Nicosia, Cyprus. Environmental group Friends of Akamas called for the immediate withdrawal of a special ecological assessment report on planned road improvements in the Akamas National Forest Park. The group said the report breaches binding conditions from previous assessments and ignores committee recommendations.
Allegations of legal and procedural violations
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Friends of Akamas said the report violates legally binding conditions set out in earlier assessments and disregards recommendations made by a competent ad hoc committee.
Calls to restrict private vehicle access
The group said the forest road connecting the Baths of Aphrodite to Fontana Amorosa should already have been closed to private vehicles under the park’s sustainable development plan. It said the latest report’s findings effectively favour increased private vehicle traffic, including safari jeeps, raising concerns about environmental degradation and visitor safety.
Environmental and safety concerns
Friends of Akamas said banning private vehicles would reduce the environmental footprint from traffic, lower wildfire risk, cut maintenance costs, promote sustainable mobility, and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Dispute over firefighting justification
The organisation described as “misplaced” the argument by the departments of forests and environment that upgrading the road would support firefighting efforts. It warned that easier vehicle access could increase fire risk.
Wider criticism from other environmental groups
In an earlier joint statement, Terra Cypria, BirdLife Cyprus and the Cyprus Federation of Environmental Organisations accused the government of sidestepping legally binding conditions to protect the Akamas peninsula and warned planned works could cause further environmental damage. The groups raised concerns about the ministry’s response to recent Audit Office recommendations regarding the road linking the Baths of Aphrodite with Fontana Amorosa.
Growing tensions over Akamas management
The statements add to tensions over the management of Akamas as authorities face increasing scrutiny over how the protected area is being developed and regulated.
What measures should authorities take to balance access and protection in the Akamas National Forest Park?