Filenews 27 January 2026
A case that raises serious questions about the management of priority protected areas and habitats, the observance of due process under applicable law, and the possible abuse of power is at the center of intensive investigations.
The complaints concern logging on a private plot of the former director of the Department of Forests, Charalambos Alexandrou, in Troodos, with the General Directorate of Environment already requesting official information from the departments involved.
Last Monday, January 19, the calm in the area between Pedoulas and Prodromou was disturbed by logging work. According to testimonies and visual material, which was published yesterday in Offsite, two official vehicles of the Department of Forests (double cabin) were at the scene.
Although the official permit provided for the thinning of only five pine trees for agricultural purposes, the autopsy of officials of the Game and Fauna Service (YTHP) yesterday revealed a different picture, as the number of felled trees is greater than that indicated in the permit issued by the Department of Forests.
The plot in question falls entirely within the Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) Troodos National Forest Park (SPA). It also falls within the Urban Zone of Agricultural Use (C3), but it is adjacent to an Urban Protection Zone (Z3) and state forest land. According to the legislation, the Department of Environment and the Game and Fauna Service, as co-competent authorities for the protection and management of the Natura 2000 area, should have been informed beforehand before any logging permit was granted by the Department of Forests. Furthermore, the necessary screening was not carried out by the Department of Environment, since there was no prior internal consultation. It is noted that the number of trees to be felled is five and concerned Black Pine, a strictly protected species of forest tree that forms the type of priority natural habitat sub-Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines.
The current director of the Department, Savvas Ezekiel, speaking to "F", confirmed that permission was given for five trees on the grounds of thinning in an agricultural plot, without requesting an environmental study, as it was a private plot in an agricultural zone and did not concern a change of land use. However, he appeared particularly strict: "I have already requested a logging report from the Troodos Regional Forestry Officer to determine the exact number of trees. If anything illegal comes up, responsibilities will be assigned."
Mr. Ezekiel also noted that the case also seems to have a personal background, as there is a dispute between the former director and a neighbour over a retaining wall, with the latter making the complaint through material from security cameras.
At the same time, the Department of Environment was not aware of the case and therefore did not issue an environmental approval. It is noted that the Game and Fauna Service was not asked about it by the Department of Forests to express an opinion either.
The former director, Charalambos Alexandrou, as a deep connoisseur of the procedures, is now called upon to explain whether the provisions of the Law that he served for a number of years were complied with.
The Department of Environment, the Department of Forests and the Game and Fauna Service continue the investigation, while the report of the competent Departments is expected to be put before the Director General of the General Directorate of Environment and determine the next steps.
