As we reported earlier1, after appeal of 200 nature conservationists2, on July 12, 2016 the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine hosted the interdepartmental meeting devoted to unauthorized use by the Ukrainian Army of the territory of the National Park “Oleshkivski sands.” As a result of the discussion the participants found common ground and have agreed to:
1. On July 20, 2016 there will be held a visiting meeting in the Oleshkivski sands to find a new location for the troops to move from the national park “Oleshkivski sands.”
2. International charitable organziation “Environment-People-Law” is preparing proposals regarding functioning of the environmental unit to be established within the structure of the future polygon.
3. Participants consider it appropriate to expand the boundaries of the national park “Oleshkivski sands” for implementation of the Regional Development Strategy of Ukraine.
Today, on July 20th, there was held a visiting meeting in the national natural park “Oleshkivski Sands”, where representatives of the Ministry of Defense, State Forestry Agency, Kherson Regional State Administration and environmental scientists explored the territory proposed for the polygon. All the parties confirmed their readiness to move the troops from the national natural park “Oleshkivski sands” to another area where their location will be more convenient for training and will not cause harm to the national park.
Oleksiy Vasyliuk, EPL environmental scientist
Email: office@epl.org.ua; vasyliuk@gmail.com
tel.: (032) 225 – 76 – 82; 097 – 1000 – 473
1 https://www.facebook.com/vasyliuk.oleksij/posts/994674967294541
2 https://www.facebook.com/pechenegy/photos/a.355039627852154.77991.251905824832202/1110235355665907/?type=3&theater
