Cyprus’ environment department has rejected plans for a 33-turbine wind farm near two protected Natura 2000 zones, citing irreversible damage to wildlife habitats and increased threats to vulnerable species.

The proposed 49.5MW development, submitted by a private company in the communities of Pyrga, Klavdia and Alethriko, would have affected the Potamos Panayias Stazousas special protection area (SPA) and the Stavrovouni special conservation area (SCA).

According to the department’s final opinion, the wind farm posed a significant risk to birds such as the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, and Skalifurta— all of which rely on the area for nesting and feeding.

Particular concern was raised over the increased collision and electrocution risk caused by turbines and associated transmission infrastructure.

New data collected after 2019, including GPS tracking of Bonelli’s Eagles, revealed extensive use of the area by the species, a fact not reflected in earlier assessments.

At least three Bonelli’s Eagles are known to have died in collisions with energy infrastructure, while five more were killed by electrocution.

The department also flagged the cumulative impact of existing developments in the area.

Four wind farms are already in operation nearby, placing additional strain on fragile ecosystems.

The proposed project, it said, would push the remaining natural habitat to its limits, making it “marginal for the viability of protected populations.”

The application was first submitted in 2008 and has since undergone multiple revisions, including a reduction in turbine numbers and power output.

In July 2023, the company proposed scaling the project down to four turbines and reducing its capacity from 22.5MWp to 18MWp.

However, two of the revised turbines remained within the boundaries of the SPA, while the other two were either adjacent to or near the protected area.

The site is also surrounded by additional stressors, overhead transmission lines, two quarries to the west, and a livestock farm roughly 3,000 metres away.

One existing wind farm to the northeast is partially located within, and the rest adjacent to, the Potamos Panayias Stazousas SPA.

Given the expiry of the temporary planning permit in November 2024, the environment department requested a new assessment.

The original permit, it noted, was granted more than a decade ago, and significant time had passed since the last review in 2019.