New illegal refreshment kiosks have sprung up in Akamas within the Natura 2000 Network area, NGO Terra Cypria said on Friday.

“We have reported the violations in detail and now it is up to the authorities to respond and take the next steps at the ministry level,” executive director Kyriaki Michael told the Cyprus Mail.

The two illegal kiosks are located within a special area of conservation (SAC) which is strictly protected under the EU Habitats regulations, and a special protection area (SPA), which covers bird protection.

The makeshift venues went up in Platanos, near Avakas Gorge and in the Alimma area near Aspros Potamos. The premises were constructed and operate without permits, Terra Cypris said.

One is located near a known breeding area for the Short-Toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), as well as the extremely rare Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), both species native to the Akamas Peninsula.

These raptors are intolerant of any disturbance during their breeding season and the kiosks are seen as increasing the risk that the birds will abandon their nests.

A protection radius of 1-2km from their nests is necessary to prevent this, the environmentalist NGO said.

The second kiosk was put up in the Lara-Toxeftra marine protected area (MPA), which is the main nesting site for the Green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles.

Their nesting beaches are protected under Cypriot legislation, EU directives, and international conventions and building on such beaches is thereby strictly prohibited.

Indeed, according to regulations, even temporary objects and structures are forbidden, including umbrellas, caravans, loungers and tents.

Terra Cypria has called for immediate action by the ministers of interior and agriculture to take down the kiosks and restore legality to protect the environment.

The NGO said according to environmental legislation it must be informed within a month of actions to be taken.

The Cyprus Mail contacted the environment department and the interior ministry and is awaiting a response.