Exness Donates Fire-Detecting Drones to Protect Cyprus Forests

Multi-asset broker Exness, together with the Department of Forests, announced the second phase of its initiative to address the escalating issue of wildfires in Cyprus: the donation of three specialized fire-detecting drones (unmanned aerial systems).

The announcement was made during a press conference that took place on November 10th, where key attendees and Cyprus media were informed that two drones are already in operation, with a third expected by early 2024.

This contribution was part of Exness’ €300,000 pledge to strengthen the Department of Forests firefighting capability and enhance early wildfire detection.

The drone technology, developed specifically by the Cyprus Institute’s Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory to fit the needs of the Department of Forests, is tailored for Cyprus’ terrain and will benefit the entire country’s natural preservation. In addition to the equipment donation, Exness will be sponsoring three pilots to operate the drones for a period of two years.

Exness has outlined a roadmap for its €300,000 pledge, to accelerate its efforts against the wildfire issue the island has been facing, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating fires of 2021 in Arakapas village. The initial phase included the donation of three firetrucks to the Department of Forests, a pick-up truck with a water pump to the local community of Eptagonia, and tree-planting events in the affected areas. The multi-phase donation to the Department of Forests has so far exceeded €600,0000, which is more than double than the initially committed amount.

Martin Thorvaldsson, Exness Head of Community, remarked, “The growing wildfire issue has intensified over the recent years. Through our continued contributions, we have made noteworthy progress. Our drone donation equips the Department of Forests with technical resources to tackle the issue at its core. With this new technology, detecting wildfires and sending an alarm of the exact location will become the new standard. Paired with the first phase of our donation last year, we are reducing response times and optimizing firefighting operations. We remain committed to our continued partnership with the Department of Forests and the Cyprus Institute to further develop an intelligent and effective model for protecting our forests and nature,” he concluded.

Prof Jean Sciare, Director of the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center and Head of the Unmanned Systems Research Laboratory at the Cyprus Institute of Technology, commented “Today, marks a very important milestone in our collaboration with the Department of Forests and Exness and our joint efforts to better monitor and safeguard Cyprus’ forests. The state-of-the-art drone technology we developed is tailor-made, to ensure the endurance and flexibility needed to perform in the challenging forest environment. At The Cyprus Institute, we remain committed to continuing to support the Department of Forests in the fight against wildfires, through the provision of advanced technology solutions, and training and to help accelerate their wide-spread adoption across Cyprus.”