Despite mounting legal orders, fines, and public outcry, construction of a wind farm in the protected Kellia State Forest and Koshi-Pallourokampos Special Protection Area near Larnaca continues unabated.

>>Wind Farm in Natura 2000 Area Faces Legal Challenges as Authorities Demand Action<<

Environmental organizations BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria, in a newly issued joint press release, highlight ongoing violations and demand immediate cessation of all activities.

The contested wind farm site lies within the Natura 2000 network, a designation aimed at safeguarding critical habitats and bird species. The project's continuation in direct defiance of environmental and urban planning terms has triggered significant legal and environmental concerns.

According to BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria, construction activities breach several legally binding conditions, including:

• Failure to protect avifauna: The area hosts important bird species protected under Natura 2000 regulations, yet no measures have been implemented to mitigate the impact on wildlife.

• Landscape degradation and habitat loss: Ongoing construction has caused significant alteration of the local environment, including the destruction of critical habitats.

• Improper use of infrastructure: Violations extend to the use of road networks for transporting turbines and plans for expanding the overhead medium-voltage grid, further threatening the integrity of the protected area.

Environmental watchdogs argue that these breaches demonstrate not only the developer’s systematic non-compliance but also the authorities' apparent tolerance, which has enabled continued harm to the site.

Despite inspections and fines issued by the relevant authorities—€500 from the Department of Forests and €2,000 from the Game and Fauna Service—the construction persists. BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria emphasize that these penalties are insufficient to deter further violations.

The defiance showcased by the project raises broader concerns about the enforcement of environmental laws in Cyprus. Environmental groups argue that unless stricter penalties and enforcement mechanisms are implemented, protected areas will continue to face degradation from unchecked development.

“The continuation of such activities undermines both our environmental laws and the purpose of the Natura 2000 network,” BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria stated, urging immediate government intervention.