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The Cyprus Forestry College welcomed 20 students Monday as it reopened for the first time in almost 10 years, marking what officials called a milestone for forestry education on the island.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said the relaunch restores a training ground that has prepared generations of forestry professionals since its founding in 1951. The college, she noted, has been formally recognized as a higher education institution with an accredited curriculum designed to match modern environmental needs and European standards.
“This step secures the college’s future,” Panayiotou said, citing reforms that include new regulations approved by Parliament, expanded staffing, upgraded firefighting equipment and stronger laws against arson. She also pointed to increased investment in prevention measures such as fuel management, controlled burns and managed grazing.
The new program offers a three-year Higher Diploma in Forestry, accredited by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education. Classes are taught in Greek and include both classroom and field training, along with modern tools such as geographic information systems and remote sensing.
College director Andreas Mavroyiakoumos said students will study ecology, silviculture, nursery management and fire protection while learning techniques for sustainable forest management and land restoration. Graduates will be qualified to work in the Department of Forests, local government, private industry, ecotourism or in climate change research projects.
