Filenews 15 August 2023
The Game and Fauna Service finds a number of illegalities in rural areas with a serious risk of fires within protected areas. Arbitrariness resulting even from illegal electrification of non-licensed developments.
The recent, uncontrolled and destructive fire in the wider area of the mountainous communities of Limassol demonstrates that the lessons of the catastrophic fires of the past have not been learned, since there are significant gaps in prevention for dealing with large fires, since everything indicates that their impact is expected to increase. If one considers that the loss of forest land alone is estimated to exceed €50 million. annually, then the damage is much greater since it does not include fires due to agriculture, livestock and land development.
In the past period, we observed the Department of Forests now cooperating with EAC to address the problem of forests crossing with bare cables, endangering their safety. However, there is still a state agency which, although it has been telling EAC for years, nevertheless, does not seem to have taken its suggestions into account.
"F" today presents the significant negative impact caused to bird fauna by impacts, electric shock and nuisance by the overhead lines and transformers of EAC, with the risk of causing fires. Problems and issues raised by the Game and Fauna Service and refer specifically to impacts from the electrification of non-licensed developments/premises, especially within protected areas, the electrification of water pumps / water supply systems, the installation of a new electricity network in sensitive areas, and the taking of measures on EAC overhead lines and overhead transformers due to the significant negative effects caused to bird fauna.
In a letter from the head of the Game and Fauna Service, Pantelis Hadjigerou, dated 17/5/2022 to EAC and notified the Departments of Town Planning, Environment and Forestry, refers to specific issues arising due to EAC's electricity network, as well as the need to take immediate measures to resolve various serious problems caused.
One of the issues that arises is the electrification of illegal (illegal) buildings/ premises/ houses in the open air. The installation of an electricity network for servicing / covering non-licensed premises / houses, even within protection areas and / or within areas of the Natura 2000 network of areas has been observed. The Game Service considers it inappropriate and unacceptable to electrify non-licensed developments/premises, let alone within protection areas. "This is harmful to the wildlife of the place, while issues of contractual obligations of the Republic may arise in relation to the EU nature protection directives regarding developments/activities that take place/are carried out in such areas, without ensuring the legality of these premises and without carrying out in advance the necessary studies concerning, inter alia, the assessment of environmental impacts", notes the head of the Game Service.
Furthermore, there is concern about the electrification of water pumps/water supply systems and warehouses in the open air. There is rapid aerial electrification of water pumps / water supply systems, often with the installation of a long power grid, even within protection areas. "This has a significant negative impact on fauna and avifauna, especially due to impacts and electric shock, so this practice, especially for the electrification of the above, should be reviewed," notes Mr. Hadjigerou. It is noted that due to collisions with cables, it is estimated that thousands of birds are killed every year. As far as storage and water pumps / water supply systems are concerned, these should be electrified in alternative ways and not from a permanent overhead network, the Game Service points out.
Installation of a new network in protection areas
The installation of a new EAC connection network in protection areas should be done only when absolutely necessary and only when the relevant permits are in place and if the necessary environmental impact studies are carried out in advance, Mr. Chatzigerou points out. As far as protection areas are concerned, in addition, the necessary environmental impact studies and/or special ecological assessment studies should be carried out for projects that may have negative effects on areas and/or species designated by the Natura 2000 network, in accordance with current legislation. Within such protection areas, the Game Service's recommendation is that if the connection is necessary, it should be made underground following an existing road network and not aboveground.
Bonelli's eagles and vultures perish to electric shock
The Game and Fauna Service proposes taking measures to immediately limit the impact on existing electricity networks after the killing by electric shock of important bird species, especially large raptors. With the placement of monitoring transmitters that the Game Service has applied to large predators, it has been shown that both Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata) and vultures (fulvus) have been killed by electric shock. There is an example of vulture being killed by electrocution in the Pafos District, while in the last three years at least three individuals of the species Aquila fasciata have also been killed by electric shock. Both of these species are "threatened" species, where activities / projects that may have a negative impact on the populations of these species are not allowed under the law. It is noted that the problem that seems to arise is greater than initially estimated, due to the practical difficulty of finding the birds affected by electric shock, since a very small percentage of the affected species are identified. It is estimated that dozens of individuals of various birds of prey are killed each year by electric shock. In some cases, electric shock can be the cause of fires.
Seven proposals from the Office
1) There should be no electricity connection for premises/buildings that have not obtained all the required permits. Therefore, appropriate actions should be taken so that infrastructures such as the provision of electricity connection are made only when the required permits (planning and building permit) have been obtained.
2) It would be useful to create a mechanism for rapid and electronic information between the relevant services such as the Department of Town Planning and Housing, the Department of Environment, the Game & Fauna Service, so that there is rapid mutual information.
3) All projects within protection areas should be assessed for their environmental impact on the basis of existing procedures.
4) Water pumps/water supply systems and warehouses should be electrified by alternative means, rather than by a permanent overhead network.
5) Any new electricity network within Natura 2000 sites concerning areas designated for birds should be underground, except in exceptional cases.
6) All new cables to be used should be insulated with PVC to prevent fires.
7) Exposed bare conductive points on overhead poles and overhead transformers are insulated to prevent electric shock to birds. It should be borne in mind that the wingspan of birds of prey present in Cyprus reaches up to about 1.75 meters.
INTERVENTION
Danger from cables
The latest fires in mountainous Limassol affected protected areas for their importance for a number of wild birds such as the Bonelli's eagle, double falcon, zanos, kraga, ardropbatis, vulture and the endemic species of Cyprus, the wooded vulture. All the issues raised by the Game and Fauna Service are very serious and need to be properly regulated so that they can be resolved or mitigated as soon as possible so that birds of prey can also be protected. The Game Service requested that a priority program be implemented for the gradual insulation of the existing network, while in order to limit cable impacts, the above-ground laying of cables should be limited to the maximum possible extent. No action has been taken to date. Let us hope, even in retrospect, that all necessary measures will be taken to prevent as far as possible risks of starting or even spreading fires.
