On December, 15, 2022 the appeal court in Lviv took the side of the investors of ski resort Svydovets construction. Svydovevts ski resort is supposed to be second Bykovel ski resort in Zakarpatya region. Back in 2017, Rakhiv and Tyachiv regional state administrations adopted the decisions to approde the Detailed plan of the territory of touristic recreational resort Svydovets outside of local settlements. Local citizens challenged such decisions to court, as those decisions were taken violating procedures of public participation and violating international agreements ratified by Ukraine. Court proceedings have been ongoing since 2017, and local courts ruled in favor of local citizens and Svydovets, but appeal court in Lviv twice revoked those decisions.
Its worth mentioning that future ski resort Svydovets will occupy the territory of 1400 ha, near 430 ha of forests will be logged to allow construction of ski lifts, infrastructure, near 90 km of new roads will be built, 53 km of ski lifts will be constructed. According to the detailed plan of the territory, 23 suspended rope lifts, and 230 km of ski slopes with 100% snow coverage will be erected. The capacity of ski resort – 22 000 of visitors. Housing and recreational infrastructure, including engeening lines, will occupy 800 ha. Location of these facilities will coinside with the river valleys of Black Tisza river, Dovzhanka, Stanislav. Drinking water will be extracted from artesian wells, the rest of water needs will be supplied by riverbed water intake from existing rivers and streams.
Mountain peaks of Svydovets have high natural value, host the habitats of numerous Red Book species, provide home for precious fauna species of Ukraine. Construction of ski resort and its infrastructure will create huge risks for the environment, in can bring species of flora and fauna to extinction. Thus, citizens of Ukraine have the obligation to save natural landscapes and biodiversity of Svydovets for future generations, for spiritual renovation of our veterans and soldiers, war victims. These territories had to be declared as protected areas but there is not enough of political will for this.
Oranizers of the press-conference: ICO “Environment-People-Law”(EPL), initiative group “Free Svydovets”, NGO Danube-Carpathain programme, NGO “Ecosphere”
Agenda:
Olya Melen–Zabramna, head of legal unit of EPL, attorney «Can we consider the construction of hotels, ski lifts and other infrastructure on Svydovets legal?»
Oreste del Sol, local entrepreneur, founder of the movement Free Svydovets «Will EU like the decision of Ukrainian courts?»
Bohdan Prots, PhD, head of NGO ‘Danube-Carpathain programme’ “How the development will impact the biodiversity and ecosystems of this intact part of Ukrainain Carpathians?
Oksana Stankevych-Volosyanchuk, PhD, expert of NGO “Ecosphere” ‘Risks to natural resources from construction and operation of ski resort’.
Local residents: ”Who is interested in Bykovel number 2?
