The Environmental Movement of Cyprus has called for urgent measures to stop the “uncontrolled placement” of solar photovoltaic parks on agricultural and forest land. The organisation says the practice damages the island’s natural environment and risks biodiversity.
The movement also accused the government of allowing conflicts of interest and corruption to become “institutionalised to a large degree,” raising public questions about the responsibilities of those in power.
Concerns over land use and forests
In its statement, the group highlighted the destruction of forests, the use of fertile or high-productivity agricultural land, and the allocation of state-owned land for commercial renewable energy projects. It described these practices as “unacceptable,” particularly when suitable alternatives exist on barren land or rooftops.
The movement called the policy of allocating large areas of state-owned agricultural and forest land for solar parks “incomprehensible” and described a solar project by the Church in a forested area in Flasou as “scandalous.”
Criticism of agrovoltaics label
The Environmental Movement also criticised the systematic use of the term “agrovoltaics” as a pretext for installing large solar farms on productive agricultural land.
Calls for planning and protection measures
The organisation urged clear spatial planning limits and strict oversight of actual agricultural land use. It also demanded protection of farmland with high natural value, Natura areas, and biodiversity. The group said future solar development should prioritise degraded or non-productive land.
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