Filenews 22 September 2022
Agricultural activities are the second most important (18%) cause of forest fires during the period 2000-2021, after malicious / deliberate fires (25%). At the same time, agricultural activities are the most important (37%) cause of forest fires that were inadvertently /by negligence, during the period 2000-2021. The issue was discussed at yesterday's session of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment, where although the problem was recognized, it was stressed that in the event that the burning of pruning and weeds in rural areas is completely banned at this time, the problem will be greater.
It is noted that after the catastrophic fire in July 2021 in the districts of Limassol and Larnaca, and with the intervention of the same Attorney General, an attempt began to change the legislative framework after the finding that offences related to arson, lighting a fire, causing a fire and other related offences are scattered in a series of legislations. After a meeting, it was decided that by the end of 2021 the new bills would be submitted to the Parliament.
In yesterday's session, two bills by MP Charalambos Theopemptou were discussed. The first concerns the deletion from the basic law on the Prevention of Fires in the Countryside, which allows certain months of the year to burn. The second proposal proposes the addition to the basic law on the welfare of forests for the granting to the director of the Department of Forests the possibility of creating firebreaks within private plots.
During the discussion, it was found that the two bills are still being processed, for which a decision was taken to put them before the Parliament at the end of 2022, which upon their completion will be put to public consultation, and then to be led for legislative scrutiny before they are submitted to the Council of Ministers and then to the Parliament for approval. The representative of the Legal Service, as well as the relevant officials, were unable to set a timetable, with the Commission deciding to discuss this issue for information six months from now.
On behalf of the Department of Forests, Andreas Christou said that the burning of branches must be maintained for a specific period, noting that if this provision is removed, the problem with fires will take on greater dimensions and the competent services will not be able to control it. Regarding the use of tools and machinery, such as welding and angle-grinding, Mr. Christou said that based on the bill under preparation, it will be allowed only in the winter season.
A competent officer at the Department of Agriculture, Makis Avraam, said that in rural development plans, an action for the purchase of crushers is eligible, but farmers do not show interest since controlled burning is a better practice for them. He noted that in the new rural development program it was proposed to include a provision for an increased subsidy of €20 per ton to those who have a crusher and use the material they produce for placement in the field.
The representative of the Fire Service Andreas Kettis did not disagree with the ban on burning provided that waste management measures will be taken in the right way. Without management infrastructure, he noted, the outbreak of fires will be uncontrollable.
Guests of the Commission argued that under European regulations it is illegal from Cyprus' accession to the EU to burn in open spaces. The Game Service, the Hunting Federation and representatives of environmental organizations disagreed with the provision to give the director of the Department of Forests the right to build a zone free of vegetation or other fuel by clearing, ploughing or controlled burning.
