Nicosia: The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, in cooperation with the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation and the Department of Forests, has announced the launch of Intervention A.A. 4.3.1 ‘Investments to Improve the Value of Forests as a Public Good,’ through the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027. The total funding available for the implementation of the action amounts to pound 1,275,000, which will be allocated exclusively for projects that fall within the objectives of the Intervention.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry aims to strengthen the protection, enhancement, and sustainability of Cyprus’ forest ecosystems through this action, focusing on the creation and upgrading of forest recreation infrastructure. This will contribute to better management and utilisation of forests, while also promoting public information and awareness about the value and importance of their preservation.
Cyprus’ forests and their biodiversity face a significant threat from fires, mainly caused by human activity. Consequently, there is a need for immediate measures to address the risks that threaten forests by managing the factors that contribute to the outbreak of fires, particularly human activity during the use of forests for recreational purposes.
Furthermore, through recreational projects such as themed trails, public environmental awareness will be enhanced, contributing to the recognition of the importance of preserving and protecting forest biodiversity. The Intervention also aims at designing and creating forest recreation infrastructure to organise visitors with a view to promote protection against forest fires, to safeguard biodiversity, to strengthen citizens’ connection with the forest, and to inform them about the values of forests and their preservation.
The investments to be funded include upgrading recreational areas of National Forest Parks to ensure safe and sustainable visits, creating and upgrading camping sites with an emphasis on environmental awareness and ecological management, creating and upgrading small picnic areas and trails to improve access and experience of the natural environment, upgrading Environmental Information and Education Centres to promote sustainability and conservation of natural resources, and highlighting elements of forest heritage to showcase the natural and cultural value of forests.