The Environmental Platform staged a protest and gave a press statement in front of the ministry, blaming the indifferent attitude of the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the failure of their efforts to solve the “pine processionary moth”* problem, Yeniduzen reports.
Representatives from the Biologists Association, KEMA Foundation, Union of Doctors, Chamber of Forest Engineers, Green Peace Movement, and Lefke Environmental and Promotion Association participated.
Dr. Cemal Mert from the Union of Doctors criticised Minister for Agriculture Hüseyin Çavuş for not showing interest in the joint declaration draft prepared by the Forestry Department and the Environmental Platform regarding the integrated combat programme against the pine processionary moth. Mert stated that if the tender is not concluded in August and aerial spraying does not start in September, this year’s efforts will fail and the pest will spread to Southern Cyprus. He urged Minister Çavuş to pay attention to the issue.
Aerial intervention is necessary
Mehmet Davulcu, Secretary-General of the KEMA Foundation, read a joint statement from environmental organisations, highlighting that the pest causes mass deaths in trees and health problems in humans. He noted that the fight against the pine processionary moth continued successfully until 2020 but was disrupted by indifference and wrong decisions thereafter. He stressed that biological aerial combat is the only effective method now and criticised the government minister for not forming the promised committee to address the issue.
Hasan Sarpten, General Secretary of the Cyprus Turkish Biologists Nature Research and Conservation Association, noted that the pine processionary moths are currently underground and will re-emerge at the end of the summer. He mentioned that the protocol prepared in April, which was not implemented, envisaged completing the tender in July. Sarpten emphasised that Minister Çavuş shelved the protocol at the signing stage, causing two years to be lost in the fight against the moth, and stressed they cannot afford to lose a third year. He added that they had received information that the minister would meet with them and promised to inform the public of any developments.
*The population of the pine processionary moth has increased by 250 percent, the Cyprus Foundation for Combating Erosion, Afforestation and Protection of Natural Assets (KEMA) said this January.
The moth is widespread over the Mediterranean and can cause widespread damage to pine trees, and red pines in particular. Human contact with the toxic hair of the caterpillars can cause a number of health problems to both adults and children. They cause skin and scalp rashes, major eye problems, allergic reaction and on occasion, apoplectic shock. They are also harmful to animals.
