The Forestry Department in Cyprus is currently facing significant criticism following a comprehensive audit report. This report has highlighted serious deficiencies in how state forest lands are managed. The audit, covering practices from 2018 to 2024, revealed numerous irregularities concerning lease expansions and a substantial €1.3 million in uncollected revenue. These findings raise considerable questions about oversight, environmental protection, and the department's financial integrity.
Auditor General Andreas Papaconstantinou described the findings as "deeply concerning," stressing the urgent need for fundamental changes to the department's operational procedures. The report details instances where state forest land leases were expanded without proper justification or adherence to established protocols. In a notable case involving an adventure park, a lease was ultimately approved for a plot double the initially requested size. This significant expansion was reportedly sanctioned by the Cabinet, yet the leaseholder did not formally apply for the increased area until 2023, eight years after the initial lease was granted. Furthermore, the leaseholder had failed to commence crucial construction obligations, a dereliction of duty that the department appeared to have largely overlooked.
The audit also examined sensitive ecological areas, including Macheras National Forest Park, a designated Natura 2000 site. Here, a lease was granted to an association without adequate consideration for the protected Cypriot grass snake, a species known to inhabit the area. Alarmingly, the department had previously acknowledged the snake's presence, yet the environmental report submitted by the lessee omitted any mention of this vulnerable wildlife. This omission indicates a critical failure in environmental impact assessments and the enforcement of conservation measures, particularly within protected zones.
Beyond procedural and environmental shortcomings, the financial repercussions of these management failures are substantial. As of December 2023, over €1.3 million in revenue remained outstanding, with approximately €1 million directly linked to state forest land leases. This uncollected revenue represents a direct loss to public funds and raises concerns about the department's effectiveness in financial management and revenue collection. The audit also revisited recommendations from a 2017 review, finding that many prior concerns had not been adequately addressed, suggesting a pattern of inaction within the department. The Audit Office concluded by emphasizing the need for stronger leasing procedures, environmental compliance, supervision, and financial management, along with transparent allocation processes for state forest land. The department acknowledged a lack of documentation explaining the lease expansion, admitting, "There are no minutes explaining why the area doubled."