Filenews 8 October 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Special Ecological Assessment Report (EOA) of the Environmental Authority for holiday development, consisting of 69 villas, a reception building and a biological urban wastewater treatment plant, which was planned in the Municipality of Akamas, is negative, as, as recorded in the EOA Report, the proposed project will have significant direct and cumulative effects on the sensitive environment of the Akamas Peninsula, within and near Natura 2000 areas.
The examination of the 2022 urban planning application file showed that the proposed project, which concerns an area of more than 100,000 square meters, falls within a tourist zone (T3b), but borders and in some places abuts the Natura 2000 protected areas "Akamas Peninsula Special Area of Conservation" and "Akamas Peninsula Special Protection Area".
It is worth noting that the disputed plots of the development, specifically 13 plots in the Municipal District of Pegeia, during the period 2005 – 2018 were within the White Zone, however later they were included in a tourist zone, making it possible to submit an application for the implementation of a large-scale project.
The EDA Report, prepared on the basis of the European Directive 92/43/EEC and the legislation on nature conservation, documents that the proposed project may have irreparable environmental impacts during its construction and operation.
Among the most serious impacts analyzed are: Loss of habitats due to clearing of vegetation prior to the submission of the application. Noise pollution and luminescence that may affect the nesting of protected turtle species. Increase of human presence and traffic in the wider area, exacerbating the environmental burden. Cumulative effects from other existing or planned developments.
The Committee that evaluated the study, which involved experts from the Department of Environment, the Department of Forests, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the Game and Fauna Service, as well as environmental organizations (such as the Federation of Cyprus Environmental Organizations, BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria), unanimously concluded that the project cannot proceed without causing substantial damage to the conservation objectives of Natura sites.
The report clearly states that vegetation clearances were carried out before the submission of the application, between August 2021 and May 2022, which raises questions as to the legality of these acts and whether they were carried out with the required permit or control.
