Three environmental organisations on Wednesday accused the government of sidestepping legally binding conditions for the protection of the Akamas peninsula, warning that planned works on a key road risk further environmental damage.

In a joint statement, Terra Cypria, BirdLife Cyprus and the Cyprus Federation of Environmental Organisations said the agriculture ministry was effectively delaying the implementation of “legally binding and essential terms” linked to the sustainable development plan for the Akamas National Forest Park.

The groups raised concerns over the ministry’s response to recent recommendations by the Audit Office regarding the controversial road linking the Baths of Aphrodite with Fontana Amorosa.

They said the ministry was attempting to justify its failure to enforce conditions in place since 2021, while at the same time promoting a request by the Department of Forests for further widening works on the road.

According to the statement, the Audit Office had expressed “serious concern” over the current situation, particularly the continued “uncontrolled and dangerous use” of the road by private vehicles, including unsuitable small cars and quad bikes.

The organisations stressed that such use is in violation of environmental approvals, which clearly define what types of vehicles are permitted in the area.

They pointed to recommendations for the “immediate implementation of controlled access”, including barriers and restrictions allowing only authorised vehicles, alongside better information for visitors about safety risks.

However, the groups criticised the ministry’s position that regulating private vehicle access alone is insufficient, arguing that the focus on infrastructure upgrades risks undermining the original environmental framework.

They also took issue with statements suggesting that road improvement works could begin imminently, saying this implies that environmental approval procedures are being treated as a formality.

“The result appears to have been predetermined,” they said, warning that no proper ecological assessment has been submitted for the proposed works.

The organisations further argued that the planned widening of the road does not align with the philosophy of the Akamas sustainable development plan and would alter key technical characteristics, such as road width and traffic capacity.

They warned that such changes would “directly affect the design and operation of the park” and reverse efforts aimed at promoting mild interventions, sustainable mobility and reducing environmental impact.

Among their concerns, they said the proposals would increase pressure on protected Natura 2000 areas, encourage higher traffic volumes and degrade the protected landscape between the Baths of Aphrodite and Fontana Amorosa.

The area, they noted, is designated as a site of special natural beauty, where alterations to the natural environment are strictly limited under existing planning regulations.

The groups insisted that current problems – including safety risks and environmental pressures – stem from the failure to implement the agreed terms of the Akamas plan, rather than the absence of further road works.

They called for the “immediate and full implementation” of the existing conditions, including restrictions on private vehicles, stressing that the road should be used only by authorised services, shuttle transport and specific permit holders. “The issues observed today arise from non-compliance with legally binding conditions, not from the lack of additional road widening,” they said.

The statement adds to growing tensions over the management of Akamas, as authorities face increasing scrutiny over how the protected area is being developed and regulated.