With a motor grader through the green heart of the Carpathians or how “green” energy destroys the national treasure – the Borzhava mountain meadow

To: the President of Ukraine

Minister for Environmental Protection

and Natural Resources of Ukraine

the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

With a motor grader through the green heart of the Carpathians or how “green” energy destroys the national treasure – the Borzhava mountain meadow

The appeal for protection of the Carpathian ridge with an international nature conservation status – the Borzhava mountain meadow – from a wind power plant being constructed on it.

The preparatory works, in particular the laying of a dirt road for construction of a wind power plant, are already in progress on the territory of the Borzhava mountain meadow, which has already caused destruction of significant fragments of high-altitude grass and soil cover as well as surface erosion processes.

The contruction project envisages installation of foundations with a diameter of up to 18 meters and a depth of 4 meters for 34 wind turbines, as well as access roads, underground power lines and a power transmission substation.

Further implementation of the project will lead to much more extensive destruction and adverse consequences such as degradation and loss of habitats for rare species of animals and plants. Construction of wind turbines envisages application of heavy equipment and excavators to build pits for the foundations. Due to a significant number of days with adverse weather conditions, there will be an additional impact and risk of increased erosion processes. The areas of location of wind turbines cover relatively small territories but transportation of large-sized spare parts, placement of construction equipment and temporary storage of construction materials involve much larger territories than those needed only for turbines. This leads to large-scale destruction of the until recently undisturbed landscapes and natural territories. Construction of wind power plants in the mountains implies construction of special roads for delivery of integral parts for wind turbines.

When developing the environmental impact assessment report, the developers deliberately underestimated the impact on natural ecosystems and provided inaccurate information regarding potential destruction of rare species and biotopes on the Borzhava mountain meadow¹.

The road paving on the Borzhava mountain meadow, October 2023

1. Value of the Borzhava mountain meadow

The Borzhava mountain meadow is a mountain massif on the Polonyna Ridge in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The length of the massif is about 30 km, the maximum height is 1681 m (Mountain Stij). It is a nature conservation area of international importance, an object of the European Emerald Network approved by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention. It is part of the environmental network of the Ukrainian Carpathians. In this territory, scientists discovered 94 species of birds, including 8 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 9 species of bats, 21 species of vascular plants listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, and 22 species of invertebrates. The Borzhava mountain meadow is part of the international migration route of a number of bird species including rare ones that are protected by national and international legislation, in particular common crane, black stork, hen harrier, marsh harrier, osprey, black kite, lesser spotted eagle, greater spotted eagle. On 25 September 2018, as part of the autumn migration, a mass flight of common cranes heading to their wintering grounds was observed throughout Europe. On that day, a mass flight of common cranes was also recorded over the Borzhava mountain meadow, totallying to about 3,000 cranes in more than 30 flocks flying there that day.

Borzhava slopes are home to unique ancient and primeval forests, which slow down the development of “flash” floods for the rivers of the Tisza basin, in particular, the Borzhava, the Latorytsa, the Repinka and others, which are known for their suddenness and the capacity to flood significant territories of settlements in Zakarpattia region. The slopes of Borzhava differ in their steepness from the surrounding mountains. There is a risk of intensification of this type of flooding (and, accordingly, a threat to settlements) in case of felling of the meadow-adjacent forests.

The territories covered with old-growth forests and primeval forests on the spurs of the Borzhava mountain meadow now amount to about 4,000 hectares. This is one of the largest areas of concentration of this type of forests in Ukraine. Only a third of these forests are now under effective protection. These are places where you can often see the tracks of a brown bear, a lynx, a wolf and a forest cat. The uniqueness of these terrains is difficult to overestimate.

There are 8 Ukrainian protected areas located around the Borzhava ridge and directly on it. Each of these objects of the nature reserve fund was created for the purpose of protecting natural complexes, as well as rare species of flora and fauna.

Also, here is located the planned protected area rfor which the protected status has been reserved by the decision of the authorities: this is the planned national nature park “Zhdymyr” with an area of 21,600 hectares (Decision of the Zakarpattia Regional Council No. 695 of December 26, 2003 that approved the Program for the perspective development of the protected areas and environmental network in the Zakarpattia region for 2006-2020). The justification for creation of a landscape reserve of local importance “Zelenytsia” has been submitted to the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration.

