Limassol:Cyprus is currently hosting an international conference dedicated to dry-stone construction, highlighting its significance to contemporary rural needs. The event is taking place in the mountainous region of the Limassol district.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the conference was co-organized by the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, the Department of Antiquities, the Unit for Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the organization "Petra stin Petra." It features participants from several countries, including Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Spain, Austria, and South Korea.

During the opening session, Commissioner ?lias Myrianthous emphasized the importance of the skills required for constructing dry-stone walls. He noted their prevalence in vineyards, hillsides, and fields, especially in the mountainous and semi-mountainous regions, as well as the wine villages of Limassol. Myrianthous highlighted that the knowledge and craftsmanship involved in dry-stone walling have been recognized by UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, underscoring the value of the craft and its practitioners.

The Commissioner also underlined the importance of the international conference and the associated workshops in safeguarding the continuity of this traditional practice. He remarked on the special significance of the initiative following recent devastating fires in the Limassol district, emphasizing the need for landscape restoration and community collaboration. Myrianthous further mentioned the contemporary relevance of dry-stone construction in agricultural activities, soil protection, and rural landscape preservation, which is reflected in various agricultural policy initiatives.