Filenews 24 October 2023 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Serious allegations of violation of legally binding environmental assessment terms of the Akamas National Forest Park Sustainable Development Plan were raised before the Government and Parliament by the Cyprus Wildlife Society and the Cyprus Natural Coastline Initiative.
Specifically, they denounce violation of a large number of legally binding terms of the Special Ecological Assessment Report (EDA), dated 18/06/2021, and the Strategic Environmental Impact Study Opinion, dated 20/09/2021, for the Sustainable Development Plan of the Akamas National Forest Park, as well as the Reasoned Finding for Phase A of the improvement of the main road network of the Akamas National Forest Park, dated 02/12/2021 (Road 1A: Toxeftra – White River – Lara, Road 2: Circular Lara, Road 4B: Toxeftra – Avakas – Lipatis).
Liaison and Initiative, following an on-site visit on 15/10/2023, found that in the Phase A area of the project to improve part of the main road network of Akamas SAR, other projects are being carried out simultaneously, which have not been submitted to date to an Appropriate Assessment (EDA). In the same area, most illegal and unlicensed catering and leisure establishments continue to exist and/or operate, as well as the arbitrary access leading to them.
They find that the works carried out have significant negative and cumulative (synergistic and cumulative) effects, as they degrade, alter and fragment the natural environment and landscape of the Akamas Peninsula, while in no way consistent with the naturalness and physiognomy of the area. They consider that immediate corrective measures should be taken and a full reassessment and revision of all projects, both those being implemented and those planned, for the improvement of the main road network and infrastructure junctions of the Akamas NFP.
The most important findings and findings of the site visit are:
1) Irregular construction, widening and asphalt paving
2) Arbitrary erection of retaining walls
3) Illegal construction and/or operation of unlicensed catering (restaurants) and recreation centers (refreshments),
4) Uncontrolled disposal of Excavation, Construction and Demolition Waste
5) Arbitrary earthworks (clearing, rocking / shaping of slopes, excavations and/or embankments)
6) Arbitrary clearing and widening works, as well as large-scale excavations and embankments
Association and Initiative, consider that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment should immediately take the following measures:
Termination of all works until a thorough and independent investigation has been conducted, which, among other things, includes the recording of all works and the mapping of all construction sites, as well as the control of compliance with all the timetables set for the implementation of the projects of the Akamas Sustainable Development Plan.
Furthermore, they request an on-site audit to verify compliance with the legally binding terms of the EDA Report and the EIA Opinion on the Akamas Sustainable Development Plan, as well as the Reasoned Finding for Phase A of the improvement of the existing road network of the Akamas NFP, as well as other related issues.
In addition, they request the presentation and examination of the relevant results of the above work to the Ad-hoc Committee for the EDA, as well as the adoption and implementation of corrective measures to prevent and prevent further damage and any potentially significant impact on the protected objects and conservation objectives of the Akamas Peninsula, as well as the restoration of the natural environment and landscape, where necessary.
In addition, they seek a full review and re-evaluation of all projects included in the Akamas SAR Sustainable Development Plan, as well as their re-presentation to the EDA Ad-Hoc Committee, including both the 11 main forest roads and the 14 management infrastructure nodes, in order to check their redesign based on the legally binding terms of the EDA Report and the EIA Opinion on the SAR Sustainable Development Plan Akamas, but also to remove all incompatible infrastructure and all harmful works for the integrity of Natura 2000 sites Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Akamas Peninsula and Special Protection Area (SPA) Akamas Peninsula.
