Cyprus has serious environmental problems. These include not enough water, very hot weather, and illegal dumping of trash. The European Union is taking legal action against Cyprus. This is because the country is not following EU environmental rules. Some environmental officials are also breaking the law. This makes the situation worse.
Last year was very difficult for Cyprus. Temperatures went over 45 degrees Celsius. This caused big forest fires, especially near Limassol. Other places had floods after heavy rain. These extreme weather events show that the climate is changing. Illegal dumping of waste is also a big problem. A report found over 500 hidden rubbish sites in one area.
The European Commission has started ten legal cases against Cyprus. These cases show that Cyprus is not following environmental rules well. The island still has a water shortage. This affects farming and the water people drink. The natural areas, like Akamas, are also in danger. Plastic waste on beaches shows how bad the environment is.
Some people working for the Department of Forests are involved in illegal activities. Recently, some hares were hunted illegally. A forestry official was caught hunting in a forbidden area. His car was hidden near hunting spots. This shows he was trying to hide what he was doing. These employees are using their jobs to hunt illegally. This is making people lose trust in the government.
These environmental issues and government problems have serious results. Water shortages harm farming and the population. Forest fires destroy nature. The EU is trying to help Cyprus follow the rules. However, when government employees break the law, it is hard to fix the environment. The authorities are worried about these problems.