future of the Akamas national forest park. They continue to advocate for accountability and transparency, urging the government to guarantee the protection of habitats and the environment, as well as the welfare of the local community.
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