Filenews 21 October 2024 - by Dora Christodoulou
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announced the financial support of landowners, as compensation for the Akamas Local Plan, with the aim of protecting the natural environment and promoting sustainable development, with the implementation of "Measure 1" for the Akamas region, with the application period starting today until November 21, 2024. The annual subsidy can reach up to €6,600 per year per beneficiary while the total budget is €25 million. by 2028.
According to an official announcement, the measure aims at the annual financial support of land owners through an area subsidy and is part of the compensatory measures of the Akamas Local Plan and its aim is to reward owners who keep their plots in natural condition, contributing to the preservation of the landscape and the protection of the unique biodiversity of the area, ensuring a sustainable and environmentally balanced future for Akamas.
"This measure, implemented for the first time, is part of the pre-election commitments of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and is one of eleven measures promoted under the Akamas Local Plan," according to the announcement, while the aim of the measures is to enhance the socio-economic activity of communities, protect the natural environment and promote sustainable development.
"The measure essentially aims to maintain the balance between development and environmental management of the area, ensuring long-term benefits for residents and the environment," it added.
It is also clarified that, with an annual subsidy that can reach up to €6,600 per year per beneficiary and with a total budget of €25 million until 2028, this measure "supports landowners for the next five years and after the end of this period, the measure will be reviewed, taking into account the performance and benefits arising from the additional socio-economic measures already launched to further strengthen the area".
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the measure is addressed to natural and legal persons who own pieces of private land within the boundaries of the Akamas Local Plan, with areas falling within urban protection zones, as well as agricultural and livestock zones, which total around 93,460 decares.
The maximum grant that a beneficiary can receive annually is €6,600 and the application for granting the financial support should be submitted electronically at the website www.support-akamas.com.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, in order to provide support to those landowners who need guidance for the electronic completion of their application, has organized the on-site regional visits to the communities of Akamas, on November 7 at the Community District Offices of Ineia-Municipality of Akamas and on November 8 at the Community District Offices of New Chorio-Municipality of Polis Chrysochous.
The subsidy amount has been set at €600 per hectare while payments under Measure 1 will be made by CAPO.
The application period is from October 21 to November 21. After that period, it will not be possible to submit applications, the Ministry of Agriculture says.
