The state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" has revealed an almost completely destroyed forest near Kyiv that is not being restored due to a long and complicated environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.
On the territory of the Boguslavske Forestry branch, 4 hectares of forest were destroyed by wind last year, the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" reports on Facebook.
The company notes that it is necessary to carry out a continuous sanitary felling, as trees rot in the forest in the rains, losing their value, or dry out in the sun, creating a potential danger of forest fires. First of all, wood can be sent to the frontline because the need for it is constantly increasing.
Next, a new forest should be planted in this place, but it is reported that foresters cannot do this because they must first conduct an EIA procedure, which is complex, bureaucratic, and costly. An external company should prepare a report confirming that the site should indeed be planted with forest.
The cost of such a report is approximately 400 thousand hryvnias. In addition, another 300 thousand hryvnias must be paid for soil and water assessment. Another 25 thousand hryvnias must be allocated for public discussions. As a result, the branch is obliged to pay more than 700 thousand hryvnias to a private company just to remove dead wood from the forest.
"Is it adequate to spend such money if it can be directed, for example, to the strengthening of fire safety, the creation of seed plants, recreation centers, etc.? Of course not", – says the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine".
They emphasize that such cases are very common throughout the country, and that is why the Law "On Environmental Impact Assessment" needs to be changed.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a priority action plan for 2024, including 28 tasks for the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and other agencies in the field of environmental protection.
