-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I welcome today's event, marking the start of Forest Protection Week. This week is a valuable institution for informing and raising public awareness, but also for highlighting the importance of forests. Forests are the lungs of our planet, the guardians of biodiversity and key to the fight against climate change.
In the framework of the Forest Protection Week, various activities are taking place, which aim to cultivate and develop forest and environmental awareness among all age groups of the population, with an emphasis on young people. This contributes significantly to achieving the objective of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment to protect forests from the risk of fires and promote their sustainability for future generations.
As we all know, forests are ecosystems of exceptional importance and immeasurable value. They are a renewable natural resource, with an enormous contribution to the economic, environmental, social and cultural development of the country, and to the creation of better living conditions. Climate change, which is occurring all over the world, is also affecting our country, making fires more frequent and more destructive than ever before. This year's unusually warm and relatively dry winter, combined with the winds, is making the situation more difficult and forcing us to prepare for perhaps one of the most difficult fire-fighting periods in recent years. Combined with the abandonment of the countryside and changes in land use, they are intensifying this trend and further exacerbating the threat. That is why this year, by decision of the Government, the fire season has started earlier, in April instead of May, which was the case in other years.
It is imperative that we remain vigilant and fully prepared for the effective implementation of our fire planning. As a Government, we have both the will and the political will to support this effort, doing everything possible to ensure that this summer finds us as prepared as possible.
We are focusing on a coordinated and holistic approach, promoting the creation of an effective roadmap for forest fire protection, supporting and strengthening the services involved, in terms of human resources, firefighting equipment and infrastructure. In this context, I am in close communication and coordination with all my fellow Ministers, their Departments and Services, in order to take additional measures where and when needed.
Focusing on all three main pillars included in the forest fire management system, namely, prevention, preparedness and suppression, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment aims to continuously strengthen and improve this integrated system, which has been implemented over time by the Department of Forestry, Rural Development and Environment. A practical proof is the promotion of the implementation of the plan for the introduction and use of new technologies, which will complement the existing system.
In terms of forest firefighting equipment, the Forestry Department has been strengthened recently and is currently in a higher state of readiness, compared to previous years, through the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
In terms of forest firefighting equipment, the Forestry Department has been strengthened recently and is currently in a higher state of readiness, compared to previous years, through the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. The Forestry Department has already taken delivery of five fire trucks, with the delivery of five more imminent this year, and the phased delivery of another 32 by 2026. The delivery of 75 personnel carriers has also been completed. Eight crawler earth movers, four excavators, nine agricultural tractors and six branch chippers have also bolstered the Department's operational fleet. In addition, the installation of a fire-fighting material supply system for the Forestry Department's flying equipment at Paphos Airport has been completed. The delivery of six tankers and six land promoter transport platforms is imminent by 2025 and the process for the purchase of three firefighting aircraft by 2026 has been rolled out. At the conclusion of the event, you will have the opportunity to see some of the new forest firefighting equipment in person.
We know, of course, that for such a complex issue as forest fire management, new planning and implementation of new measures are constantly required. Nicos Christodoulides on the subject of dealing with fires and other natural disasters, new measures were decided for the prevention and response to fires, as well as the strengthening of operational preparedness for civil protection. In particular, the upgrading of the Civil Defence to a Civil Protection Service, the subordination of the Forest Firefighting Aviation Unit to the National Guard, the reopening of the Forestry College, the submission of amendment bills concerning the tightening of penalties, the submission of a proposal for the utilization, training and insurance of volunteers, as well as the gradual acquisition by the state of ten firefighting aircraft in the coming years.
In addition, the Republic of Cyprus, building on its cooperation with neighbouring states in the field of aerial firefighting, has called on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to strengthen Cyprus' air assets. The neighbouring country responded positively and since May 6, two firefighting helicopters with their 18 crew members have been in Cyprus, which are in operational readiness to take action since yesterday, Sunday.
The firefighting helicopters will remain in the country with their crew at least until the arrival of the aircraft leased by the Republic, joining forces with the Forestry Department and the relevant agencies in the effort to deal effectively with the fires.
I take this opportunity to once again express the gratitude of the Republic of Cyprus to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Royal Jordanian Air Force for their positive response to our call.
It would be ideal to claim that the fire will not knock on our door again. The threat of fire will return. We have repeatedly emphasized this: Proper information and effective prevention are the main guarantee for the avoidance and early detection of fire outbreaks, and as the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment we are doing everything humanly possible to achieve this.
We are at the beginning of the high-risk fire season, and all state agencies involved are at a high degree of operational readiness.
Before I close, at this point, I would like to extend a warm and profound "thank you" to the unsung heroes on the front line: those who put out the fires, but also those who work in the civil protection sector, often putting their own lives at risk, to ensure the safety of all of us and our forests.
Allow me to refer specifically to the Forestry Department, the Directorate and all the staff of the Department, thanking them for their efforts in order to tackle the firestorm whenever the need arises. I want to assure you that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will stand by your side, supporting your every effort to protect our forest wealth from fire.
I also welcome the presence of representatives of all the departments and agencies involved in fire protection in the country, expressing my appreciation for the important work you are doing to protect our natural environment from fires.
I invite you to renew our commitment to coordination and efficiency in the difficult work that awaits us this summer.
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 that must be preserved.
For this reason, and on the occasion of today's event, I appeal to all citizens of our country to avoid reckless actions and activities that are likely to cause a fire. With increased attention, seriousness, responsibility and constant vigilance from all of us, we can fully achieve the great goal of protecting our forests from destructive fires.
(Ephys/MS/NYAN)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
