This summer is predicted to be more difficult for dealing with forest fires, due to the dry winter, Charalambos Alexandrou, director of the Forestry Department, told the Parliamentary Environment Committee, adding that there are also shortages of personnel and firefighting equipment.< /p>
In his statements after the meeting of the Environment Committee, Mr. Alexandrou noted that, although significant progress has been made in recent years, we must constantly work to improve and strengthen the system.
This strengthening , he said, has been launched for 2024-2025 "so we are invited to’ this time period, with the shortages we have in both personnel and means to manage this situation».
The battle this year seems to be more difficult than last year, due to the fact that the winter this year was not so good. as last year, he added.
"We are certainly ready" to deal with fires, answered a related question. "We are working to raise this readiness to the highest possible degree and from May 1 when the high risk period begins to be fully prepared".
This year there will be 8 aircraft, together with the lease of services, plus the aircraft through Police, National Guard and the British Bases, said Mr. Alexandrou.
In addition, Mr. Alexandrou noted that a comprehensive approach to the issue of increasing penalties for fires is almost ready to be submitted to the Parliament. "A comprehensive amendment plan to both the Forestry Law and the Prevention of Fires in the Countryside will soon go to Parliament to increase the penalties and there are also proposals from deputies of the environment committee to see the ban on the burning of prunings, the granting of authority to its director Department of Forestry to carry out prevention projects within private land,' he noted.
The Deputy Chairman of the Environment Committee, AKEL Member of Parliament, Nikos Kettiros, noted that starting this year the Committee decided to look at the issue of fires proactively and not after a problem arises. Mr. Kettiros stated that various issues arise from the meeting, such as the serious understaffing raised by the director of the Forestry Department. "In case anything happens we will find it in front of us. The state should include this issue in its supplementary budgets, so that it ends, because we are not, literally, playing with fire.
In addition, he noted that a Coordinating Center should be created for the volunteers. , as there are many people who are interested and want to participate. This coordination center will have responsibility for areas that it will monitor or participate officially in case of fire extinguishing, but also will train volunteers to be qualified and able to participate in’ these businesses without risking.
The third issue raised before the Commission is that of vehicles. "The fleet of the Forestry Department is outdated," said the Deputy Chairman of the Commission, adding that the Director of the Forestry Department raised the issue of renewing the fleet. Mr. Kettiros said that it is many millions, "but with a fund that will renew two vehicles every year, the fleet of the Forestry Department will be constantly renewed".
DIKO Member of Parliament, Chrysanthos Savvidis, said that a thorough presentation was made by the Department of Forestry and "we saw a good cooperation between all the agencies, the Ministry of the Interior, the fire department, the forestry department, but gaps have also been identified".
He said that around 140 people are short for the Forest Department to function smoothly. He also said that "it is bad for the place that they take vehicles that have been withdrawn by the Bases, to be used in the fire service", referring to two vehicles that were given by the British Bases for free, after they were deemed unsuitable, while we use them today.
He said it was a big mistake to close the Forestry College. "We are making an effort now, together with TEPAK, to be able to re-operate the Forestry College under the roof of TEPAK, so that academic and professional staff can come out to support the needs of the forestry department.
The MP of DIPA, Michalis Giakoumi stated that "we listened very carefully to the Department of Forestry, which, among other things, referred to the problems arising due to understaffing, the general deficiencies and omissions as well as the intensification of the efforts required, with the aim of putting making available to its officials all the necessary ground, aerial or other means to immediately extinguish the fires”.
Mr. Giakoumis said that we must be prepared in view of the summer season, so as to protect the forests and our people. "Unfortunately, most of the time the human factor is the first cause of forest fires in our country. “Either by negligence or on purpose,” he added. "Therefore, all preventive measures should be immediately increased, all competent and co-competent agencies should be involved to protect the forest ecosystem and the environment," he said.
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