Osnovyanske Lake in Kharkiv is being transformed from a recreational area into an industrial zone. The companies Karier-Osnova and Reisis Ukraine are extracting sand from the lake and are already encroaching on the forest. The community and activists have been fighting for two years against the destruction of the forest and for it to be granted protected status, but they are facing resistance from businesses and foresters themselves.
This is reported by Golka.
What is happening now?
According to local residents, Reysis Ukraine has plans to extract sand from the lake for another ten years. At the same time, Karier-Osnova wants to expand the extraction area, including at the expense of the forest.
This forest area is under the jurisdiction and, theoretically, under the protection of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine." However, in practice, as the publication writes, one of the branches of the state enterprise has concluded a servitude agreement with the Karier-Osnova company. This has put 11 hectares of forest at risk of destruction.
“The only thing currently stopping the company from cutting down the trees is the absence of a favorable environmental impact assessment decision,” Holka writes.
An additional deterrent for the extractors is the activity of local residents. They frequently gather in the forest and have even wrapped the trees with ribbons in the colors of the Ukrainian flag to show that the trees belong to the state and the people.
Source: holka.org.ua
The situation on paper and in reality
Previously, the mayor of Kharkiv stated that sand should not be extracted at the expense of the forest tract. Later, after checking the documentation, state authorities discovered that some of it was outdated and did not indicate the presence of forest in the extraction area. Therefore, the authorities still believe that everything is quiet there and no extraction is taking place.
“There is nothing to talk about – no work is being conducted there and has not been done for several years,” Holka quotes city council spokesperson Yurii Sydorenko as saying.
Source: holka.org.ua
In reality, however, sand is being removed, slopes are undermined, trees are falling – and just piled up nearby.
The head of the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of Kharkiv region, Viktor Boiko, reported that measures are being taken to protect the interests of the state:
“The matter concerns declaring invalid and revoking the environmental impact assessment conclusion issued to ‘Karyer Osnova’, as well as invalidating the land servitude agreement concluded between the state enterprise ‘Forests of Ukraine’ and ‘Karyer Osnova’, regarding the right to use a land plot of 11.2 ha.”
The threat is real
Sand extraction threatens the forest not only with direct logging but also with drying out. According to ecologist Valerii Lovchynovskyi, the lake is a drainage body and therefore communicates with the groundwater and the wells of the Zhyhor community.
“If industrial sand extraction and deepening of the lakebed begin, the groundwater level could drop by 1.5 meters near the lake and up to 20 cm in the adjacent residential area,” the ecologist stresses.
Через діяльність промисловців виникне кілька негативних явищ:
- Desiccation of the forest due to a decrease in water levels;
- Transformation of a recreational area into an industrial one, even though there are multi-storey residential buildings nearby;
- Threat to migratory birds, including those listed in the Red Data Book, which stop at the lake;
The need for protection and resistance
Downstream from the lake are sections of the Emerald Network, so the condition of the water body directly affects valuable territories. In Europe, these are protected and developed to safeguard rare species of flora and fauna.
Residents of Kharkiv are striving to establish the "Zhikharsky" forest reserve on the disputed territory. With this request, they approached the military-civil administration. According to "Holka," the area is already listed among valuable lands earmarked for the expansion of the region's nature reserve fund.
Source: holka.org.ua
Meanwhile, foresters oppose the creation of the reserve. This response to the administration was provided by SE “Forests of Ukraine” and “Kharkiv Forest Protection”. Their arguments are that if the status changes, it will not be possible to combat pests or supply the region with timber.
Source: holka.org.ua
“With this response, the foresters are clearly demonstrating that they are not interested in preserving the forest but are, in fact, interested in sand extraction. After all, how seriously can we take their argument that, besides the recreational forests on the outskirts of Kharkiv, there is no other source of timber? And by the way, speaking of pests, the reserve status does not prohibit the removal of hazardous trees. There are special types of felling operations for this purpose,” reacted Petro Tiestov, Head of the Expert Department of the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, to the foresters' position.
Persecution of defenders
Forest defenders face pressure and persecution. According to "Holka," activists have noticed surveillance, and a criminal case was opened against activist Svitlana Kuraksina under Article 206 (obstruction of lawful business activity). The woman writes requests and appeals to various authorities, and calls the police, which displeases the sand extractors.
“Business wants to make money; they have no interest in nature. It turns out I’m fighting against two companies and the forestry. The prosecutor’s office has only just begun its investigation. In addition, representatives of ‘Karyer-Osnova’ are trying to discredit me – they are spreading rumors among residents that I supposedly want to ‘take over the forest’. There have even been threats of physical violence,” said Svitlana Kuraksina.
The authorities have the opportunity to put an end to a number of similar conflicts throughout Ukraine. To do this, it is necessary to adopt the draft law “On the Emerald Network” so that activists and local communities do not have to defend each valuable area individually. However, the bill previously did not receive enough votes in the session hall.
EcoPolitic previously reported that “Karier Osnova” LLC of the "Reisis" company has already twice attempted to legalize the expansion of sand extraction. The first time, it was denied an EIA (environmental impact assessment) approval.
