-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure and pride that I address today's award ceremony of the National Energy Globe Cyprus 2023 Award to the Department of Forests for the LIFE-KEDROS project, as coordinator of the project, with Frederick University and the Cyprus Forestry Association as collaborators.
The international environmental Globe Energy Award, presented by the Austrian-based non-profit organisation Energy Globe, is considered the most prestigious environmental award in the world. The aim of the award is to showcase and promote globally successful innovative and sustainable projects and feasible solutions to many of the environmental problems facing humanity and our planet today. The awards include projects that offer solutions to environmental problems, especially in terms of reducing emissions and pollution.
It is therefore particularly important that the Forestry Department and the LIFE-KEDROS project are honoured with this award, as it recognises their important work in the management and protection of our forests.
The LIFE-KEDROS project was an implementation project that aimed at the holistic management of the priority habitat 9590*, i.e. the Cedar forests of Cyprus. The fact that the species is one of only four cedar species existing on our planet and is endemic to the flora of Cyprus adds even more value to its conservation efforts.
The project has many other achievements, such as being awarded the best project in the LIFE Nature category by the European Commission at the LIFE Awards 2022. It stood out among 116 top innovative environmental projects, which were completed in 2021 on a pan-European level and received funding from the LIFE programme, and was awarded on a pan-European level as Best of the Best Project.
It is evident that despite its small size, our country has the knowledge, the methodical approach and the ability to achieve enviable results that are recognized on a pan-European and international level.
It is evident that our country, despite its small size, has the knowledge, the methodical approach and the ability to achieve enviable results that are recognized on a pan-European and international level. And this makes me particularly proud. I can see that in the Ministry, which I have only recently taken over, there is quality and scientific excellence, but also a spirit of cooperation and the development of synergies at national level. And I would like to stress that the example of the Forestry Department fills me with optimism for the future.
At the same time, I would like to stress that as a Ministry we support and encourage the development of partnerships between public and private institutions, and academic institutions such as this one. For us, cooperation is the best guarantee for achieving results and at the same time puts into practice the 17th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which refers to cooperation to achieve the goals.
This composition of networks of cooperating institutions should be pursued for the absorption of European funding for issues related to the protection and preservation of our natural environment. On the one hand, we have the organised structure and operation of a government department which, through methodical planning, implements its mission and responsibilities, as they result from national legislation and Forest Policy, but also from our contractual obligations as a member state of the European Union (EU). On the other hand, we have the human scientific capital active in our country in academic institutions with clear objectives and excellence, international ranking indicators and competitive evaluation systems. And finally, a non-governmental organization, an extension of the environmental sensitivities and concerns of civil society.
The above also highlights the important role that the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment has to play. A role which, beyond the institutional framework defined in the text of the Forest Policy Statement, is maximized in the consciousness of society, considering that the actions and activities of the Department are aimed at safeguarding the natural heritage and multi-purpose function of our forests.
In conclusion, I congratulate the Department of Forests, Frederick University and the Cyprus Forestry Association for being awarded the National Energy Globe Cyprus 2023 Award, which will be a source of further work with zeal in their duties, as well as "Energy Globe - The world awards for sustainability" for awarding today's distinction.
Note: The greeting was read on behalf of the Minister by the Director of her Office, Mr Theodolos Makriyannis.
(EL/EAθ/GS)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