2. Risks for the Borzhava mountain meadow

The wind power plant construction on the territory of the Borzhava mountain meadow will have a significant adverse impact on the ecosystems of the Borzhava ridge and on all components of nature (geological structure, soils, water, vegetation, animal life, topography, as well as rare species of flora and fauna and habitats protected on the territory of the Emerald network), which is the reason to define such an action as unacceptable.

Impacts on the environment may appear during any of the phases of the wind power plants projects: starting ffrom the contruction (mechanical damage to vegetation, soils, geological structure, accidental or emergency contamination of water and soil with fuel, lubricants or transformer lubricants during construction) to operation (noise, blade flickering, electromagnetic radiation, vibration, visual impact due to landscape changes, fire risks, ice detachment from blades), as well as during restoration or decommissioning phases. The consequence can be temporary or permanent impacts that are different in radius of action, as well as the cumulative effect that is a combination of various impacts. Decommissioning and dismantling of a wind power plant after the end of its operational life will lead to disturbances similar to those that occur during the construction of a wind power plant. Such impacts are particularly significant within the boundaries of protected areas and international nature protection territories.

In addition to the destruction of habitats, there are threats of collision of birds and bats with various parts of wind turbines or with other structural elements of wind power plants, their injury and death. Other impacts include disturbance of animals and their migration to other territories, loss of habitats due to visual, noise and vibration impacts, as well as increased human activity during construction works and maintenance, easier access to the area because of the road construction. Another risk is so-called barrier effect, which is disruption of communication between places of feeding and rest, that will force birds or bats to change the direction of movement, in particular during migrations, as well as during flights in the area².

The Ukrainian Carpathians are flysch mountains that are subject to strong water erosion. Earthworks under the wind power plants will cause massive erosion processes, which will create a high risk of landslides and mudslides during heavy rains and downpours. The Borzhava mountain meadow is the catchment area of the main tributaries of the Tisza River – the Latorytsia and the Borzhava rivers, as well as the protected Osa river. Violation of the vegetation cover on large areas of marshland will contribute to rapid formation of floods in the valleys of these rivers during rainy seasons, as well as to dehydration of catchments and shallowing of these watercourses during drought.

As an example, we provide a photo of the first concrete foundation under the Nyzhniovoritska wind power plant to better illustrate what will happen on the Borzhava mountain meadow. The area of impact zone resulting from preparation of one concrete foundation is about 2 hectares.

Also, the developers did not take into account the information that the Borzhava mountain meadow contains particularly valuable soils of the Carpathian province the list of which was approved by the Order of the State Committee of Ukraine on Land Resources No. 245 dated 06.10.2003.

3. Green energy

The use of wind energy is generally considered to be an environmentally friendly technology, “green energy”. However, if neglecting environmental norms and basic laws of the functioning of natural complexes, selecting sites for construction of wind power plants based only on wind indicators and simplicity of land acquisition registration procedure, then construction of wind power plants can lead to negative consequences and be a threat for nature.

By choosing a wrong location for a wind power plant, the beautiful idea of “green” energy can be completely destorted by the destructive impact of wind power plants on wildlife. This is beacuse all components of nature suffer including geological structure, soils, water environment, plant and animal world, topography of the territory, climate. This also entails a violation of Ukrainian legislation and international environmental agreements.

Construction of wind power plants should be performed outside protected areas, protected habitats, and outside migration routes of bats and birds and their key habitats.

The likelihood of impact factors overlapping, their permanent, temporary and cumulative nature must necessarily be a part of environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. Before construction of wind power plants, thorough studies of the effects on natural complexes and all their components must be carried out. If there are already operating wind turbines or other economic complexes in the region, their cumulative impact on natural complexes and migration routes, the probability of a barrier effect must be assessed.

The potential consequences of constructing wind power plants should be considered in each specific case separately and independently. Because the types and extent of impacts depend on a number of factors unique to each area, results of one study cannot in any case be extrapolated to other areas. A separate study must be conducted for each new project of a wind power plant construction.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a key tool of ensuring that informed decisions are adopted and it must be conducted by professional and competent scientists. During the EIA for wind power plant construction projects, it is important to conduct basic field studies lasting at least one year, to analyze various scenarios of possible developments, to model risks and probabilities of adverse natural phenomena, to study innovative mitigation measures, as well as the cumulative effects of wind power plants with all planned or existing facilities that can have adverse impact on the environment.

