In the Zhdeniivska community of Zakarpattia Oblast, deputies rejected a proposal by environmental activists to create the Verkhovynskyi Watershed Ridge nature reserve. However, the local council approved all easements for the construction of a power line.
This was reported by Save Pikui.
According to activists, the majority of deputies voted against the creation of a nature reserve—15 in total.
Large-scale deforestation
According to environmentalists, a 40-meter-wide strip of forest is to be cleared along the power line.
In the coming days, the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine," the "Carpathian Forest Office," and the Svalyava Forestry will conduct a commission survey. They will determine whether there are forests there that are worth preserving.
“We believe particular attention should be given to the forests near the village of Shcherbovets, which stretch along the stream and the village access road. There, in 2025, we recorded the presence of the black stork-a rare and endangered bird species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and in international nature conservation conventions. These forests have not been logged since 2004, so it is likely that they have a high level of biodiversity,” the eco-community emphasized.
The construction of the wind farm is to blame for everything.
Eco-activists point out that the PTL will lead to a new wind power plant that is also being built in violation of regulations.
EcoPolitic reported that the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture issued a positive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conclusion for this project.
However, the project faces significant opposition from experts, the public, and even Members of Parliament. Seventeen MPs have appealed to the Ministry of Economy, urging it to protect the high-mountain Carpathians and to create nature reserves in the region.
