The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will mark tomorrow’s International Day of Forests by inspecting newly acquired firefighting vehicles that strengthen the Department of Forests’ capacity to combat forest fires.
The Department of Forests is enhancing its effectiveness in fire prevention and suppression through a comprehensive equipment acquisition programme funded by the €25.7 million (plus VAT) “Forest Fire Protection” intervention, part of Cyprus’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).
In 2025, the Department has received eight special-purpose, all-terrain firefighting vehicles, each capable of transporting two tonnes of water, completing the contractual target of 25 firefighting vehicles.
Additional equipment expected by July 2025 includes four loaders/platforms for transporting earth movers and six tanker vehicles with 12-tonne water capacity.
The forest protection capabilities will be further enhanced in 2026 through an ongoing contract for 17 large firefighting vehicles (12 funded through the RRP and five from national resources), each able to transport six tonnes of water.
A separate tender process is underway for three firefighting aircraft (one from RRP funds, two from national resources).
The Department’s equipment acquisition programme has been substantial in recent years. In 2023, purchases included eight bulldozers, six agricultural tractors, four wheeled excavators, six branch shredders, and an aerial firefighting support system at Paphos Airport.
Nine agricultural tractors were also procured (six through the RRP and three from national resources), and staff received specialised training in fire cause investigation.
Additional acquisitions in 2024 included 75 personnel transport vehicles and 17 special-purpose, all-terrain firefighting vehicles with two-tonne water capacity.
