Το μηνιαίο περιοδικό του Κυπριακού Ιδρύματος Προστασίας του Περιβάλλοντος

Μήνυμα από την Εκτελεστικό Διευθυντή του Ιδρύματοs Δρ. Άρτεμις Γιορδαμλή

Ευχές σε όλους για καλό φθινόπωρο, μετά από αυτό το τραγικό, φλεγόμενο καλοκαίρι που ζήσαμε στην Κύπρο και Ελλάδα. Από τον Σαϊττά μέχρι τον Αμίαντο και το Πελένδρι, καμένα δάση, κι η ίδια ιστορία επαναλήφθηκε στην Καλαβασό καθώς και στην άλλη άκρη της Κύπρου: στην Πόλη, στην Κρήτου Τέρρα και στον Ακάμα.  Το φοβερό σ' αυτές τις καταστροφές είναι ότι δεν οφείλονταν σε μια απρονοησία, όπως το πεταμένο τσιγάρο, αλλά σε εγκληματικές αμέλειες ή και σε σκόπιμες ενέργειες.

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On the Brighter Side.
By Anna Hassapi

It's been an eventful summer, and one that most of us have come to associate with images of fire and destruction on out TV screens. As I watched the horrific images of the fire, I kept remembering the words of my Geography professor at university in the US; he took us on a field trip to the Everglades National Park in Florida and kept talking about how the ecosystem there is sustained by surface fires that periodically break out. He talked about how fire can be "helpful" and not just "harmful", which at the time seemed quite strange to me- a virtual Biology-illiterate.
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Comment on the Saittas Fire by One of the Victims
Interview given by Mr. Adrian Akers Douglas

Terra Cypria Board member Adrian Akers-Douglas was among the homeowners whose property has been destroyed by the fire. "Little or no attempt was made to intervene to protect these properties," he said. Akers-Douglas said he had no doubts regarding "the capability, dedication, and the bravery of those professionals and volunteers who were taking part in the operation" but had "grave reservations" about the way they were organised. "It seems incredible that camera crews could get to the buildings and film them burning, but that there was no attempt being made to prevent the blaze from reaching those properties in the first place.read more...

When Saving Olive Trees Causes Trouble with the Law.
By Anna Hassapi

Among the victims of the real estate boom in the occupied north of Cyprus that began in 2004, and continues at full speed, has been the area's ecology. Thousands of trees are getting chopped down to clear space for the construction of luxury houses and the very essence of our island's beauty is sacrificed for fast profit-making. Unchecked tourism 'development' has already caused the destruction of natural ecology south of the green line. Amidst all this, one man's efforts at saving ancient olive trees, threatened by construction work, have shown that some people still actively pursue values other than cash. Unfortunately, these values have come at price.read more/ διαβάστε στα ελληνικά...

The Akamas Debacle: The Sustainable Administration Of Our Natural Wealth.
By Artemis Yiordamli

Much has been written in the press lately on the Akamas Development Plan, the local objections to the Plan's provisions and the "behind the scenes" bargaining on the fate of Akamas. The region is one of the last places on our island to have survived the grip of "Cyprus-style development" aka unchecked destruction followed by unchecked construction. Akamas is a national treasure not only because of its rich biodiversity, but also for its cultural and landscape value; its picturesque villages, its people and its varied views.
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