Cyprus Environmental Movement calls for restrictions on solar park locations

The Environmental Movement of Cyprus has urged the government to halt the uncontrolled placement of solar photovoltaic parks on fertile agricultural and forested lands. The organization claims that current practices damage biodiversity and the island's natural environment. In its statement, the group accused the government of allowing institutionalized corruption and conflicts of interest to influence project approvals. Specific criticism was directed at a solar project by the Church in a forested area of Flasou, which the movement labeled scandalous. The movement also argued that the term agrovoltaics is being used as a pretext to install large commercial farms on productive land. They demanded strict spatial planning limits and the prioritization of degraded land or rooftops for renewable energy. Additionally, the group called for the protection of Natura 2000 areas and high-value farmland. These demands follow concerns over the allocation of state-owned land for commercial energy projects.