The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Mr. Nikos Kougialis inaugurated today (Saturday, May 27, 2017) the inauguration of the Environmental Information and Education Center "Cape Greco". The ceremony began with a Blessing by the Most Venerable Metropolitan of Constantia-Famagusta Mr. Vassilios and a respected Priesthood.
In his greeting, Mr. Kougialis said that this Center is part of the actions taken by the state to adopt environmental policies that are based on the principles of sustainable development and encourage the protection, conservation and rational management of the environment. wealth of Cyprus.
He also added that the Environmental Center is a result of the effort made for the integration of our country in the global effort made for the protection of the Environment. "It is a project that will undoubtedly enrich and upgrade the tourism product not only of the region but also of Cyprus in general due to the uniqueness and quality content that characterizes it," said the Minister.
In his speech, the Mayor of Ayia Napa Mr. Giannis Karousos said that the Environmental Information and Education Center Kavo Greco is another reference point of Ayia Napa and the Province of Famagusta, which will contribute significantly to the upgrading of the National Forest Park of Cape Cresco. and informing / educating local and foreign visitors.
He added a project which "is fully in line with the strategy of the Municipality, this integrated tourist experience, in the context of which visitors should receive such experiences and memories so that upon their return to their homelands they get a little Ayia Napa." with them".
"We believe the same will happen with the Environmental Center where visitors in an empirical and experiential way will discover the uniqueness and incomparable beauties of the National Forest of Cape Greco and so upon returning to their countries they will take with them" a little Cape Greco ".
He also stated that the next goal of the Municipality is the creation of a Park of special interest in the forest of Agios Nikandros, which as he pointed out will be another reference point of environmental importance.
Finally, the Mayor of Ayia Napa did not fail to congratulate the Minister, who, as he said, managed in difficult times to find the financial resources and to implement this impressive project. The Department of Forests also congratulated, especially the Director Mr. Takis Tsintidis and expressed his gratitude for the excellent cooperation he has with the Municipality.
He also assured that the Municipality will support the Environmental Center and will promote it with all the means at its disposal both in Cyprus and abroad.
The Director of the Forest Department, Mr. Takis Tsintidis, in his greeting said that the operation of the Center will have beyond its main purposes direct positive effects on the protection and development of Cape Greco and will act as a stimulus for the continuous quality upgrade of the facilities and Park services.
To this end, he added, "we work closely with the Municipalities of Ayia Napa and Paralimni, where we have already agreed on the construction of four diving points to support diving tourism, the improvement of the road to the Sea Caves and more."
The Architect Mr. Marios Economidis spoke about the project itself, stating that the philosophy behind its design was the creation of an earthly building, with simple forms, that communicates with the textures, materials, colors of the area.
The full harmonization and integration of the building with the landscape noted "it was our main goal to finally be another natural extension of Cape Greco, minimizing the negative construction energy and aesthetic impact on the environment."
The event was adorned with three songs sung by the students of the Famagusta Music School under the direction and teaching of Mr. Spyros Spyros and then a guided tour of the Environmental Center.
Greeting of the Minister of Agriculture at the inauguration of the Environmental Information Center in the Cape Greco National Park
"It is with great pleasure that I am with you today for the inauguration of the Center for Environmental Information and Education, here in the National Forest Park of Cape Greco.
In recent years we have been anxiously watching the multiple and complex environmental problems perpetuate and threaten life on earth. The European Union, recognizing the seriousness of these problems, has integrated the environmental dimension into all its policies with the ultimate goal of Sustainable Development. That is, "a development that meets current needs without mortgaging the potential of future generations to meet their own needs."
The Center that we are launching today is part of the actions taken by the State for the adoption of these environmental policies, but at the same time it is a result of the effort made for the integration of Cyprus in the global effort made for the protection of the environment. This project is also the culmination of a long, arduous and persistent effort made by the Department of Forests over the last decade to finally achieve this impressive result.
The idea for the creation of the Center for Environmental Information and Education was born in 2006, when the need for information was identified in relation to the enormous environmental and ecological value of Cape Greco.
Following the announcement of a tender, the works for the construction of the Center began in April 2010 and were completed in July 2015, when its enrichment with exhibits began. The exhibits were completed just a month ago and so today the Center officially opens its gates to the public.
The building is the result of an architectural competition and has been designed by the Architectural Office of Economides and Akkelidou and has won the first prize at the State Architecture Awards, in 2016.
The philosophy behind its design was the creation of an earthly building, with simple forms, that communicates with the textures, materials, colors of the area. The complete harmonization and integration of the building with the landscape was a basic goal to finally be another natural extension of Cape Greco, minimizing the negative construction, energy and aesthetic effects on the environment.
Inside the Center are exhibits and include all the necessary infrastructure related to environmental information and education, with the main object of reference being the terrestrial and marine ecological characteristics of the Cape Greco peninsula. The budget for the implementation of the project amounted to almost 2 million euros and the funding came from the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 as well as from national resources.
The center that we are inaugurating today is the third in the series created by the Department of Forests and in it has been channeled all the experience and know-how gained so far from the construction of the previous two existing centers, in Troodos and Athalassa.
In addition, like the one in Athalassa, this center has been included in the Network of Environmental Education Centers of the Ministry of Education and Culture which are staffed, in addition to the staff of the Department of Forests, by teachers of Primary and Secondary General Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture, with training in Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development.
Dear friends,
The main objectives that were set as a basis for the design and creation of the Center were:
• The promotion of the natural value and the ecological role of the Cape Greco peninsula,
• The most effective management of the National Forest Park and the area "NATURA 2000" Cape Greco,
• Raising public awareness of the problems posed by the coexistence of developed societies with fragile natural ecosystems,
• The creation of another educational tool for primary and secondary school students.
At the same time, I would like to emphasize that this center can and should be a reference point of the National Forest Park of Cape Greco and free Famagusta. It is a project that will undoubtedly enrich and upgrade the tourist product not only of the region but also of Cyprus in general, due to the uniqueness and the quality content that characterizes it.
I am sure that the Environmental Information and Education Center of Cape Greco will be from now on an important attraction for thousands of Cypriots and foreign tourists visiting our island.
I am particularly pleased that another project of this value has been implemented with the support of this Government, which has repeatedly shown the sensitivity and seriousness with which it addresses all environmental issues. I would like to emphasize that we remain helpers and close supporters in all the efforts made for the protection and proper management of the natural environment.
As a Ministry and as a Government, we produce work and implement policies that are based on the principles of sustainable development and encourage the protection, conservation and rational management of the environmental wealth of Cyprus.
In closing, I would like to express my warm congratulations to the Department of Forestry which has worked hard to offer another quality project in the area. In addition, I would like to thank all the contributors who contributed to the implementation of this project, in particular the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and the Department of Geological Survey, whose contribution was invaluable. "
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