Cyprus records 28 forest fires in 2024
In 2024, a total of 28 forest fires were recorded in Cyprus, burning a total area of 3,529 hectares, 25 per cent of which was in Natura2000 areas, the environment commissioner’s office said ...
Opok calls for removal of illegal kiosks in Akamas
Authorities need to enforce legislation to close down the illegal kiosks that have sprung in Akamas’ Natura 2000 network area with immediate action, the federation of environmental NGOs (Opok) said on ...
Greens call for ban on quad bikes in Akamas
The Green Party issued a statement on Tuesday calling for a ban on quad bikes in Akamas, following yet another accident involving a four-wheeler in the area.
Meanwhile, owners of ...
Church loses appeal over Cape Greco monastery
The administrative court rejected an appeal by the Famagusta bishopric seeking to continue the construction of a monastery in Natura 2000 area of Cape Greco, it was reported on Monday.
The ...
Complying with Natura 2000 a ‘government priority’
Completion of the Natura 2000 management and protection decrees in compliance with the EU’s habitats directive is a priority, the ministry of agriculture said on Tuesday.
In its statements to ...
Rampant environmental abuse, calls for disciplinary investigation
A slew of illegal developments have taken place in environmentally protected areas across the country, including Natura 2000 sites, the Audit Office revealed on Friday, in a report calling for a ...
Audit Office slams inaction over illegal livestock farms
The Audit Office on Monday decried what they see as inaction on the part of the veterinary services regarding the operation of illegal livestock farms on protected land.
Its upset ...
Cyprus and Greece pledge joint efforts for environmental sustainability
Cyprus and Greece are aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation on important environmental policies with the aim of promoting sustainable practices and actions.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, and her Greek counterpart ...
Cyprus ‘well below’ EU renewable energy target
Cyprus’ contribution to the EU renewable energy target “so far is well below that seen in EU legislation”, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevicius said on ...
Wedding venue operating on environmentally protected site
There are at least 20 illegalities at Ayia Napa’s environmentally protected Natura 2000 site, but not a single deterrent measure has been imposed apart from a fine, Cyprus’ Ecological Movement charged ...
Swords drawn over illegal Ayia Napa monastery (Updated)
Architects and engineers involved in the construction of a monastery at the environmentally protected Natura 2000 site in Cape Greco will appear before a disciplinary board, it emerged on Monday.
Cyprus’ ...
Finance ministry files complaint over illegal monastery raffle
A complaint was filed by the finance ministry to police over a raffle being carried out to build an illegal monastery in the environmentally protected Natura 2000 area of Cape Greco, ...
Row over illegal church could drag on for years
Promises have been received from the archbishopric regarding the illegal construction of a church in Ayia Napa, the interior minister said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, parties have called for investigation by ...
Illegal monastery construction ordered to stop
The town planning department has ordered a stop to any illegal construction for a monastery being built at the environmentally protected area at Ayia Napa’s Cape Greco site.
Philenews ...
Solutions sought for Larnaca’s Natura 2000 area
Projects that will allow residents to travel safely near the waste-treatment plant on the Larnaca-Meneou road in an environmentally sensitive area, were discussed on Thursday by Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades ...
Our View: Political will to protect environment is nonexistant
Although feeling duty-bound to pay lip service to the protection of the environment, Cyprus governments have traditionally shown scant regard for this. They routinely ignore the regulations and laws they ...
Monastery implicated in environmental scandal
The Osiou Avakoum monastery was implicated in an environmental scandal on Thursday, when it emerged the structure was built on land protected under the Natura 2000 environmental policy.
The monastery has ...
Cyprus taken to EU court over precious sites
The European Commission has referred Cyprus to the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) due to its failure to fulfil obligations under the Habitats Directive, which aims to protect over a ...
Protected zones included in national maritime plan to be presented for EU approval
The national maritime spatial plan (MSP) approved by the council of ministers last Wednesday is to be submitted before the EU in Brussels which will determine if relevant community directives ...
Environmental organisations call on government to ‘rise to occasion’ on Akamas (Updated)
By Tom Cleaver and Elias Hazou
Contractors have been ordered to halt all construction work within the Akamas national forest until December 18, while a group of experts review whether the ...
The government must step in and stop violations in the Akamas
By Efi Xanthou
Since the spring of 2022, works have been underway in the Akamas Peninsula under the auspices of the Forestry Department for the first phase of the Akamas National ...
Massive projects going ahead despite environment department’s concerns
The government is using an EU loophole in the Habitats Directive and tarmacking the island
I would like my tax money to be spent on hospitals, schools and on two ...
Your Cyprus vacation spots matter!
Tourism, leisure industries impact Natura 2000 areas
By Maria Ladommatou
Cyprus is part of the Natura 2000 network, which entails 62 marine and terrestrial conservation areas across the Republic of Cyprus up to ...
Refusal for new road welcomed by environment NGO
A coastal road connecting Paphos airport with the Paphos-Geroskipou tourist area was not granted an environmental permit, it emerged on Wednesday, with environmental NGO BirdLife Cyprus hailing the move as ...