Filenews 25 September 2021 - Angelos Nikolaou
The Plan for the National Forest Park (SAR) took its final form after repeated discussions after cutting paved roads and pavements, observed extensions of infrastructure networks, and left untouched the refreshments, even on the beaches of Lara and Toxeftra. The architectural design preceded the special ecological assessment and the strategic environmental impact assessment study, so that the necessity of the infrastructure nodes and especially the refreshments was not discussed, but the partial modification of their location characteristics (e.g. location outside the protection zone of the beach) was examined, which did not lead to their cancellation.
The Environmental Authority gave a positive opinion to the Department of Forests and at the same time, recommends the implementation of specific conditions as a prerequisite for the commencement of works and operation of the park at the end of 2022. Projects that are expected to cost a total of €6 million. It is noted that in case of submission of an application, where the proposed development may have an adverse impact on the Natura 2000 area, it must be evaluated whether a Special Ecological Assessment Study will be carried out. With regard to the relationship between the Akamas SAR and the Natura 2000 Network areas - and bearing in mind that the Akamas SAR does not include the area of the entire protected areas - it is necessary to ensure that the environmental impact of projects and activities throughout the protection areas is identified in the context of the operation of the Akamas SAR in a timely manner.
The Environmental Authority has made some changes in relation to the 14 Akamas management infrastructure nodes of the Akamas SAR. At the junction of Aspros Potamos, the parking lot on the right at the entrance of the road, with a capacity of 74 cars, must be moved to another point at a greater distance from the entrance to Akamas. It was decided that the node in the Jiffy area would not be built. The remaining nodes (Kathikas, Pano Arondes, Avakas, Northern Gulf of Laras, Smiyies, Loutra and Fontana Amoroza) remain as described in the Study of Special Ecological Assessment.
For the I/C of Skali - Toxeftra it is proposed to reduce the area of the infrastructure (information kiosk and bus stop) from 64sq.m., perhaps to 14sq.m. and certainly not more than 20sq.m. Further, for the Lara - Inia junction, the cover of the Park Shuttle stop will have the smallest necessary area, while the parking area should be moved further back to arable land in order not to remove protected plants.
In the South Gulf of Lara, the distance of the cafeteria from the coast should not be less than 100m., while it was decided not to include in the design the store selling products. At Geronissos junction, parking spaces should be located near the beach in existing gaps of vegetation.
All coastal nodes near the coast (Aspros Potamos, Lara - Inia, South Gulf of Lara, Northern Gulf of Lara, Geronissos, Gioni and Fontana Amoroza) will not operate during the night hours and will terminate their operation one hour before sunset. Furthermore, there will be no outdoor or indoor lighting installation on the kiosks except for the node at the Baths of Aphrodite.
Before the operation of the Akamas SAR, a full definition of the routes that visitors will be entitled to travel, including all types of vehicles, must be made. The roads, which will be prohibited, should be marked and there will be no access by private individuals without permission. Also, there must be continuous surveillance by the park rangers, so that the network is used correctly and any deviation from the specified road network will constitute an offense with the relevant consequences of a deterrent fine. Specifically, for visitors with quad bikes or racing motorcycles, specific routes will be determined. These routes should be determined within three months of the issuance of the Special Ecological Assessment and approved by the Advisory Committee of the Akamas National Forest Park.
As far as the roads within the Akamas SAR and within the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network are concerned, a place of Community Importance and a Special Protection Area of the Akamas Peninsula, it is forbidden to declare any road in public. As far as the roads in the park that do not belong to the Akamas SAR and are outside the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network are concerned, it is a matter that concerns the Department of Town Planning and Housing and the Prefect of Pafos and to include relevant provisions so that no development rights are given on either side of the roads. Asphalting is not allowed on any road within the Park. The paving materials will be crushed shackles with specific impurities to limit dust production.
Aphrodite Baths - Amoroza Fontana road closes for private vehicles
On the road Loutra Aphrodite - Fontana Amorosa there are openings at the beginning and end of the narrow section where the width allows it is more than 3.50 meters. This road will be used by:
► The staff of the Department of Forests, the Department of Environment, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the Game and Fauna Service, the Pafos District Administration.
► The staff of other public services after informing the Department of Forests.
► From the park shuttles (park vehicles) which will carry visitors.
► The owners of the land along the road and those where access to their plots is from the road in question.
