Reactions to the integration of forest protection into the Ministry of Interior

The recent decision of the Council of Ministers to integrate all firefighting forces into the Ministry of Interior has sparked strong reactions. A retired forester with many years of experience in the Department of Forests expresses his concerns about the division of the Department of Forests into two independent departments.

According to him, this division will create problems, especially in the area of forest fire protection. He points out that the President's advisor who proposed the change seems to be unaware of the structure and role of the Department of Forests, as well as the importance of the forest ecosystem.

The forester refers to the experience of Greece, where the separation of forest firefighting from forest management has led to high rates of burnt areas. In contrast, Cyprus, with a unified forest protection body, has achieved better results.

He emphasizes that the Department of Forests has a well-structured service with staff who have in-depth knowledge of forest ecosystems and are able to effectively deal with fires. He warns that any separation will lead to an increase in burnt areas and calls on the members of Parliament not to accept the separation.

In closing, he refers to a study by Dr. Gavriil Xanthopoulos regarding fire management in the Cypriot countryside.