Filenews 8 December 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Roads that are considered important for the organization, guidance and management of visitors at the facilitation and service hubs of the Akamas National Forest Park (Akamas SAR), are planned to be improved, but will not be declared as public roads. In the first phase, three existing forest roads with a total length of 13.4Km, which are currently dirt roads, will be improved. These are the roads Toxeftra – Aspros Potamos – Lara, Cyclic Laras and Toxeftra – Avankas – Lipapi. The estimated execution period of the project is February 2022 – April 2023 (14 months), while the estimated cost of the project is €5,865,000. For this project, environmental approval was given, under terms and conditions by the Environmental Authority.
The improvement of the existing forest roads in the area of the Akamas National Forest Park, which are part of the road network that will be improved as proposed in the Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Akamas National Forest Park (Akamas SAR), are considered important for the organization, guidance and management of visitors to the Akamas SAR facilitation and service hubs, in other permitted places or points of interest and restriction of uncontrolled parking of vehicles and access to the rest of the Park.
The project is located in the Akamas National Forest Park which has been included in the European Network of Protected Areas Natura 2000 and covers in area the largest part of the land part of the Natura 2000 "Akamas Peninsula" Natura 2000 (percentage 75%). The improvement of the road network will improve: (a) the existing access to the popular points of interest of the Akamas National Forest Park, Toxeftra, Lara Bay and the Avakas Gorge and (b) the guidance of visitors to the routes for the facilitation and service of visitors that will be created.
The road network that will be improved falls within the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of Pegeia and the Communities of Pano and Kato Arodes.
With the environmental approval, the Department of Forests is requested to apply conditions set out in the Special Ecological Evaluation report of the Sustainable Development Plan of the Akamas National Forest Park. Among other things, before the operation of the Akamas SAR, a full definition must be made of the routes that visitors will be entitled to travel, including all types of vehicles. In order to make proper use of the roads, there should be adequate and appropriate information at the entrances of the Park and frequent signage on the roads. The roads, which will be prohibited, should be marked and there will be no access by private individuals without permission. Also, there should be continuous surveillance by the parkers so that the network is used correctly and any deviation from the specified road network will be an offense with the relevant consequences of a deterrent fine. Specifically, for visitors with quad bikes or racing motorcycles, specific routes will be determined on which to move and any deviation from them will be an offense with the relevant consequences of a deterrent fine.
As far as the roads in the part that does not belong to the Akamas SAR and are outside the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network are concerned (it concerns the Department of Town Planning and Housing and the Prefect of Pafos) to include relevant provisions so as not to give development rights on either side of the roads. Asphalting is not allowed on any road within the Park.
No bike path from Skali to the junction of the southern gulf of Lara
The road Aspros Potamos-Toxeftra - Lara is proposed to be shaped by removing from the design of the project the cycle path from Skali to the Junction of the South Gulf. This is how the 5.50m remains of the road along its entire length. Also, to place appropriate environmentally friendly obstacles that regulate the access of vehicles along the route and where there will be parking spaces. The aim is to cut off arbitrary roads and other accesses in order to protect the rocky coasts and the habitats on them.
On the road Lara – Gioni to place suitable stakes that are consistent with the surrounding area, which will regulate the access of vehicles along the route and where there will be parking spaces. For access to the Geronissos side road, use the existing road.
On the road Loutra – Fontana Amorosa there are openings at the beginning and at the end of the narrow section where the width allows it is more than 3.50 meters. This road will be used by officials, the park shuttles (park vehicles) which will carry visitors, the owners of the land and other individuals who have written permission from the Director of the Department of Forests.
Widening of roads
In the environmental approval, it is stated that the improvement of the existing road network should be done without change in the route, to avoid major interventions in the terrain, not to widen except where necessary, maintaining very low standards of width. Widenings should take place mainly on the road Loutra – Fontana in length under 300 meters, and in very small sections (<100 meters long) on the roads Smiyes – Tzifi and Lipatis – Avakas. It is also planned to abolish several arbitrary roads that have been gradually created by uncontrolled movement, while restoring natural vegetation.
Conditions for protection of turtles and eels
In the event that works will be carried out within the breeding season of the birds and especially if there are nests of birds of prey in the area, there will be an agreement between the Department of Forests and the Game and Fauna Service. The works for the improvement of the coastal road network for the demolition of its existing pavements should not take place within the breeding season of the sea turtles, i.e. to avoid the months of May – October each year. There should be no activities such as deposition of rubble, waste or construction materials) and transit / parking of vehicles in the bed of the rivers Aspros, Kalamouli, Eggs, Ellin Petra, Mychos as well as in the argakia of Koufon, Tripmeni, Kaskias where there are significant populations of anguilla eel.
