One year after work was suspended on the Akamas road network, the timelines set for the Revision of the Sustainable Development Plan for the Akamas National Forest Park (NFP) have not been met, according to officials.
Outstanding issues centre on changes to the implementation of projects under the Sustainable Development Plan and their regulation and scheduling. The delay is primarily attributed to the evaluation of supplementary Special Ecological Assessment (SEA) terms regarding field operations.
The final construction plans, which were found not to have been considered when road network works began last December, were not presented to the ad-hoc committee that assessed the SEA study for the Strategic Plan of Sustainable Development of the Akamas National Forest Park.
The €16.2 million project, funded through the “THALIA” structural funds, includes contracts for Phase A of the road network and visitor nodes development. While the road network contracts were frozen in December 2023, the visitor nodes contracts remain active and include services for architects, museologists, and graphic designers.
The visitor nodes projects must be completed by the end of 2027 to ensure fund absorption and fulfil the Republic of Cyprus’s commitments.
Regarding the suspended Phase A road network works, only visitor safety measures implemented in May 2024 have been completed. The construction site remains technically active, with the relevant contract pending.
A civil engineer was seconded from the Department of Public Works in April to manage existing contracts until 15 October 2025. However, these services were terminated on 1 September 2024, leading the Forestry Department to hire a private engineer in late August 2024 to prevent further delays.
The private engineer’s study was completed on 30 September 2024, with supplementary data submitted on 18 October. The Forestry Department and Environment Directorate General are currently conducting final evaluations to determine:
A) Which projects can proceed as planned
B) Which projects require modifications
C) Whether new tenders are needed or existing contracts can continue
The Forestry Department has completed maintenance work on the Baths-Fontana Amorosa road in mid-October, with other forest roads to follow.
Environmental organisations and the Environment Commissioner have requested restricted vehicle access, which is under consideration.
A review of infrastructure changes and remaining projects is expected to be completed by November 2024, including decisions on visitor nodes reduction, park mobility solutions, and hunting compatibility with park operations.
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We do not have the ‘luxury’ of sacrificing Akamas on the altar of development and easy profit
