For the first time a controlled forest burning was carried out in Cyprus under the supervision of the agriculture ministry’s forestry department and coordinated by the European University Cyprus’ centre of excellence (CERIDES) on Wednesday.

“Controlled burning can be a valuable tool for Cyprus, as it allows for the safe and controlled removal of this hazardous material, significantly reducing the risk of fire spread,” the ministry said.

The forest burning was part of a pilot project for innovative fuel management aiming for the prevention and treatment of forest fires and implemented “under a strict safety protocol”.

Environmental and meteorological parameters were taken into account to govern the process aiming to enhance the effectiveness and safety of the practice, the forest department said, adding that it aimed to integrate the method into the “overall fire protection strategy” to prevent and manage Cyprus’ forest areas.