In Ukraine, they want to legalize deforestation

In the conditions of the war and the environmental disaster caused by the Russian invaders, Ukrainian government officials are promoting a law that will lead to even greater destruction of forests and nature reserves in the Kyiv region. Representatives of the NGO "Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group" warn about this, writes agronews.ua.

We are talking about draft law No. 8058, which empowers representatives of the Office of the President and ministries to dispose of community property.

After its adoption, a commission will be created, which will decide which of the business representatives should be allowed to operate, and which should be prohibited, based on a simplified procedure and without public discussion.

Conservationists are confused - they say that a number of ecological zones are under threat, including many forests and parks of the Kyiv region. Because the government can give permits to businessmen to cut down trees and destroy the environment for the development of enterprises.

"This is half of the forests around and on the territory of Kyiv - Holosiivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, where the problem of felling is already quite urgent. Among them are natural reserves located around Kyiv - Dzvinkivskyi and Zhornivskyi near Boyarka, which are constantly being cut down. The Chernobyl Biosphere Reserve, located in the exclusion zone, is also not far away. Without public hearings, forest destruction may begin in recreational or protective areas located near populated areas. They still cut there, but not with main-use felling. Now they can start officially and more massively... " - biologist Yehor Hrynyk, representative of the NGO "Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group" told the correspondent of Velika Kyiv.