The Council of Ministers has announced a major shake-up of the implementation plan for the Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) of the Akamas National Forest Park (AFP) in a bid to address environmental concerns and project delays.
A key feature of the revised plan is the establishment of a Steering Committee (SC) and a Project Team (PT) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The SC will provide high-level oversight of all project phases, while the PT will ensure strict environmental and technical monitoring throughout.
These changes come alongside the immediate resumption of work on the existing road network (Phase A) of the project. Construction will be completed under the existing contract but with a new focus on environmental controls.
To minimise the project’s environmental footprint, measures will be taken based on recommendations from experts.
Additionally, habitat restoration will be a priority following construction, with a specific focus on protected species.
Looking ahead, the plans for management infrastructure hubs and other projects will be reassessed by June 2024. This re-evaluation will inform a new proposal, complete with a realistic timeline, to be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval.
These changes align with the proposals made by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou. They prioritise environmental protection while ensuring essential infrastructure development goes ahead for the park.
In the coming months, the SC and PT will be established, construction work will resume with stricter environmental controls, and a revised plan for the park’s complete development will be finalised by June 2024.