Conclusions

The construction of a wind power plant and its infrastructure on the Borzhava mountain meadow is an activity incompatible with nature conservation, the goals of the international nature conservation territory of the Emerald Network, the purpose of functioning of natural protected areas and will destroy habitats of rare, endangered and endemic species of animals and plants, as well as the territory, which for centuries was used for development of animal husbandry and collection of non-wood products (blueberries). This helped a dozen significant local communities to survive in the most stormy years of our history and to preserve ethno-cultural heritage.

The construction of a wind power plant on the territory of Borzhava mountain meadow is unacceptable and must be stopped.

In view of the above, we request the following:

• To consider another territorial and project alternative in the territories that are located outside the international and national nature conservation areas, and outside the mountain ranges of the Ukrainian Carpathians, which are the property of the Ukrainian people and territories of exceptional natural value and should not be destroyed for the purpose of obtaining profits from green energy. We remind you that the main idea of green energy at its core is preservation of nature, not its destruction.

• To initiate discussion of location alternatives for wind power plants with the participation of Turkish investors, environmental protection experts and research institutions.

• To stop preparatory construction works for erection of a wind power plant on the Borzhava mountain meadow.

• To support creation of a nature protection area of national importance on the Borzhava mountain meadow and around it in order to meet Ukraine’s European integration obligations.

Olena Kravchenko, director, International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” (EPL)

Kateryna Polyanska, environmental scientist, International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” (EPL)

Oksana Stankevych-Volosyanchuk, expert in environmental protection, “Ekosphere” NGO

Yehor Hrynyk, biologist, “Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group”

Bohdan Prots, PhD, Head of the Board of “The Danube-Carpathian Program” NGO

Oleksiy Burkovskyi, head of the Donetsk Regional Organization of the All-Ukrainian Environmental League

Andriy Kyiko, expert of “The Danube – Carpathian Program” NGO

Oleksandr Fil, Chairman of “ECOALLIANCE” NGO

Serhiy Hladkevych, journalist, environmentalist

Serhiy Prokop, tour guide

Mykola Skydanyuk, head of “Youth Environmental Organization Our Home – Manyava”

Nataliya Vyshnevska, “Save Pikuy” NGO

Alla Marchuk, teacher, tour guide

Maryna Ragulina, Ph.D., researcher of the State Natural History Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ecologist

Ludmila Rakovtsi, “Irshava Beams” NGO

Yulia Novak, tour guide

Oleksandr Stepanenko, “Green World” environmental NGO

Maryana Teslovych, ecologist

Eva Kolesnyk, tour guide

Tina Mosyakina, culturologist, National University “Kyiv Mohyla Academy”

Alla Bocharova

Oksana Omelchuk, PhD, scientific secretary of the Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life in Lviv named after Klymentiy Sheptytskyi, ecologist

Yaroslav Kozak, founder of the environmental tourism club

Alisa Smyrna, tour guide, mountain guide

Oksana Chipizhyna, environmental activist

Hanna Hopko, head of the National Interests Advocacy Network

Yulia Babii, geographer, volunteer

Nataliya Dzyubenko, PhD, head of the departmet at the State Natural Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Yuriy Yanovskyi, tour guide

Olha Imenynnyk, eco-activist, writer, teacher

Halyna Protsiv, head of “Kray Environmental Club” NGO

Ruslana Hladynets, mountain hiker

Khrystyna Koptel, mountain hiker

Vasyl Korbutiak, Ph.D., associate professor, National University of Water Management and Nature Management

Yuri Radivilov, tour guide

Ruslan Babilya, “Chysto.de“ NGO

Oksana Isaryk, specialist in environmental education of Halytskyi National Nature Park

Dmytro Nemchyk, ecologist, forester

Yaroslav Petrashchuk, ecologist

Artur Raichynets, “National Forest System” NGO

Iryna Kachiy, mountain hiker

Ivan Shcherbey, “Zhdenievo against industrial zone”, tourism instructor, tour guide

“National Alliance” NGO

Alla Deak, mountain hiker

Oleh Tsyupka, mountain hiker

Oksana Okhrimenko, Oleksandr Okhrimenko, mountain hikers

Tatiana Tserkovnyk, a mountain hiker

Inna Pavuk, mountain hiker

Olena Struk, journalist

Oksana Isevych, guide in the mountains, founder, “Adventures of the Traveler” NGO

