In the Chernivtsi region, agents of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) caught a former official of the Dolishno-Shepitsky Forestry Division of the Berehomet Forestry and Hunting Enterprise engaged in illegal logging on the territory of the Zubrovytsia Nature Reserve.
The agency published information about this case on its website.
The investigation established that over a period of two years, the official illegally issued logging permits to himself to “clear” the nature reserve. He personally cut down over 600 trees. According to experts’ estimates, the forester, who was supposed to protect this territory, caused damage to the nature reserve amounting to nearly 7.7 million hryvnias.
Source: dbr.gov.ua
Source: dbr.gov.ua
The official has now been dismissed from his position. He is suspected of exceeding official authority and unlawful logging of trees in forests located within the protected natural area.
The articles under which the forester is charged provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Source: dbr.gov.ua
Source: dbr.gov.ua
Recently, EcoPolitic reported in its weekly digest about a number of cases related to illegal logging: in Donetsk region, a forestry master set up a ‘subscription system’ for timber theft, while in Kirovohrad region a group of ‘black lumberjacks’ over about six months devastated trees in the protective forest belts of the Dolynska community. Additionally, a coordinated special operation in Chernivtsi region uncovered a large-scale illegal timber trade scheme to Moldova.
