Nicosia, Cyprus. The agriculture ministry said safe access to the road linking the Baths of Aphrodite with Fontana Amorosa is essential to protect human life, the environment and the state’s operational readiness in the Akamas peninsula. It said managing visitor access is necessary but a secondary issue.
Audit Office concerns and ministry response
The ministry said issues raised in recommendations by the Audit Office regarding access to the Akamas National Forest Park reflect real challenges that have already been identified and are being managed.
The auditor-general’s office carried out an on-site visit between April 15 and 17 and expressed grave concern over the current road network from the Baths of Aphrodite to Fontana Amorosa, recommending a series of corrective steps.
Role of the road in emergencies
The ministry said regulating private vehicle access is necessary but not sufficient on its own to address the area’s technical and practical difficulties.
It added that the road is primarily a critical route for the operational movement of firefighting forces and other state services during wildfires or other emergencies. The ministry said that even under a controlled access regime, a minimum level of technical safety and functionality is required.
Request for limited improvements
The ministry said the forestry department has submitted a request to the environment service for the minimum necessary improvement of the road through relevant procedures.
The forestry department said this would not be a full upgrade or the final solution under the park’s long-term planning, but a limited and temporary intervention aimed at improving safety and ensuring access for emergency vehicles. It added that any works would take into account the area’s environmental sensitivity and specific characteristics.
What measures should be prioritised to ensure emergency access while protecting the Akamas peninsula environment?
