According to the CNA, the cabinet designated three specific areas in the Akamas peninsula, on the northwestern coast, as protected locations where no development will take place. All three areas are spots were protected species of turtles, indigenous to the Mediterranean, live and hatch their eggs.

"There will be mild and appropriate development, with respect and sensitivity to the environment, in the areas outside the state forest in Akamas," Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Costas Themistocleous said after Wednesday's cabinet meeting.

He said land owners within the state forest will be compensated or have their property exchanged with other state or forest land.

The cabinet decided to freeze the issue of new licence for safari and to review all existing ones, to exempt the Akamas peninsula from the annual Cyprus Rally, to move from the area all notices which were illegally put up and to spend 50,000 pounds to clean up the area.

The Council of Ministers also decided to prepare a reforestation programme and to restore back to its original state the area in Akamas where the British military have been carrying out maneouvres over (Britain has retained two military bases in Cyprus since the Republic was established in 1960 after gaining independence from British colonial rule).