The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment has announced the continuation of the compensatory measure of financial support for landowners in the Akamas region for a second year.
Measure 1, which was first implemented in 2024, as a compensation for the Akamas Local Plan, aiming to protect the natural environment and promote sustainable development, is being implemented again, with the Ministry announcing the start of the submission of applications from 1 October to 31 October, 2025.
According to the announcement, for 2025, the application submission process will continue through the electronic platform www.support-akamas.com and concerns both natural and legal persons (companies) interested in participating.
The annual subsidy can reach up to €6,600 per year per beneficiary, with a total budget of €25 million for the period 2024 - 2028. After the end of the five-year period, the measure will be reviewed, taking into account the performance and benefits resulting from the additional socio-economic measures already launched to further strengthen the region, it added.
"Measure 1 provides annual financial support to landowners through a hectare subsidy as a compensatory measure of the Akamas Local Plan. The aim is to reward owners who maintain their plots in a natural state, contributing to the preservation of the landscape and the protection of the unique biodiversity of the area, ensuring a sustainable and environmentally balanced future for Akamas," it states.
According to the Ministry, the measure is addressed to natural and legal persons who own plots of private land within the boundaries of the Akamas Local Plan, with areas that fall within urban protection zones, as well as agricultural and livestock zones, which in total amount to around 93,460 decares.
Owners who will be included in Measure 1 must meet eligibility requirements and comply with the obligations relating to maintaining their property in its existing physical condition.
Specifically, if the property already has agricultural activity, this can continue normally. If the plot is idle, its natural vegetation must be maintained, without interventions that will disrupt the landscape, promoting the protection of habitats, species and ecosystem services.
It is noted that plots with agricultural activity will be able to continue to participate in the hectare plans of the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAPO) and be subsidised by the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027. Therefore, existing users will not need to change their farming practices.
Owners are not allowed to fence the plot or intervene in any way that would alter its natural condition. Plots with illegal developments or activities are excluded from the subsidy, ensuring that the aid is only directed to plots that contribute substantially to the protection of the landscape and biodiversity.
The Ministry states that the application for financial assistance should be submitted only electronically by the landowner himself at the website www.support-akamas.com. A prerequisite for completing the application is the possession of an identified CYlogin account (formerly Ariadne).
For more information regarding the submission of an application, interested parties can contact the support line 22408952 or via email at support-akamas@moa.gov.cy
(Source: InBusinessNews)
