The "Berezina" block of the Koza-Berezina deposit in Rivne Oblast was slated to be put up for auction for mining operations. However, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture did not support this proposal by the State Geological Service, citing violations of Ukrainian law. Nevertheless, this does not mean that these valuable wetlands are now completely safe.
This was reported by Petro Testov, head of the analytical department at the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG).
Environmental experts, representatives of the Rivne Nature Reserve, and the State Agency for Water Resources presented arguments regarding how threatening mining activities on these valuable lands are to the ecosystem. Consequently, the Ministry of Economy acknowledged that putting “Berezina” up for auction would constitute a violation of Ukraine’s Water Code and other legislative norms.
Among the ministry’s reasons for refusal:
- part of the section is to be annexed to the nature reserve, as this request had previously been approved by the former Ministry of Environment;
- the section’s location within the ecological network of Volyn region;
- the section’s belonging to the forest fund and its permanent use by SE “Forests of Ukraine”.
Source: facebook.com/petro.tiestov
The threat has not disappeared
This positive, nature-friendly government decision does not guarantee that the section will no longer attract interest. As Tiestov writes, “those who wish to extract may adjust the boundaries of the section and try again and again.”
To resolve the issue conclusively, the eco-expert suggests two options:
- include the “Berezyna” wetland in the Rivne Nature Reserve;
- conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure before the auction, rather than after it. This is a more challenging, but strategic approach.
EcoPolitic previously reported the intention to sell “Berezyna” for peat extraction. This swamp is one of the largest in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Economy is working on a document to protect wetlands from interference and destruction.
