We continue analyzing the loss of protected areas in the regions of Ukraine. This work shows the results of analytical studies of documentally proved losses of objects of natural reserve fund (hereinafter – NRF) in Zhytomyr region in the period from 1967 to 2016.
As of 01.01.2016, the NRF of Zhytomyr region includes 221 objects of protected areas with total area of 136581.9648 hectares.
In Zhytomyr region, as well as throughout Ukraine, protected objects were actively created starting from the 1960s. We were able to reveal facts about the disappearance of 61 protected areas that were created in the past, but were canceled later. Their area is 14,511.2 hectares.
We know the reasons for cancellation for 11 objects (18.03%) as these reasons were mentioned in decisions of the regional council about cancellation:
– radionuclide contamination from 50 to 200 curies per 1 km2 as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster;
– massive drying of plants as a result of sharp decline in groundwater levels;
– in connection with the raising of water in the river Teteriv;
– reconstruction of streets and construction works;
– construction of water reservoir on the river Zherev;
– natural disasters (fallen trees);
– inclusion into other objects of protected areas.
The largest area that was lost is botanical natural monument of local importance “Forest Park. Green Zone in Malyn town”, which has an area of 3001 hectares. We have not found the decision on its cancellation.
Among the canceled protected objects we found the territory that gained “protected” status in the second half of the XVIII century – the monument of park-garden art “Stepanivskyi park.” The protected status was officially canceled in 1991 due to the construction of the reservoir on the river Zherev, resulting in raising water levels and drying trees.
There were also revealed facts of changing area of objects of NRF, both increasing and decreasing. In general the area was decreased by 93.7 hectares. The increase of the area is 1423.4 hectares but we never found the decisions for such increase. Some documents contained reference to the creation of so-called protected zones of reserved areas. They were created in the past but do not act now, although they were not officially canceled. Totally in Zhytomyr region 38635.00 protected zones were lost.
The issue of cancellation of protected areas and revocation of their status requires public attention because control over these incidents helps not only to detect violations of law, but also save natural resources and heritage of our nation and preserve them for future generations.
Given that clear and understandable procedures of making decisions to abolish the objects of nature reserve fund or change their status was adopted only in 2010, before that time there were uncontrolled possibilities for appropriation of protected land. Thus, the capture of lands, their illegal private, commercial or industrial use that caused loss of valuable landscapes, flora and fauna of Ukraine did not meet serious legal opposition.
As a result of the research we revealed that since 1967 Zhytomyr region lost 12,394.8 hectares of protected areas and objects , representing 9,07% of all protected areas and 38635 hectares of protected zones, excluding officially canceled protected areas and protected areas that became part of larger objects.
Previous publication of the cycle:
Volyn region: http://epl.org.ua/en/events/2409-lost-sites-and-areas-of-nature-and-reserve-fund-part-1-volyn-region
Ivano-Frankivsk region: http://epl.org.ua/en/events/2360-lost-objects-in-the-territory-of-protected-areas-part-2-ivano-frankivsk-region
Chernivtsi region: http://epl.org.ua/en/events/2411-lost-sites-and-areas-of-nature-and-reserve-fund-part-1-volyn-region-2
Khmelnytsk region: http://epl.org.ua/en/events/2401-lost-sites-and-territories-of-nature-and-reserve-fund-part-4-khmelnytsk-region
Mykolayiv region: http://epl.org.ua/en/events/2489-lost-objects-of-natural-reserve-fund-1972-2016-part-5-mykolaiv-region
Sumy region: http://epl.org.ua/en/events/2505-lost-objects-and-territories-of-nature-reserve-fund-part-6-sumy-region
Rivne region: http://epl.org.ua/events/2523-vtracheni-ob-iekty-ta-terytorii-pryrodno-zapovidnoho-fondu-chastyna-7-rivnenska-oblast
Creation of Rivne reserve caused the loss of protected areas http://epl.org.ua/events/2533-stvorennia-rivnenskoho-zapovidnyka-pryzvelo-do-vtrat-pryrodno-zapovidnoho-fondu
Contact details:
Oleksiy Vasyliuk, EPL environmentalist
Oleksandr Oskirko, EPL volunteer
Email: office@epl.org.ua; vasyliuk@gmail.com
tel.: (032) 225 – 76 – 82; 097 – 1000 – 473