Oksana Varga, tour guide

Olena Mudra, investigative journalist

Viktor Trachuk, tour guide

Oksana Chekhova, hiking club

Anna Kuzemko, Ph.D., senior scientist M.H. Kholodnyi Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Denys Tsutsayev, eco-activist, military in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Yuliya Ivashchuk, “Chysto.de“ NGO

Zvenyslava Mamchur, PhD, associate professor, head of the Department of Ecology at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, deputy of Lviv Regional Council

Anna Tsvetkova, “Women Water Partnership – Ukraine” NGO

Serhii Lyko, PhD, Professor of Rivne State University of Humanities, environmentalist

Raisa Kalinska, tour guide

Olena Zhuk, co-founder of “Chysto.de“ NGO

Tetyana Verbytska, ecologist, volunteer

Halyna Kinker, head of “One Dream” NGO, volunteer

Ivan Moisienko, Doctor of Science, Professor, Kherson State University

Nikita Peregrym, PhD, senior lecturer of Taras Shevchenko Luhansk National University

Adriana Bailo, “Green Power” NGO

Gabriel Gushtan, Ph.D., researcher of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, head of the Research Center “Pedobiology” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ecologist

Oleksandr Khodosovtsev, Ph.D., professor, Kherson State University

Yuliya Frantzishkevych, “Chysto.de” NGO

Valentyn Voloshyn, Chair of the Board of the Regional Tourism Organization “Zakarpattia”

Halyna Serova, “Institute of Lawmaking and Information Technologies” NGO

Ivan Rusev, Ph.D., “Revival of Natural Heritage” NGO

Serhiy Lymanskyi, Head of the Department of the Ukrainian Steppe Natural Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences “Kreydiana Flora”, researcher

Olena Vitrak, ecologist, mountain traveler

Oleksandr Mudrak, Doctor of Science, Professor, “Vinnytsia Academy of Continuing Education”

Khrystyna Arkhipova, Ph.D., scientific secretary of the State Natural History Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Nataliya Kaplya, lawyer, “LiS” NGO

Oleksandra Mashtaler, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Botany and Ecology of Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University

Valentyn Voloshyn, Chair of the Board of the Regional Tourism Organization “Zakarpattia”

Tetyana Shytikova, “Chysto.de” NGO

Olena Kovtun, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal and Administrative Law of the Academy of Bars of Ukraine

Olena Bilous, author of the “Prayer to the Metropolitan” project

Valeria Tsikava, “Chysto.de” NGO

Maria Lukyanova, tour guide, biologist

Gala Kinker, head of “One Dream” NGO, volunteer

Serhiy Morozov, mountain lover, hiker

Volodymyr Rizun, PhD, senior researcher, head of the department at the State Natural Museum of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, coordinator of “Biodiversity of Ukraine” database

Olha Kuts, journalist, editor of “Truskavets Sources“ Newspaper

Natalia Larionova, ecologist, tourist

Malvina Shynkaruk, PhD, biotechnologist

Nina Hryb, “Revival of Natural Heritage” NGO

Viktor Melnychuk, ecologist, expert of the “National Environmental Center of Ukraine” NGO

Oleksandr Martyniuk, geobotanist, school tourism instructor

Svitlana Herasymenko, tourist

Nataliya Chetova, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic”

Lilia Soloviy, manager in the field of tourism, supports protection of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Zoryana Odnorih, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Ecology and Balanced Nature Management, National University “Lviv Polytechnic”

Maria Paikoshiy, mountain tourist

Ostap Bohoslavets, graduate student of M.H. Kholodny Institute of Botany, senior researcher of “Gorgany” nature reserve

Anna Vintse, hiker

Petro Chehorka, Orlan Environmental and Tourist Association

Iryna Shpakivska, PhD, Head of the Ecosystemology Department of the Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Maryna Zelenyuk, PhD in Biology

Andriy Salyuk, head of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments

Victoria Kiptenko, PhD in Geography, Associate Professor of the Department of Country Studies and Tourism of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National

Mykhailo Beskid, Larysa Beskid, hikers, and all their family members: son Mykhailo, daughter-in-law Yana, son Petro, daughter-in-law Oksana, grandchildren Svyatoslav, Mykhailo, Yulia, Anyutka, who also want to see the untouched preserved beauty of our mountains!!!!

