The agenda of the EcoCommittee for December 20

The agenda of the EcoCommittee for December 20
Katerina Belousova

People's deputies will consider the problem of illegal logging in Volodymyretsk community

On Wednesday, December 20, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management will meet in person and via videoconference at 16:30.

EcoPolitic has prepared the committee's agenda for its readers.

MPs will consider the work plans of the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine for 2024. In addition, there will be an informational presentation on the principles of the circular economy of the EU member states, the experience of Austria and the city of Khmelnytskyi in waste recycling.

The Environmental Committee will also consider a letter from Yulia Ovchynnykova, MP from the Servant of the People faction. The letter concerns the appeal of the NGO Ukrainian Nature Protection Group regarding illegal logging of communal forests in the territory of Volodymyrets territorial community in Rivne region.

The MPs will also consider changes to the personal composition of the Working Group on the Development of Legislative Initiatives on Environmental Impact Assessment in the Forestry Sector (letter from Eduard Proshchuk, MP from the Servant of the People faction, and letter from the state enterprise Forests of Ukraine).

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" they made a decision to dismiss all directors of Rivne branches due to chronic deep corruption problems. Personnel purges were announced after the deputy director of the regional forest office was exposed for illegal enrichment of 150 million hryvnias.

Related
There are plans to introduce new offences relating to sewerage into the Administrative Offences Code: on the draft bill
There are plans to introduce new offences relating to sewerage into the Administrative Offences Code: on the draft bill

In particular, there will be an article on breaches in the field of wastewater management, which simply did not exist before

Logging without hindrance: communities are seeking to bring about a change in the law
Logging without hindrance: communities are seeking to bring about a change in the law

According to activists, this also involves amendments to Ukraine’s Forest Code

Top Ukrainian MPs promoting anti-environmental laws — according to activists
Top Ukrainian MPs promoting anti-environmental laws — according to activists

They are involved in draft legislation that poses a threat to forests, water resources and biodiversity

Fines for environmental offences could increase tenfold: on new draft legislation
Fines for environmental offences could increase tenfold: on new draft legislation

For breaching environmental safety regulations, an offender may face a fine of up to 170,000 UAH or be sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment