What is Akamas to you?
The Akamas Peninsula is a unique area of unparalleled beauty, retaining a naturalness and authenticity that has been lost from most coastal areas of the island.
Steeped in history and legend, Akamas has countless experiences to offer to locals and tourists alike.
Preserving all this requires both vision and political will.
Why is Akamas so important?
Rich in fauna
Rich in flora
Rich cultural elements
What is the issue with Akamas?
Akamas has been under pressure for development for decades. Today, these pressures threaten to overwhelm the area. The inaction of the State and failure to take substantial action to protect nature and promote sustainable development in the area, while removing illegal structures, has led things to where they are today.
Today, development projects are being proposed on Akamas that will increase pressure on the sensitive species and habitats of the area, will undermine sustainable development and completely change the area’s character. What exactly do we mean?
The area designated as a Natura 2000 site is smaller than the area that should have been protected, on the basis of scientific data.
Even within the existing Natura 2000 area, the emphasis on protecting the state land, namely the Akamas National Forest Park, and managing it separately from the rest of the Natura 2000 area, creates a two-tier situation.
Projects are being promoted within the Park, such as refreshment kiosks in untouched areas, that threaten the protected status and proper management of the area.
At the same time, urban planning regulations are proposed for the whole Peninsula that are completely incompatible with the sustainable management of the area, such as isolated housing, massive resort-type developments and new quarrying zones.
What do we want for Akamas?
Once the evaluation of the State’s plans is completed, final decisions will be taken, and the future of Akamas, for better or worse, will be largely sealed.
Our vision is for Akamas to be protected in a sustainable way, while promoting the real and long-term prosperity of the local communities. Our view and vision has always been that the planning mistakes that were made in so many other areas in Cyprus should not be repeated at Akamas. Development should be limited and promoted within Akamas village community boundaries. This is the only way to achieve sustainable protection of an area with such high ecological value like Akamas, while also preserving its comparative advantage for tourism, which is its natural landscape.
We are calling on the state to:
- Conserve the Peninsula’s nature and landscape.
- Manage the whole area as a Natura 2000 site.
- Remove all illegal structures and restore the damage.
- Not carry out projects in untouched areas. Any projects within the National Forest Park be limited to access control, information and hygiene needs, and visitors to be encouraged to use the local communities for supplies, food & drink.
- Withdraw proposals concerning overnight stays, food and leisure facilities outside the community boundaries and proposals for new quarries in the area.