The state must respect Akamas’ natural environment but also the residents in the area’s communities, landowners from the peninsula said during a protest on Saturday morning.
Gathered at Kennedy square in Paphos, people from the municipality of Polis Chrysochous and Peyia demonstrated for their rights in light of the announcement of the revised Akamas development plan.
In a written statement, locals said there was a need for a rational development of the area, with full respect for the natural environment and biodiversity, but also taking into consideration the human factor.
Residents have been surviving with many difficulties for so many years in the communities of Akamas, while their properties have been ‘frozen’ for 33 years.
With reason and moderation, “there are no dead ends,” protesters said, explaining there must be co-existence between humans and the environment.
The golden mean should be found which will allow ‘soft development’ and for landowners to use of their property and help keep young people in the area, who are currently forced to work outside their villages.
However, any development must be guided by the principles of sustainability, they added.
They added that procedures for the operation of the Akamas National Forest Park should be completed within 2022.
Another protest for Akamas was set for Saturday morning with representatives from the Green Party outside the Paphos town hall.
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