Filenews 5 June 2024
World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the United Nations Environmental Programme and is celebrated every year on June 5. For 2024, the theme is "Our land. Our future. We are the #RestorationGeneration." According to data from the UN Convention on Desertification, 40% of the world's land has been degraded, affecting half the world's population. Desertification has increased by 29% since 2000, threatening three-quarters of the world's population by 2050.
The Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus points out that it is imperative to address the problem of desertification and that it is urgent to address a number of environmental issues in Cyprus.
The recent example of the Akamas National Forest Park has troubled the OPOK. The OPOK recalls its long-standing position for the protection and management of the Akamas peninsula as a single ecosystem, avoiding the tactic of fragmentation, along with the sustainable development and prosperity of the peninsula's communities. Regarding the plan of the Akamas National Forest Park and the known problems that arose during its initiation and implementation, the position of the OPOK is that it is necessary to redesign and re-evaluate all individual projects, those that have already started and those that are planned to take place, applying all the provisions of the European Habitats Directive. It is noted that the Akamas Forest is also part of the wider Natura 2000 area "Akamas Peninsula". The Akamas Peninsula is one of the last coastal nature and biodiversity protection areas in Cyprus. It is an integral part of our common natural and cultural heritage and as such the state has an obligation to preserve and protect it for future generations.
The Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus also raises a number of serious issues concerning the environment, which should be of paramount importance. Some key issues concern:
The Revision of the Beach Protection Zone, based on the Beach Protection Law (Cap. 59) for adequate protection of coastal ecosystems from construction.
The ratification of the Barcelona Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management.
The transformation of the development model of Cyprus through the policies implemented regarding the determination of land use. The elaboration of the Plan for the Island, which will determine the development policy and the Environmental and Urban Planning Approval of private and public project developments.
The need for institutional restructuring of environmental governance structures to make them more effective and without compromising the current environmental protection regime.
The enhancement of expenditure on Environmental Protection in the Public Sector, since according to Eurostat Cyprus was in the penultimate position (2019) in terms of the percentage of GDP spent on Environmental Protection in the Public Sector.
Protection of water resources by drawing up a National Strategy for the creation of Water Consciousness and by strictly implementing the Water Protection and Management (Measures for the Protection of Reservoirs Whose Water Is Intended for Human Consumption).
The prevention, preparedness and response to forest fires. Forest fires are caused in 85% of cases by human activities and of these 33% are voluntary and 67% unintentional, due to negligence. The state should follow a zero-tolerance policy for malicious fires, introduce harsher penalties and strengthen the surveillance and supervision of nature and rural protection areas with financial resources
The conservation of wildlife, nature and biodiversity in protected areas and areas of the Natura 2000 network. There is a need to protect natural landscapes from incompatible activities and harmful projects and plans. It must be understood that urban sprawl, which is intense in Cyprus, uncontrolled projects for tourism and renewable energy sources, lead to the sealing of the soil and the fragmentation of the landscape, phenomena that contribute to desertification.
The Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus will continue to take initiatives and exert pressure to formulate the appropriate policies and the necessary culture around the issue of nature protection through the committees in which it participates but also through its contact with society, for information, awareness and education of the public.