► Other individuals with written permission from the Director of the Department of Forests.
Creation of 14 visitor facilitation hubs
The junctions will be located in the areas of Potamos Aspros, Moundiko, Lipatis, Avakas, Toxeftra (Stairs Toxeftras), Lara, South Gulf and North Gulf of Lara, Geronissos, Gioni, Tzifi (from Droushia to Smiyies), Smyies, Baths of Aphrodite, Fontana Amoroza / Blue Lagoon. Ownership was taken into account and preferred land that is forest or state land. In Avakas the land does not belong to the state (it is ecclesiastical), while for the Node "Pano Aros B" the land is gravel. The junctions include a variety of facilities such as entrance gates, parking lots, toilets, visitor transportation vehicle support services within the park and bus stops in the wider area, information centres/points, bicycle rental points, refreshments/shading areas, souvenir shops, viewpoints, etc.
The Department of Forests created, maintains and improves various infrastructures within the Akamas SAR for management and protection purposes. The main existing infrastructure of the Akamas SAR is considered to be the forest road network, the infrastructure for fire protection (fire lookout station, water reservoirs, etc.) and the forest recreation infrastructure and consist of:
Entry Points:
Visitors and users can access the Akamas SAR through 5 main access points:
► Baths of Aphrodite (Neo Chorio).
► Picnic area of Smiyies - Agios Minas (Neo Chorio).
► Road from the village of Drousia.
► Road from the village of Inia.
► Aspros Potamos (Pegeia).
Road network: There is an extensive road network in the Akamas SAR, as a result of the creation of roads used for various purposes e.g. to protect against forest fires, locals, users of rented motorcycles / four-wheelers and hunters. All roads are dirt roads and most of them are accessible only by all-wheel drive vehicles (4x4). The vast majority of roads with a narrow dirt surface (~4-6 meters wide), long along slopes and without technical works, which at times become impassable.
Guest facilities:
► Five existing nature trails (Aphrodite, Adonis, Smiyies, Pissouros, Abacus). total length 26,7km.
► Gorges of Avakas and Petratis.
► Two excursion sites: Smiyies near Neo Chorio and the Forest of Ykgi near Pegeia.
► Sea turtle hatchery in the North Gulf of Lara.
► Botanical garden at the northern entry point of the SAR that currently hosts 120 species of local flora.
► Baths of Aphrodite at the northern entry point of the SAR.
► Akamas Precipice and Magnesia Mine.
► Coastal caves of Pegeia and Halavron.
► Beaches such as South and North Lara Bay, Toxeftra, Aspros Potamos, Fontana Amorosa, Ypsio (known as Blue Lagοon), Yosifis beach, Gioni, Manolis, etc.
► Islets Agios Georgios and Geronissos.
► Tulip regions (Tulipa akamasica, Tulipa cypria).
► Juniperus forests, Centaurea Akamantis.
► Ancient Tombs Meletis, coastal quarries of stone, the ancient churches of Agios Georgios, Agios Kononas and Pyrgos of Rigena.
Improvement of main road network
In order to achieve the objectives of conservation, visitor management and interconnection with local communities, the Akamas SAR aims to organize and solve problems of connectivity, accessibility and operation of the existing forest road network within the Akamas National Forest Park.
a) Access roads to the Park and free movement of visitors.
b) Roads on which the public will be transported by vehicles of the Park (small percentage). It concerns the sections of the road network with a total length of 10km, such as Circular Laras and Loutra Aphrodite - Fontana Amoroza.
c) Roads on which only vehicles of the Park will be moved (very small percentage).
The roads within the Akamas SAR will be improved, access to private vehicles will be allowed and will be of a total length of 58.7 km. They concern Aspros Potamos - Lara, Lara - Gioni, Cyclikos Laras, Moundiko - Aspros, Lipatis - Avakas, Tzifiin - Smiyies, Agios Minas - Smiyies, Koudounas - Koutsagkas - Smiyies, Gioni - Posiepasma - Smyies, Loutra - Fontana.
Removal of illegal accommodation
In the terms of the Special Ecological Assessment it is emphasized that within the limits of the Akamas SAR and within the Natura 2000 areas there are illegal accommodations that can be removed. Actions to remove them have been set in the way, but these cases have not yet been heard. It is necessary to speed up the treatment of the issue because the aim is to remove the illegalities as soon as possible, and if possible before the operation of the Akamas SAR.
