Filenews 9 December 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The government is in the final stretch for the resumption of work in the Akamas National Forest Park (SAR), after the many months of suspension and extensive consultations. Work on Phase A of the road network, which stopped in December 2023, is expected to start again, with the aim of completing the project, which has as its main axis the protection of the environment and the sustainable management of traffic, by the end of 2027.
The works for the configuration of the road network of the Akamas SAR, which are funded by the EU's "THALIA 2021 – 2027" Program (with a total value of €16.5 million), started in September 2022. However, the implementation of Phase A (Aspros Potamos – Lara – Toxeftra – Avakas) was suspended in October 2023. The official suspension was decided by the Council of Ministers on December 20, 2023, which called for the review of the Phase A projects, amid strong reactions and concerns about the environmental footprint.
This was followed by a period of intensive evaluation by the Environmental Authority (EIA). Following a series of ad-hoc committee meetings and the drafting of a Supplementary Special Ecological Assessment (EOA) Report in March 2024, the Council of Ministers approved the promotion of the necessary actions to reduce the environmental footprint.
A key point was the Compliance Report issued by the Environmental Authority in August 2025. This report, which set out additional conditions, paved the way for the resumption of works.
With the issuance of this report, the Department of Environment has completed its institutional competence and, now, with the resumption of the projects, will inspect them to ensure compliance with the terms of the opinions/reports issued.
The Department of Forests is now proceeding with minor modifications to the original design of Phase A to comply with the new environmental terms.
The horizon for the restart is clear, although the process requires new tenders and studies:
December 2025 – March 2026: Conduct of a study by the Democritus University of Thrace to determine the final surface of the road surface in the SAR, so that it is acceptable in environmentally sensitive areas. Specifically, a contract was announced with summary procedures for the recruitment of experts for the purpose of studying and determining the final surface of the road network in the Akamas SAR.
The duration of the contract is three months and includes: (a) The evaluation of the solution proposed for the final surface of the road surface, (b) the review and evaluation of the main road network and (c) the investigation to identify possible alternative/appropriate solutions beyond those proposed by the designers of Phase A improvement of the road network in the Akamas SAR, which are acceptable for application in environmentally sensitive areas. The contract is expected to start in December 2025 and end in March 2026.
February 2026: The tender documents for the Phase A road network modification study are completed and the contract is expected to be awarded.
July 2026: The aim is to announce the tender for the assignment of the construction of Phase A of the road network.
End of 2027: Milestone for the completion of the projects of Phase A.
At the same time, the Department of Forests will also promote the Second and Third Phases of the implementation of the road network, which were not included in the original planning.
For the Loutra - Fontana Amoroza road, the information form has been submitted to the Environmental Authority and the relevant approval is expected to be issued along with the corresponding conditions, for the implementation of the project.
There is continuous monitoring by the Department of Forests of the condition of the Akamas road network and where problems are observed, they make the required repairs. For the problems observed on the road surface in the section of the Avakas - Lipati road, its maintenance has been completed. Furthermore, the section of the Avakas – Lipati road was evaluated by a design office, and the WDD requested a study of the hydraulic works. The WDD proposed and prepared the technical specifications for the Department of Forests to proceed with a tender for a designer.
Mild infrastructure and new park rangers
Akamas' Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) is not just about roads. Important actions include:
Infrastructure and information points: Following the approval of the Council of Ministers to reduce environmental intervention, the redesign of infrastructure will be promoted. An interesting proposal is the transfer of the infrastructure in the South Gulf of Lara to the "Choglakas" location, where illegal premises will be demolished, after first securing environmental approval for its relocation.
Park guard service: The acceleration of the recruitment procedures is expected, with a deadline of filling the positions in January 2026, for the effective supervision of the protected area. The plans of the Park Ranger Service have been approved by the Department of Public Administration and Personnel, which is expected to send the final agreement of the parties involved on the recruitment process, within the month so that the Department of Forests can publish the announcements of the positions on its website.
Akamas Office: It has been operating since July 2025 with the aim of strengthening and supporting local communities. The Local Coordinating Office, which is housed in the offices of the Department of Environment in Paphos, has the mission of strengthening, informing, supporting and empowering the local communities of the population of Akamas with actions, programs and projects and falls within the framework of measures and actions to strengthen the Development Activity of the Akamas Communities.
Visitor management: After the completion of the road network (Phase A and B), it is planned to announce a tender for buses that will move within the park, on a pilot basis during the peak season (May – October), to decongest vehicles.
Declaration of a natural reserve: The declaration of parts of the SARP as a Natural Reserve and Micro-Reserves, as a serious protection measure, is promoted, after consultation with the stakeholders (hunters, fishermen, shepherds, etc.). It is noted that the RRP of Akamas is a plan with the ultimate goal of: a) The protection and preservation of the natural environment, b) the creation of social and economic benefits for local communities and c) the improvement of the visitor experience.
The developments signal the government's intention to proceed with the project, while ensuring the maximum possible compliance with environmental requirements. The Environmental Authority, having completed its responsibilities, will continue to inspect the projects for compliance with the conditions.
