Filenews 2 December 2023
Environmental organizations sent an open letter to the Minister of Agriculture for the violation of legally binding terms for the implementation of Phase A of the project to improve the main road network of the Akamas National Forest Park.
According to BirdLife Cyprus, Terra Cypria, the Wildlife Protection Association and the Initiative for the Preservation of Natural Coasts, "there is a clear violation of several important legally binding terms of the Special Ecological Assessment Report (EDA), dated 18.06.2021 and essential terms of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) Opinion, dated 20.09.2021, for the Sustainable Development Plan of the Akamas National Forest Park (NDP), as well as special terms of the Reasoned Finding, dated 02.12.2021, for the implementation of Phase A of the project to improve the main road network of the Akamas NFP".
The Members of the Ad-hoc Committee on the EDA call for the following:
• Immediate completion / closure of construction works already in progress, dismantling of existing construction sites, as well as removal of machinery, materials and GFCF.
• Immediate prohibition of the commencement of new construction works in areas of the Akamas NFP that have not been affected so far, with particular emphasis on the Avakas – Lipati area, where construction works along Road 4B: Toxeftra – Avakas – Lipati have not yet started.
• Termination of the contract for Phase A of the improvement of the main road network of the Akamas NFP, based on the legal procedures.
• Immediate recording and mapping of the affected area of natural vegetation that has been deforested during the implementation works of Phase A of the project for the improvement of the main road network of the Akamas NFP.
• Immediate assignment and preparation of a special restoration study by independent expert(s), on the basis of which corrective measures should be taken and implemented, as well as actions to repair any damage caused, taking due account of the legally binding, essential and specific conditions of the environmental approval.
• Complete re-evaluation and redesign of the projects foreseen in the Akamas Sar Sustainable Development Plan, including both the 11 main forest roads and the 14 management infrastructure nodes.
• Immediate termination of the construction, widening and asphalt paving works of Laras Street (Paphos – Akamas Road) and submission of this project to an Appropriate Assessment (EDA), together with the already proposed project for the construction and operation of a large-scale integrated residential development in the Xerolimni area of the Municipality of Pegeia, with which Laras Street abuts.
• Immediate cutting off of all illegal roads and arbitrary accesses, mainly along Road 1A: Toxeftra – Aspros Potamos – Lara, giving particular importance to illegal roads and arbitrary accesses leading to unlicensed catering (restaurants) and recreation centers (refreshments), which are located within and/or near the Marine Protected Area of Lara – Toxeftra.
• Acceleration of legal procedures for the removal of all illegal accommodation and illegal premises, including unlicensed restaurants and refreshments, which continue to exist and/or operate in Aspros Potamos and South Lara Bay, as well as unlicensed agricultural and livestock premises ("steadia") located on the outskirts of the Akamas NFP and the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network in the Akamas Peninsula.
• Immediate establishment of the necessary legal framework for the protection and management of Natura 2000 sites, through the issuance of a Decree for the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife for the Special Area of Conservation of the Akamas Peninsula, a Decree for the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game for the Special Protection Area of the Akamas Peninsula, as well as the Special Regulations for the Akamas Special Protection Area.
