Cyprus restarts the Akamas development project with revised environmental plan

Cyprus has relaunched the Akamas peninsula development project following an August 2025 Environmental Authority Compliance Report and subsequent Cabinet decisions. The revised strategy aims to minimize human intervention and environmental impact by reducing road widths and the number of visitor hubs. A 51-kilometer road improvement program is divided into three phases, starting with Phase A, which covers 9.9 kilometers in the Aspros Potamos–Toxeftra–Lara and Avakas areas. Construction on Phase A is scheduled to begin in the final quarter of 2026 with a completion target of late 2027. Phase B encompasses 25.9 kilometers of forest roads, with studies set for late 2026 and completion projected for 2028. Phase C involves 25.7 kilometers of roadwork within the state forest. Since May 11, 2026, a force of 16 park rangers has been deployed to the area and is currently undergoing training. The project addresses long-standing issues, including unregulated vehicle traffic, noise, fire protection, and ecosystem degradation.