Over the past month, the Department of Forests has been implementing improvement and widening works on the main forest roads of Ayia Mina–Smigies and Smigies–Koutsagkas, within the Akamas National Forest Park (ANFP).
Environmental organisations Terra Cypria-The Cyprus Environmental Foundation and BirdLife Cyprus express serious concerns and strong reservations regarding the procedures followed by the Department of Forests for carrying out works in such sensitive areas without adhering to the established procedures.
It is noted that this specific area falls within the active habitat of the predatory species Accipiter gentilis, nesting areas of endemic bird species Oenanthe cypriaca and Sylvia melanothorax, areas of expansion for wild flora species Alyssum akamasicum, Ophrys kotschyi, Osyris alba, and Phlomis cypria spp. occidentalis, as well as the distribution area of habitat types 5212 Juniperus phoenicea, 5330 Thermomediterranean and pre-desert steppes, 9320 Olive (Olea europaea) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua) forests, and 9540 Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mediterranean pine species (Pinus brutia).
It is highlighted that the aforementioned species and habitats are included in the designation objectives and/or conservation targets of the Natura 2000 Network areas of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA) of Akamas Peninsula.
It is also emphasised that, based on the Special Ecological Assessment (SEA) Report for Phase A of the road network of ANFP Akamas issued in March 2024, as well as the relevant Decision of the Ministerial Council dated 19.03.2024, “continuation of the reassessment process for the next three months for the Infrastructure Node Facilities and other projects and functions of the Sustainable Development Plan of ANFP Akamas” is provided for. Additionally, “preparation of a new proposal and resubmission of the issue to the Ministerial Council in June 2024, which, among other things, will include a final realistic timetable for the remaining projects of ANFP Akamas, without unnecessary and further delays.”
Based on the above, the main forest roads, where the Department of Forests is implementing improvement and widening works, are part of the main road network section of ANFP Akamas, which should be reassessed by June 2024.
Instead, the Department of Forests appears to have already proceeded with works without informing the competent Ad-hoc Committee for the SEA and primarily without the comprehensive reassessment of the infrastructure of ANFP Akamas, including both the main forest roads and the management infrastructure nodes.
The two environmental organisations request immediate notification of the competent Ad-hoc Committee for the SEA regarding the improvement and widening works on the main forest roads of Ayia Mina–Smigies and Smigies–Koutsagkas within the ANFP Akamas.
Finally, we call on the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment to ensure that no further improvement and/or widening works of forest roads within the ANFP Akamas are carried out before the full reassessment of the Sustainable Development Plan of ANFP Akamas by the Ad-hoc Committee for the SEA.
