Cypriot authorities are “unable to respond and prevent any environmental disasters”, non-governmental organisation Terra Cypria said on Tuesday.

The organisation was responding to confirmation from the environment department the previous night that works have been carried out using heavy goods vehicles on the beach near the Limassol village of Pyrgos, resulting in “extensive damage” to the sand dunes in the area.

It said that the environment department’s statement on the matter “omitted any reference to the fact that the area in question is also home to four rare and endangered species of plants, which are included in the red book of flora in Cyprus.”

The NGO said the beach in question had been proposed but not yet ratified as a state forest becuase of the ecosystems it hosted, and added that its formal declaration as such had been set to be discussed at the relevant committee this month.

To this end, they criticised “unjustified inaction” on the part of the forestry department, which had reportedly sat on information regarding the biodiversity of the area since April last year.

“The forestry department did not consider it appropraiote to inform the owner of the adjacent pieces of land that the area in question was being considered as a state forest and a natural micro-reserve,” it said.

It added, “once again, the competent authorities have proven themselves unable to respond, let alone prevent any environmental disasters on the island,” and said there should be a “thorough investigation” of potential crimes committed during the process.

They also called for the immediate protection and restoration of the sand dune ecosystem.

Asked what this would entail, Terra Cypria representative Koula Michael told the Cyprus Mail the area must be cordoned off and secured, and that, “if sand has been taken away from the beach, they must put it back.”

Additionally, she said, there must be a round of seed planting of species native to the area to ensure their survival and the continuation of the area’s natural biodiversity, especially given the possibility that some species will have been severly impacted by the works.

The environment department had confirmed on Monday that work was being carried out, and said the work was being “closely monitored” so that actions are taken to immediately end the illegal interventions and take the appropriate measures within the confines of the law.

Earlier on Monday, House environment committee chairman Charalambos Theopemptou lamented that “no one does anything, we have so many examples now, and this is deliberate.”