EPL research

According to the Forest Code of Ukraine, allowable forest cutting norm is “scientifically based annual norm of logging approved for every owner, permanent forest user by groups of species, based on the principles of continuity and non-exhaustion of forest resources use.” These forest cutting norms are defined by appraisers (PA “Ukrderzhlisproekt) and are approved by […]

Despite the fact that the expansion of protected areas is stipulated by the Strategy of Regional Development of Ukraine, in 2016 only in 11 regions there were adopted decisions to establish protected areas. Another four areas expanded the network of protected areas through the work of the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine rather than departments […]

In July 2016, environmental scientists of International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” surveyed the territory of Burkut Forestry of the state enterprise “Verhovyna forestry” and revealed numerous violations of forestry rules, the most significant of which is trailing and transportation of cut wood through the estuary of the river Chornyi Cheremosh, storage of logging remnants within coastal […]

We continue presenting results of EPL studies of lost protected areas. As we reported earlier, in most regions of Ukraine we found a large number of areas and objects of natural reserve fund (NRF), which were canceled for various reasons. Instead, a pleasant exception was the Poltava region. As of 27 July 2016, the NRF […]

As of 01.01.2016, in Kherson region the Nature Reserve Fund consists of 79 objects of protected areas with total area of 272,700.20 hectares. These include the biosphere reserves “Askania Nova” and “Black Sea”, national natural parks “Dzharylhatskyi” and “Azov-Sivash” and other objects. In the Kherson region, as well as throughout Ukraine, the beginning of the […]

As we reported earlier, last year the Crimean Natural Reserve was transferred to the ownership of the Presidential Administration of Russia as a private hunting site.i The next victim of the annexation became Karadag reserve. Assets of the reserve were transferred from ownership of the Crimea to federal ownership of the Russian Federation. The corresponding […]

EPL made the second raid to the forest areas of Western Ukraine to inspect forest logging and its legitimacy. This time we examined management of forestry in the national nature park “Hutsulshchyna” and the state enterprise “Kutsky forestry.” In this area we have recorded a large number of illegal logging done by local people without […]

In July 2016, EPL made first trips to the Carpathian region in order to reveal violations in the forestry management. The first object of the survey was Burkutska forestry of the state enterprise “Verhovynsky forestry” (Ivano-Frankivsk region Verkhovyna district) where we analyzed the situation with forest logging and its impact on mountain ecosystems. From Burkut […]

Just to remind that recently there was made a decision about the need to wothdraw the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the territory of the National Park “Oleshkivski Sands”1, where since October 2015 unauthorized military exercises had taken place.2 After the beginning of the armed conflict this decision was the first important step of the […]

We continue analyzing the losses of natural reserve fund of Ukraine. Next is Kyiv region. Here we have identified the largest number of cases of cancellation of the protected status of the areas with the aim to enable tree cutting. To preserve the flora and fauna in Kyiv region, 194 sites and areas of natural […]