On 21.08.2025, Terra Cypria, BirdLife Cyprus, the Cyprus Wildlife Society, and the Initiative for the Protection of the Natural Coast issued a joint press release, stressing that the arrogance and provocativeness displayed by the Department of Forests is truly astonishing. In a recent announcement, the Department claimed to be “fully satisfied and vindicated by the re-evaluations of the projects in Akamas National Forest Park.”
It should be noted that the Department of Forests has demonstrably violated a series of legally binding and essential conditions of the environmental approval, both for the Sustainable Development Plan of Akamas National Forest Park and for Phase A of the road network improvement works. Instead of stubbornly refusing to admit any mistakes, we would have expected, at the very least, that the Department of Forests reflect on and acknowledge — even at the last moment — the mistakes it has committed and the responsibilities it bears.
It would also be wiser for the Department to recognize the environmental damage it has caused and proceed with full restoration, ensuring the conservation objectives and the integrity of the Natura 2000 sites in the Akamas Peninsula.
In light of the above, we jointly call on the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment to finally stop tolerating the unacceptable stance of the Department of Forests — unless, of course, she shares it. Lastly, we also call on the competent Minister to immediately publish the findings of all relevant administrative and disciplinary investigations that have been carried out over the past year and a half on this matter.
For more information, you can read the joint press release here.