The government is promising fast protection changes in the Natura 2000 Akamas peninsula, including park rangers, expected as the country takes its first EU Presidency steps early next year.
Agriculture minister Maria Panayiotou informed MPs on developments during a briefing on all pending issues, notwithstanding the dramatic drought situation. But on Akamas, a tender on amendments to the Akamas National Forest road network project, abruptly halting two yeas ago, will be awarded in February.
Panayiotou told a session of the parliamentary environment committee (Wednesday) that December will see the completion of new tender documents by the Forestry department and the process will then be taken over by the Cabinet. The amended tender, as she noted, 'integrates new environmental conditions, leaving a restricted environmental footprint'.
In parallel, the ministry is also running a park rangers hiring process, as well as implementing new operational rules in regard to the peninsula's protection. As to the timeframe, 'works will be completed by late 2027', while the second and third phase of the road network's construction will also continue.
On the park rangers, their service guidelines have now been approved by the competent public admistration authority, which will be sending through the final agreement of all parties involved back to the ministry, so that the forestry department can start hiring before the end of the year.
Τhe job openings, with all conditions attached, will be published on the Department's website over the next few weeks, with a view to hiring by January 2026.
Completion of road network works is expected by late 2027.
The Akamas Office and Local Involvement
This is an effort to keep the local communities involved and as such has been operating since June 2025, empowering those living around the peninsula to take part in environmental action, programmes and projects, all under the umbrella of the Akamas Communities Development Activity.
With MPs calling for the local population to have first take at job openings in the National Forest Park, Panayiotou said that both the ministry and the Akamas Office are positive to this, pointing to small tourist bus drivers and park rangers positions.
'A local should tour visitors to Akamas, not someone from Nicosia, that would be really embarrassing', said Green Party MP Charalambos Theopemptou, heading up the environment committee.
Announcements are expected when all Akamas changes are approved by the Cabinet, namely restricting the environmental fooprint and involving local communities.