The Difference Between Developmental Models
The Case of Akamas
On our journeys exploring the island, we were simply intrigued by one of the most recommended spots in Cyprus by locals and visitors alike: the Akamas peninsula. Once we went there, we were stunned by the beauty of its wilderness, clear waters and untamed nature, easily overcoming all our expectations and breaching into our hearts. The attachment to such a place just comes natural: its views and the closeness to the environment can only leave a deep mark in one's memories. At first we thought we were witnessing the last unspoiled place in Cyprus, not yet touched by mass tourism and preserved as it rightly deserves. But we were soon proved wrong.
To give some context to the unlucky few who haven’t been there yet, Akamas is a promontory at the south-west edge of Cyprus. It has a mainly mountainous territory, and thanks to its relative inaccessibility, it has maintained a large diversity of flora and fauna and it’s recognized as an area of endemism with turtles coming to nest there, a status also confirmed by the European Union. This made Akamas one of the main attractions of the area with more than one million tourists visiting it every year. With the growth of tourism, Akamas is already being affected, with slow but deep changes taking place, leading to a gradual loss of its wilderness which might already be lost forever.
The entire area was poised to become a protected area as part of the European network Nature 2000. However, of the whole area proposed, only 50% was given the protected status by the Cypriot government. The protection of Natura 2000 status should follow the boundaries of the Akamas Important Bird Area (IBA), which includes the entire peninsula plus the Laona plateau but the area Cyprus has designated as Akamas Natura 2000 is much smaller. On top of that, and that is the saddest part of the story, the Cypriot government is now pushing ahead with the plan for an even smaller area of the designated Natura 2000 site called the Akamas State Forest area. The new planning proposals also include to “develop” all of Akamas outside the narrow State Forest area, effectively opening it up to mass tourism. If that would be implemented, Akamas would not become a wild and protected area anymore.
Intrigued and outraged by these findings, we dug up more and we found out that the conflict has been ongoing for at least 30 years. At first, in the 1990s, the struggle involved environmentalists groups asking for the peninsula to be recognized as a National Park. In 1997, local environmentalists protested against the British Forces in Cyprus who were using Akamas for military exercises, something that left a scar all the way to modern times with signs warning tourists to stay clear of military equipment. The confrontation increased in intensity after 2015 due to the Government issuing plans which called for the touristic development of the peninsula and the exploitation of natural commons to create “marinas, golf courses, quarries, large-scale developments with multiple uses and private camping sites” (recalimthesea.org). Decisions to “develop” and construct tourist facilities spurred protests from environmentalist groups and the local population alike, eventually forcing in January 2016 the Ministerial Council to issue a Decision, according to which private property would be excluded from the Akamas National Park. However, the original plan for Akamas was left unchanged.
The plans that have been promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment for the Akamas National Forest Park, as well as those promoted by the Ministry of Interior for the Akamas and Peyia Local Development Plans, “are not in line with the aim of its integrated, effective, and long-term protection, nor towards the sustainable development, prosperity, and empowerment of the local communities of the Akamas Peninsula” according to environmentalists opposing the plans. The pressure for booming tourism in Akamas has been very strong, coming from many actors such as developers, hotel associations, investment agencies, local mayors and village leaders but also from individuals who have inherited large parcels of land. The quads going around making noise and leaving a trail of dust for the benefits of those few walkers and the hordes of noisy tourists carried by large boats to the crystal waters of the Blue Lagoon are nothing but a taste of what will be of Akamas.
An additional concern for the peninsula is the attempt to institutionalise legal instruments for the privatisation of the sea, as announced by the Minister of the Interior. A bill was issued in 2014 establishing the right to declare as real estate part of the sea and coastline, which will allow the creation of private mooring stations in front of hotels without ensuring open access to coastal spaces. To make things worse, together with plans for building a hotel complex, golf course and luxurious facilities, there are concerns about the application of a permit for an open-pit quarry operation in Akamas. If these plans came into effect, they would have irreversible consequences and it would mean the end of Akamas as one of the few natural and pristine areas left in Cyprus, with destructive consequences for the endemic and unique flora and fauna of the peninsula. Together with biodiversity loss go air and water pollution, deforestation, loss of landscape and aesthetic degradation truly causing irreversible damage to the island of Cyprus and the East Mediterranean at large.
The “Save Akamas/Save Cyrpus Initiative”, is an initiative (started in?) that unites many groups and associations fighting for Akamas protection. They demand that the entire Akamas Natura 2000 Area become a National Park, essentially going in the opposite direction to the plan currently being implemented and sponsored by the government. Their fight hasn’t acquiesced in recent years, even launching a petition calling for the government to reconsider its plans and guarantee the protection and respect that the Akamas peninsula should be entitled to. You can sign the petition by clicking at this link. Moreover the beautiful scenery of Akamas and the recent history that took place can be admired in the movie “Akamas” (2006) by Panicos Chrysanthou.
As foreigners on the island and wanderers around Cyprus, we can’t help but consider ourselves tourists as well. And consequently, wonder about what is our impact on the places we visit and on the local communities who live there. Our steps, if we are not careful enough, will leave permanent footmarks where we tread on. Tourism is a valuable activity for both the tourist and the host, economically and culturally, but let’s not forget that nature, as well as people, deserve respect and appreciation. That’s why we need to reconsider how tourism has been developed so far, and think about it in a more sustainable way that would ensure respect for the environment and for local communities. Sustainable tourism here represents a valuable alternative that could conciliate economical, social and environmental needs. But then, why are governments at all levels in Cyprus failing to stand up to this challenge and respect Akamas and its inhabitants?
Links, Documents and Further Readings:
Agriculture Minister says Akamas national forest plan is on track. (2021). Retrieved 15 June 2021, from https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/agriculture-minister-says-akamas-national-forest-plan-is-on-track/
Akamas - Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 16 June 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akamas
Cyprus Mail. (2021). Akamas: soon to be wild no more | Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 15 June 2021, from https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/04/07/akamas-soon-to-be-wild-no-more/?fbclid=IwAR0Hu2xxJP73EiWyAEO7ALW1nvZ2qEskH7jnSMq8Y8CIgWJF9XXDTgU1l3s
Ioannides, D. (1995). A flawed implementation of sustainable tourism: the experience of Akamas, Cyprus. Tourism Management, 16(8), 583-592.
Save Akamas, Cyprus | EJAtlas. (2021). Retrieved 15 June 2021, from https://ejatlas.org/conflict/save-akamas
The Rape of Akamas. (2021). Retrieved 15 June 2021, from https://greekreporter.com/2016/07/26/the-rape-of-akamas/
The struggle goes on... what happened in 2016!. (2021). Retrieved 16 June 2021, from https://reclaimthesea.org/the-struggle-goes-on-what-happened-in-2016/