Eva Andryk, PhD in Biology, associate professor, Ferenc Rakocz II Transcarpathian Hungarian College of Higher Education

Natalia Ursatiy, biologist

Yurii Benhus, senior lecturer of the Department of Botany of Skovoroda National Pedagochical University of Kharkiv

Alla Kozurak, PhD, the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, botanist

Ruslan Babilya, “Chysto.de” NGO

Inna Voilo, head of “Agency for International Cooperation” NGO

Olha Soyka

Taras Oleksiv, tourist

Wilhelm Tellinger, mountain hiker

Oleksandr Fedorkiv, lawyer; co-founder of “Save Solomyanskyi Park” NGO

Kateryna Serdechna “Chysto.de” NGO

Ihor Melika, photojournalist, traveler, tourist association “Carpathian Trails”

The founder of the ecological movement “ECO Smila”

Ulyana Sokolenko, PhD, senior lecturer at Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy named after O. M. Beketova

Olena Kozak, Ph.D., National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”

Erika Kovtoniuk, mountain hiker

Sofia Shutyak, attorney

Ruslan Hleb, PhD, the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, forestry laboratory

Maryna Holivets, research associate of Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research

Roman Cherepanyn, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Biology and Ecology of Vasyl Stefanyk Prykarpathian National University; WWF-Ukraine project coordinator

Oleh Turko, tour guide

Nataliya Tatunova, tourist, mountain #Club6Vershyn

Natalia Voronyanska, “YaSortuyu” NGO

Maria Amelina

Myroslav Sheverya

Andriy Zubenko, tourist

Natalia Hayetska, head of Mariupol Zero Waste Free Edmonton

Nadia Skobel, Kherson State University

Marina Shershun, hiker

Iryna Berezova, hiker

Oksana Isevych, mountain guide, founder of “Adventures of the Traveler” NGO

Maria Fedkovych

Andrii Burlai, combat medic, tour guide

Marta Havryliv, geomorphologist, environmental consultant

Anna Savlyak, mountain hiker

Oksana Chekhova, mountain hiker, Hikers Club

Taras Gabriel, Master of Arts, designer, eco-activist

Olena Ahafonova, “Realization of Ideas” charitable fund

Lyudmila Likverman, hiker, photographer

Sofia Madych, biologist

Yuliya Borutska, Ph.D. in Geology, Associate Professor of the Department of Tourism of the Lviv National University of Nature Management

Suzana Tymochko, mountain hiker

Stepan Bachkai, tourist

Halyna Rvachova, tourist

Yuriy Dzyamulych, head of the news portal “mukachevo net”

Natalia Perevuznyk, tourist

Anna Ilyushchenko, biologist

Pavlo Savchuk, tour guide, practical psychologist, Volyn Regional Center for National-Patriotic Education, Tourism and Local History of School Youth

Yulia Vashenyak, M.H. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Eva Antonenko, hiker

Oksana Kucher, Ph.D., researcher at M.H. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Lyudmyla Trokai

Oleksiy Obolonskyi, two master’s degrees in environmental studies

Lyubov Mikulich, senior lecturer of the Department of Botany and Ecology of Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University

Iryna Cherkaska, director of “Dykansky” RLP, head of “Green Heart” NGO

Yuriy Heryak, PhD, researcher at the Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Orest Kohut, Tourist Community Club of Hikers (founder, tour guide, mountain guide)

Nadiya Danylets, mountain hiker

Olena Stetskiv

Mykola Chichur

Volodymyr Berezin, “Bakhmat” NGO

Serhiy Denisenko “Donetsk Environmental Movement” NGO

Natalia Moskalchuk, Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Ecology Department of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas

Serhiy Tyutchenko, Drohobych Aeroclub “Sokil”

Maryana Okun

Maria Kuznetsova, hiker

Oksana Babiichuk, biologist, biology teacher at Novovolynsk Center for Professional Technical Education

Iryna Nakonechna

Yulia Pashkovska, “Ekoltava” NGO

Iryna Kyslyak, leading specialist in the ecological and educational sector of “Gorgany” nature reserve

Tatyana Moroz, tourist

Anastasia Drapalyuk, specialist in conservation of nature protected areas, “Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group” NGO

Maria Hnatyshyn, PhD, Associate Professor, Ivan Franko Lviv National University

Vladyslav Kamentsa, environmentalist, head of “Civic Initiative” NGO

Maria Hnatyshyn, PhD, Associate Professor, Ivan Franko Lviv National University

Olena Proskurnya, head of the department of environmental, educational and recreational work of “Pyryatynskyi” National Nature Park (Poltava region)

Oksana Myshopyta, hiker

Oksana Otchych, biologist, Ph.D.

