AN INNOVATIVE new Centre for Environmental Awareness and Education (CEAE) is set to open in 2012 in the National Forest Park of Cape Greco.
The aim of the centre is to portray all the elements of the terrain and surrounding marine environment of the park, through various exhibits and talks.
“The centre is important firstly for informing and sensitising the public to the need to protect the environment, especially in the area where the centre will be. Secondly the education of students will be an important aspect,” said Senior Forestry officer Takis Tsintides. “Another advantage of the Cape Greco centre, although this is not its main aim, is that it will enrich the tourist attractions, giving people something else to do somewhere where there is currently only sun, sea and clubs.”
The location of the centre was chosen after careful consideration and will be near the crossing of the old Ayia Napa – Konnos road and the roads towards the church of Agion Anagyron.
Building contracts were signed earlier this year by the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, and construction began in April. The CEAE will have a total area of 500 square metres and will include: a reception hall, a projector and lecture hall, an exhibition space, an aquarium housing the fish of the local Cape Greco, a hall for educating students, a small refreshment room and other areas.
Exhibits will include posters, samples and audiovisual explanations of the flora, ecospots, geology, history and meterology of the area. The morphology of the region will also be on display using multimedia along with an aquarium fed directly with sea water via a pump.
Other exhibits to entice nature lovers include an underwater camera which will project live images from the seabed, as well as a short film on the history, importance and the dangers threatening the area.
The project has a budget of €1.6 million which will be covered partly by the Programme for Rural Development 2007-2013 and partly from government funds.
The new centre is one of six included in the Education Ministry’s strategy for environmental education, two of which are already running in Troodos and Athalassa. It will be run by staff with specialist training.
After completion in 2012, the centre is expected to host a range of visitors apart from students, including locals and tourists.
