Svydovets is one of the most massive and elevated mountain ranges of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Covered with alpine meadows and primeval forests on the slopes, its relief is known for cirques and lakes with snowdrops around them. This is one of the most valuable natural areas, a place of growth of Red List Edelweiss, a habitat of wild animals, part of the eco-network of the Carpathian region.
However, some representatives of business have a completely different vision of this territory. According to the project published in the Environmental Impact Assessment Register, on Svydovets territory there are plans to construct 23 ski lifts, 230 km of ski tracks,120 restaurants, 60 hotels, 390 cottages (the housing infrastructure to accomodate 18,000 people daily), 17 rental points, 10 shopping centers, as well as entertainment facilities, banks, 3 fitness centers, medical facilities, 5 multi-story parking lots for 6,000 cars. The complex is designed to accommodate 22,000 people at the same time. Arrangement of reservoirs, retaining dams at water intakes, retaining walls along the channels of small rivers and streams, etc. is foreseen.
The struggle to protect Svydovets has been going on for 7 years. However, the threat of this ridge being destroyed arose once again.
EPL together with the “Danube-Carpathian Programme“ NGO, Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group”, World Wildlife Fund Ukraine (WWFUkraine) submitted a petition to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine regarding creation of a nature reserve of national significance “Free Svydovets”.
Tha activists also created a petition to the President of Ukraine. We ask you to join in signing and supporting the creation of a nature conservation area – a reserve of national significance on the territory of the Svydovets mountain massif – and inclusion of its territory in the nature reserve fund of Ukraine https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/185650 .