Viktor Klid, PhD

Oleh Andros, Ph.D., military serviceman, eco-activist

Ihor Kuzemko, leading agronomist, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Anna Holubovska – Onisimova, expert in nature conservation

Oleh Perehon, coordinator of “Green Front” NGO, Kharkiv

CGS Strategy XXI

“EkoTEKA” NGO

Karpaty.info

Oleksandr Spryahaylo, Ph.D., associate professor, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Cherkasy National University, head of “Ekosotsium” NGO

Maria Here

Oleksandr Zinenko, PhD, Karazin Kharkiv National University

Raisa Babchenko, Education Center for Sustainable Development of Communities

Oleksandra Matiyash, hiker

Iryna Khmeliovska, guide, researcher

Serhii Kubrakov, ecologist, chairman of “Desna Stars“ NGO, director of “Desnyansko-Starogutskyi” National Nature Park

Tatiana Malylio, lives in the Carpathians

Anastasia Turkevych, ecologist

Oksana Doboyuk, tourist

Antonina Halkina, head of “Joint Actions”

Vitaly Hregor, civil society activist, human rights defender, representative of the All-Ukrainian civic movement “Save Borzhava” (Save Borzhava)

Iryna Shchoka, European Wildlife Society

Mykhailo Kozyk, a resident of Huklivyi village

Victoria Roman, biologist, tourist

Bohdan Vykhor, WWF – Ukraine

Ruslan Havryliuk “National Center of Ukraine” NGO

Elvira Dzhumelya, Doctor of Philosophy, majoring in Environmental Protection Technologies, Lviv Polytechnic National University

Nataliya Polyukhovich, member of the Alpinism and Rock Climbing Federation of Kyiv and Ukraine, climbing instructor

Olena Ahafonova, “Implementation of ideas” charitable fund

Working group 3 (Environment, climate change, energy security, transport) of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Working group 5 (Environment, climate change, energy security, transport) of the Ukrainian part of the Ukraine-EU Civil Society Platform

Archyliuk Maria, tourist, volunteer of “Chysto.de” NGO

Victoria Tedzhiyants, person, guide, protector of forests and birds

Oksana Maryskevych, leading researcher of the Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ph.D.

Ishtvan Tzap – diplomat, head of “European Uzhgorod” NGO

Victoria Diordyai, civil society activist

Dmytro Skrylnikov, “Bureau of Environmental Investigations” NGO

Olena Rublyova, ecologist, artist

Olha Parzhytska, “Osokorky Ecopark” NGO

Lyudmyla Slominska, manager of forest projects at WWF-Ukraine

Lyudmyla Liva, housewife

Ivan Livyi, IT manager

Yelyzaveta Liva, artist

Roman Livyi, tourist

Konstiantyn Livyi, tourist

Olena Maksimova, athlete

Nadiya Maksymova, pensioner

Hanna Shilina, mountain climber

Oleksandra Shevchenko, Ph.D., researcher. Department of Acarology, the I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Natalia Ursatiy, biologist

“Charitable Fund “Peli can live” charitable organization

Svitlana Herych, a citizen of Ukraine

Volodymyr Yarotskyi, research associate of the Kreminsk Forestry Research Institute

Yehor Yakovlev, PhD, member of “Save the Wilderness” charitable organization

Maria Trunova, Ukrainian Association of Animal Defenders

Anastasia Zinchenko, engineer of the O. O. Bohomolets Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences

Valentyna Chala, ecologist

Yuri Khvostyk, mountaineer, military

Olha Baranovska, PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Geography, Tourism and Sports of Mykola Hohol Nizhyn State University

Victoria Kravchenko, “Green Front” NGO

Oleksiy Marushchak, PhD, the I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Tetyana Tesiolkina, ecologist

Valentyn Polyanskyi,

Tetyana Teslenko, doctor

Serhii Teslenko, logistician

Anya Teslenko, teacher

Oleksiy Teslenko, student

Yan Polyanskyi, student

Olena Polyanska, editor

Dmytro Chuvyrin, retired

Yurii Halchuk, military