State officials and ecologists are concerned over the increased fire hazard as wild vegetation has made an unprecedented appearance covering large areas of Cyprus.
Prolonged heavy rainfall and lower than usual temperatures are fertile ground for the growth and spread of wild vegetation which come the dry season will turn into biomass easy to burn, making it easier for fires to spread.
Environmentalists are warning the competent authorities to take action and clear fields within cities and rural areas.
Municipalities and local councils are responsible for clearing weeds in inhabited areas, whereas the Forest Department is in charge of rural areas not covered by the local authorities.
Talking to the Financial Mirror, Cyprus Green Party MP Charalampos Theopemptou, said that the increased vegetation has indeed increased the fire hazard significantly and authorities should be on their toes.
He also called on the government to supervise the entire clearing of weeds, in an effort to prevent fire disasters that Cyprus lived through a few years back.
After a Cabinet meeting held last week, Klelia Vasiliou, Acting Spokesperson for the government, said that due to the heavy rainfall, an increase of wild vegetation has been recorded.
She noted that President Nicos Anastasiades has given clear instructions to the ministries involved to facilitate all clearing mechanisms in order to minimise the fire hazard caused by wild vegetation.
She said that “the President appealed to all relevant municipalities and communities, but also to those who in any way can play a role as we all need to pay a great deal of attention to the matter”.
Vasiliou said that the President also spoke about preventive measures that must be taken “as we are headed for a difficult summer in terms of natural threats and to be ready".
Commenting on the matter, a Forestry Department source, said that the department is concerned as the fire risk will be higher this summer due to the high volume of wild vegetation.
“The biggest problem is located in areas where small communities are adjacent to forest areas. The local authorities should take action as soon as possible to clear the area, minimizing the fire hazard,” said the source.
He said that although some local authorities have already started clearing, they are faced with the problem that heavy rainfall persists, which means that more wild vegetation will spring up.
“As we are witnessing a prolonged period of heavy rainfall, this means that the window between the end of the rainy season and the period when temperatures rise, drying up the vegetation, is shorter. Authorities will need to move fast.”
The Forestry official said that the Department is already taking action and it will increase efforts once the rainy season is over.
The source urged the government and political parties to put an end to budget cuts for the department, which, he said, are putting our forests and people’s lives at risk.
“Yet another high-risk season finds our department with a shortage of staff and with key positions being vacant, while our equipment is not up to standard,” warned the source.
