Free workshop on the future of Akamas at the Inia Lara Turtle Museum

The Inia Lara Turtle Museum in Inia, Paphos, invites you to a free workshop entitled “Akamas in Action” on Saturday 8 February . The focus will be on the ecological and cultural importance of the Akamas region and its future development.

The workshop aims to engage the public and present innovative methods for landscape assessment, with a focus on conservation and sustainable development, supported by modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and geoinformatics .

The Akamas Peninsula is one of the most ecologically valuable regions in Cyprus. It is characterized by pristine beaches, dense forests, impressive gorges and a unique flora and fauna. Protected species such as bats, sea turtles and birds of prey are native here.

The region covers approximately 17,000 hectares , of which 7,000 hectares are designated as state forest , while the remaining areas are privately owned or state-owned land.

Environmental protection vs. infrastructure plans

Akamas keeps making headlines as environmental organizations accuse the authorities of environmental violations . They complain that not all measures comply with the legally binding assessment report that was due to be submitted for the UNESCO World Heritage site in 2022.

The government's decision to finally stop the controversial road construction projects in the pristine region caused a particular stir. Construction work had already been suspended in December 2023 until measures to reduce the ecological footprint have been implemented. Environmental activists see this as an opportunity to rethink the framework of the project.

In September 2023, work began on upgrading 13.4 kilometers of roads to facilitate access for visitors and tourism in Akamas National Park. But just a few months later, in November 2023 , the NGO Terra Cypria documented violations of the agreed conditions, supported by photographic evidence.

These included:

The road construction work, which has now been halted, was part of the first phase of the Akamas Sustainable Development Plan. Further measures are planned in the following phases, including the construction of information points and rest areas for visitors.

challenges for the future

Akamas continues to be under pressure from various human activities. Garbage problems, increasing development and mass tourism - especially off-road vehicle tours - impair the natural experience and could damage the landscape in the long term.

The “Akamas in Action” workshop therefore aims to help highlight the most pressing environmental problems and raise awareness of sustainable solutions.

He is part of the European research project "Topio" , which examines the ecological quality of landscapes and sees Akamas as a "living laboratory" . The aim is to develop methods to protect the region in the long term.

Various community activities are planned as part of the project to actively involve both locals and visitors. These include guided nature walks, workshops and research initiatives . International scientists will also be involved.

In April 2025, a research team from Sapienza University of Rome will travel to Akamas, followed by scientists from Lisbon in June . The project will also compare Akamas with other case study areas in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium to gain insights into the protection of natural landscapes across Europe.

Technology as a key to landscape analysis

The experts will use innovative technologies to analyze and map different landscape types. Two methods will be used:

One of the project's key innovations is the development of "digital twins" . These highly detailed virtual models of the landscapes studied enable effective monitoring and better decision-making for environmental protection.

event details

The workshop “Akamas in Action” will take place on February 8th from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Inia-Lara Turtle Museum . In addition to specialist lectures on the ecological and cultural significance of Akamas and the goals of the Topio project, there will be interactive group discussions. At the end, participants can take part in a guided museum tour .



Participation is free, optional registration is possible here.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topio.project/
Website: http://topioproject.eu/








Source: Editorial staff