Four environmental organisations slammed the forestry department on Tuesday for not sticking to the guidelines of a Special Ecological Assessment Report (SEA) covering works in the Akamas.

Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus, the Cyprus Wildlife Society and the Initiative for the Preservation of Natural Coasts accused the department of non-compliance and of failing to meet binding conditions, leading to a delay in the restoration of environmental damage.

They also claimed that numerous deadlines set by the Council of Ministers have not been met and three attempts at reaching out to the agriculture ministry remained without reply. 

“Environmental wounds left by the projects on the Akamas peninsula remain open,” the NGOs said, calling for adherence to the conditions of the project including measures such as the closure of unregistered roads and the removal of illegal shacks within the protected area.

The Akamas project has encountered delays after violations of legally binding terms were made public through complaints by various environmental groups.

After a break in January 2024, a reassessment of the project was concluded, including 15 legally binding conditions and measures to restore environmental damage in the protected area.

At a meeting last week with the president of Cyprus’ scientific and technical chamber (Etek), Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said a study would be carried out on the conditions for the road works and other Akamas projects since the projects were taking too long to replan.

Based on the conclusions, the planning of the controversial road works would be redrafted. Concrete steps have yet to be announced.