Five environmental organisations have sent an open letter to the president of Cyprus calling for clear commitments and concrete action to protect Natura 2000 sites, citing delays and failures in implementing key biodiversity policies.
BirdLife Cyprus, Terra Cypria, the Cyprus Wildlife Society, Friends of the Earth Cyprus and the Initiative for the Protection of the Natural Coast said environmental protection is a core pledge of the government’s 2023 programme, but significant gaps remain in practice, particularly in safeguarding biodiversity and managing protected areas.
The groups said Cyprus continues to face serious EU infringement procedures linked to Natura 2000 and urged the government to ensure proper designation, effective protection and full management of the sites, along with improvements to environmental‑assessment procedures.
They placed particular emphasis on the Akamas Peninsula, warning that nearly two years of delays and the Forest Department’s failure to comply with binding conditions for the Sustainable Development Plan of the Akamas National Forest Park threaten both the area’s conservation and Cyprus’s credibility. They called for adherence to the environmental approval and the relevant cabinet decisions issued in December 2023 and March 2024.
The organisations asked the president to guarantee full implementation of the government’s environmental commitments and to provide public updates following the suspension of Phase A road‑improvement works in Akamas, which was ordered after serious violations were identified.
They also highlighted persistent obstacles to public access to environmental information, citing refusals to release data on protected species, limited transparency on certain projects and unanswered requests related to the Akamas development plan.
The letter calls for stronger inspection and enforcement mechanisms to address illegal structures and unauthorised interventions in and around Natura 2000 areas. The groups said such violations continue in Akamas, exposing weaknesses in the application of existing legislation.
The open letter was published as part of efforts to increase transparency and public debate on key environmental issues.