Filenews 28 June 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Very serious complaints about malicious fires in the area of Akamas include the reply letter of the Department of Forests, in the Special Report of the Audit Service, regarding the handling of contracts for projects in the Akamas National Forest Park (EDP). The Department, in a stern but self-critical tone, defends the philosophy and design of the Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) of the EDP, but sounding the alarm about the consequences of possible destabilization in the region.
In the most worrying part of the letter, the Department of Forestry reveals that in the period 2020–2024, 179 fires were recorded in its zone of responsibility in the Akamas region, of which 125 were malicious, 70%. According to the complaint, in Cyprus there is a phenomenon that some individuals, dissatisfied with decisions or actions of the State that affect their personal interests, choose to start fires as a means of "revenge". The Department expresses deep concern about the possible consequences of disturbing the existing balances in the Akamas SPA, pointing out that arson is one of the most serious dangers threatening the area.
As noted, the Akamas region attracts over a million visitors annually, not including tourists. The peak of traffic is observed between May and October, i.e. during the most dangerous period for forest fires, which increases the chances of catastrophic consequences in the event of arson. The Department reminds that uncontrolled trafficking in Akamas, either by hunters, excursionists or "safari" type commercial activities, increases the risk. Illegal routes, the complete lack of control and the overload of the ecosystem, are elements that create a combustible mixture, both literally and metaphorically.
The key word in the letter is "balance". The Department of Forestry explains that the Sustainable Development Plan was designed with the aim of finding a common ground between environmental needs, local communities, business activities and state actors. As he notes, no one was completely satisfied, but no one felt completely wronged. This created a fragile balance, which is now in danger. The Department warns that any attempt to unilaterally change the framework or question the design can trigger reactions of extreme form, with arson being, unfortunately, one of the "means of expression" of discontent. "The Plan was formed at a point of balance, where none of the stakeholders involved was fully satisfied, nor was it strongly dissatisfied. Through this compromise, it was possible to bring together the views of the relevant Government Departments (Department of Forestry, Department of Environment, Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Game and Fauna Service, Department of Water Development), environmental organizations, Local Authorities and residents of the area, landowners, hunters, fishermen, wheeled and safari rental companies, as well as other stakeholders," is recorded verbatim. According to the Department of Forestry, this delicate balance was the cornerstone for the success of the Plan. "It was and is our belief that any modification of the existing framework poses a serious risk of causing disruption, trembling, or even a complete collapse of the overall design," he explains.
The Department of Forestry sets a typical example of the way in which the Committees had operated and refers to the protected area of Lara. It was deemed appropriate, he notes, to prohibit the circulation of private vehicles on the Lara roundabout road and the traffic would take place with vehicles of the Park. "It was therefore necessary to create a reception area for private vehicles at the entrance and exit of this road, with a large number of parking spaces, so it was decided to create the large Lara-Ineia interchange," adds the Department of Forests. In addition, the Department of Fisheries had requested the creation of other smaller public reception areas, within the Akamas Reservoir for the decongestion of Lara. This is how the small interchanges of Geronisos and Zioni were created. In addition, after the strong reactions of the Community of Ineia and meetings with the Minister of Agriculture, the construction of another interchange in the area, in the South Gulf of Lara, was given as a compensatory measure. The Department of Forestry notes that the Akamas RRP provided for or provides for the creation of five nodes for the management of visitors. For the purposes of the Department of Forests, the management of the Park would have been much simpler, "but we had consented to the process, precisely because we understood the complexity of the Akamas peninsula and we wanted the EDP to become the catalyst for the rational management and coexistence of nature with man, with mutual benefit and at the same time a model for other areas".
As far as the road network is concerned, the Department of Forestry maintains that the decision was to create a suitable and adequate road network, which would cover the needs of all stakeholders and users of the Akamas EDP. The aim was to organise and regulate trafficking, which is perhaps the most serious threat to forest ecosystems. "Safari and pig drivers behave at the Akamas as if they were on a race track. Apart from this, there is also the uncontrolled movement of hunters, who, either for hunting purposes or for dog training purposes, are trafficked within the natural ecotypes with large vehicles, uncontrollably," he adds.
Arson, the main cause of forest fires in 2024
Despite the decrease in burned area, the threat of forest fires remains active, with arson activity emerging as the most important factor causing fires in 2024. According to the official statistics of the Department of Forests, 27% of fires within the Department's area of responsibility are due to deliberate arson, making arson the main cause of the fires of the year. This is followed by fires from agricultural activities (15%) and short circuits of power lines (10%), while smaller percentages are recorded for fires caused by travellers (8%), domestic activities (5%) and waste burning (4%). Natural causes, such as lightning, make up only 5%.
In total, 168 forest fires were recorded in 2024 under the responsibility of the Department of Forests, with a total burned area of 462 hectares. Of these, only 37 hectares were state-owned forest land, while the rest of the fires broke out within two kilometers of the forest boundaries. It is noteworthy that in 81% of the fires, the burned area did not exceed one hectare, which indicates the immediate and effective intervention of the forest fire forces. Only three fires had an area of more than 50 hectares, the most serious were recorded in Trimiklini-Lania (130 hectares), Droussia (130 hectares) and Vasa Kellaki (89 hectares).
Compared to the decade 2014–2023, a slight decrease in the number of fires of 2.3% is recorded, but also a significant decrease of 28.6% in the burned area. At the same time, the average intervention time was maintained at 12 minutes, while the average burned area per fire decreased to 2.7 hectares, from 3.8 hectares in the previous decade.
The Department of Forestry also actively participated in the support of the Fire Service, contributing to the extinguishing of an additional 91 rural and forest fires.
