THE DESECRATION of stunning and environmentally sensitive sea caves area in the municipality of Peyia in Paphos on the west coast of Cyprus has been going on for years by the construction of so-called ‘luxury homes’ and other developments by those who seem intent on destroying the area in their never-ending quest for profit.
The sea caves area is the birthing habitat of the Mediterranean Monk Seal, which is listed as the most “critically endangered” marine mammal species in the Mediterranean by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature; there are only 700 Mediterranean Monk Seal left in the world.
However the latest desecration of the area , the construction of a five-star hotel, residences and villas with swimming pools by Korantina Homes Ltd, has been stopped (at least for the time being) by Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis who has blocked the Building Permit. This move, according to Stockwatch, followed an objection by the Auditor General, Odysseas Michaelides.
Meanwhile the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) has warned that Cyprus had reached a crossroads where it should take the right and difficult road to accept mistakes and take drastic measures to restore the environmental damage by withdrawing wrongly given permits.
ETEK also warned that pressures for growth in the remaining environmentally sensitive areas in the Republic will intensify. If Cyprus allows the self-destructive process to profit a few at the expense of many to continue it will lose the few remaining environmental diamonds and lose an important competitive advantage of the island’s tourist product.
@Molliemoo: for years they’ve been slowly digging-away along the Kapparis/Pernera headlands and coves. Ayia Triada is unrecognisable to how it was 30years ago. Does anyone else remember the little restaurant on the headland there – had parrots in a cage outside. All demolished for housing.
Fireman’s beach used to be reached via a delightful dirt-path through melon fields to the clifftop. Gone some years ago to make way for ‘villas’.
Elena at Sirena Bay has also had fights on her hands for years with council diggers threatening her cafe and home.
The local council should be preserving our beautiful wildlife, not destroying it, in cahoots with developers.
Sense at last!
Now let’s hope they can turn their attention to the vast areas of destruction near Crystal Springs Hotel, Ayia Triada and Firemans Beach area. Tons of vegetation dug out and burnt. The natural rugged beauty and home to wildlife now gone. So sad.
Only time will tell if this is just another populist sleight of hand by the brown envelope gang.
The Cyprus Minister of Agriculture has blocked the building permit for the construction of a five-star hotel, residences and villas with swimming pools located next to the sea caves area in Pegeia by Korantina Homes Ltd……..
Hurrah – at last a sensible decision – but still likely to be contested/overturned by greedy non-environmental developers, financiers etc
More Hurrahs
Meanwhile the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) has warned that Cyprus had reached a crossroads where it should take the right and difficult road to accept mistakes and take drastic measures to restore the environmental damage by withdrawing wrongly given permits.
‘Right and difficult’ are the key words here. Have they the guts, intellectual strength to force this through……..
Meant of us will doubt it……..
But it’s a Start!