Cyprus authorities are investigating the former head of the Department of Forests over allegations he exceeded a logging permit on his private Troodos plot, which falls entirely within a protected Natura 2000 zone.
The case centres on Charalambos Alexandrou, who until recently directed the department that issued the permit. An inspection by the Game and Fauna Service yesterday revealed more trees were cut than the five black pines authorised under a permit for agricultural thinning.
The incident occurred on Monday, January 19, between Pedoulas and Prodromos. According to testimonies and visual material published yesterday on Offsite, two Department of Forests service vehicles were found at the scene during the logging work.
The plot lies entirely within the Troodos National Forest Park, designated as both a Special Conservation Zone and Special Protection Zone under the Natura 2000 network. It also borders state forest land.
Under legislation, the Environment Department and Game and Fauna Service should have been consulted before any logging permit was issued, as co-competent authorities for managing Natura 2000 areas. Neither department was informed, and no environmental screening was conducted.
The five trees covered by the permit were black pines, a strictly protected species that forms a priority natural habitat type classified as sub-Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines.
Current Department of Forests Director Savvas Iezekiel confirmed the permit was issued for five trees to thin an agricultural plot. He said no environmental study was requested because the plot is private land in an agricultural zone and the work didn’t involve a land use change.
Iezekiel said he has requested a logging report from the Troodos Regional Forestry Officer to establish the exact number of trees cut. “If anything illegal emerges, responsibilities will be assigned,” he said.
He noted the case appears to have a personal dimension, with Alexandrou involved in a dispute with a neighbour over a retaining wall. The neighbour made the complaint using security camera footage.
The Environment Department said it wasn’t informed about the case and therefore didn’t issue environmental approval. The Game and Fauna Service was also not consulted by the Department of Forests.
Alexandrou, as an expert in the procedures, is now called to explain whether the provisions of the law he served for years were followed.
The Environment Department, Department of Forests and Game and Fauna Service are continuing their investigation. A report from the departments is expected to be placed before the Director General of the Environment Directorate General to determine next steps.