The Environmental Movement of Cyprus has called for measures to halt what it describes as the “uncontrolled placement” of solar photovoltaic parks on agricultural and forest land, saying the practice is damaging the island’s natural environment.
The organisation also accused the government of allowing conflicts of interest and corruption to be “institutionalised to a large degree” in Cyprus, saying the situation raises legitimate public questions about the role and responsibilities of those in power.
In a statement, the group said the destruction of forests, the use of fertile or high-productivity agricultural land, and the allocation of state-owned land and forests for commercial renewable energy projects were “unacceptable practices,” particularly when suitable alternatives exist on barren land or existing buildings.
The movement described as “incomprehensible” the policy of allocating large areas of state-owned agricultural and forest land for commercial solar farm construction. It described the construction of a solar park by the Church in a forested area in Flasou as “scandalous.”
The organisation also condemned what it called the systematic use of the term “agrovoltaics” as a pretext for installing large solar farms on agricultural land.
The statement called for clear spatial planning limits and strict oversight of actual agricultural land use.
It also demanded protection of high natural-value farmland, Natura areas and biodiversity, and said priority should be given to degraded or non-productive land for any future solar development.
(information from CNA)
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