It is with great pleasure that I welcome today's event, which marks the start of Forest Protection Week. Every year at this time of the year, as part of the Forest Protection Week, various events and activities take place, which are part of the State's efforts to inform and raise public awareness about the protection of forests from fires. Investing in the cultivation of environmental awareness among citizens is a primary objective for the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
Forests, with their multifunctional role, are of enormous value to the country. They are a renewable natural resource and the backbone of the natural environment, contributing to the economic, environmental, social and cultural development of our country and to the creation of better living conditions. They also play a key role in tackling the climate crisis and mitigating its effects. The Government's constant policy is the preservation of forests and the further expansion of greenery in our country and to achieve this goal, a series of measures and actions are being undertaken and implemented.
At the same time, the state is making a great effort to protect forested areas from fire. As we all know, no other factor causes such rapid and widespread damage to forest ecosystems as fires. Every summer we witness fires that destroy our precious forest lungs, infrastructure and property, while human lives are put at serious risk. The problem is constantly worsening in the face of the new climate reality that particularly affects our region and causes an increase in the frequency and intensity of fires, as well as a decrease in the possibility of natural restoration of burnt forest areas.
Dear friends,
Dealing with forest fires in our country is certainly not an easy task and must be treated as a matter of essential safety. The Government has the will and the political will to support this effort by supporting and strengthening the services involved in terms of human resources, equipment and infrastructure, in order to prevent the occurrence of forest fires and reduce the damage caused by forest fires.
We are fully aware that, for such a complex issue as the management of forest fires, new planning and implementation of new measures are constantly required. In this direction, the implementation of measures included in the "Vegetation Management Study for Fire Protection of Forests and Riparian Communities", recently completed by the Forestry Department, has been initiated. Another very important measure is the inclusion of the Forestry Department in the TETRA system, which ensures uninterrupted wireless communication. In addition, the introduction of Surveillance System and other modern technologies in the Republic of Cyprus, which provides for the installation of four automatic fire surveillance and detection systems and the procurement of four Drones for use by a special team of the Forestry Department established for this purpose, as well as the implementation of the equipment programme, through the Recovery and Resilience Fund, is expected to significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Forestry Department.
It is emphasized that in recent years the budget of the Forestry Department has increased both for the acquisition of modern forest firefighting equipment and for an increase in personnel through the creation of new posts of forestry officers and forest firefighters. As an indication, the budget of the Forestry Department in 2023 is 71 million euros compared to 45 million euros in 2020.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are at the beginning of the fire season and all the departments of the state involved have been at their maximum operational readiness since the beginning of the month, having completed their planning and having implemented in time all the usual prevention and preparedness measures and actions implemented. We hope for another fire season as good as that of the previous year and we are well prepared to achieve this goal.
At this point, let me express my appreciation for the important work carried out by the Department of Forests, and at the same time congratulate the management and all the staff of the Department for their efforts in order to face the firestorm whenever the need arises. I want to assure the Forestry Department that both I personally and the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will always stand by you and support your every effort to protect our forest wealth from fire.
I would also like to welcome the presence of representatives of all the departments and agencies involved in fire protection in the country and express my thanks for the important work you are doing to protect our natural environment from fires. I invite you once again to renew our commitment to preparedness, coordination and efficiency in the difficult work that awaits us this summer.
At this point, please allow me to address in English the distinguished colleagues and guests from the United Nations and the British Bases.
Distinguished guests from the United Nations and the British Sovereign Base Areas, I would like to thank you for attending our event today and to express my deepest gratitude for your valuable and continuous cooperation and support, during every fire season. We look forward to your cooperation and assistance in the fields of fire prevention and suppression of forest fires, with the aim to protect the Cyprus forests.
Dear friends,
On the occasion of today's event, I appeal to all citizens of our country to avoid reckless actions and activities that may cause fire. It also requires all of us to be vigilant for situations that arise not from negligence, but from intent. The increased rate of malicious fires observed in recent years requires us to be constantly vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the competent authorities.
In declaring the start of Forest Protection Week, I would like to send the message that we must all understand that our forests are a priceless natural heritage and that their effective protection is a difficult task that requires a continuous and collective effort by the state and citizens.
Let us therefore put the motto of this year's Forest Protection Week campaign "Only with a sense of responsibility" into practice, in order to effectively tackle the problem of forest fires and protect our priceless natural wealth.
I am absolutely sure that together we can and will succeed.
Thank you.
Note. Andreas Gregoriou.
(Mg)
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