The second part of the power line to the future wind farm will cut through the forests of Zakarpattia. The width of the clearing will be up to 50 meters, although, according to activists, the Minister of Economy promised not to cut down the forest for the energy project being implemented in Runa. At the same time, for two weeks now, the President's Office has not registered a petition to protect the Carpathians, thereby violating state regulations.
This was reported by the NGO "Save Pikuy."
Activists say that the allocation of forest areas where power lines will be laid is already known. The forest will be cut down mercilessly – the "thickness" of the cleared gaps will be from 40 to 50 meters.
A commission survey of the areas is ahead. Save Pikui emphasizes that all public organizations that care about the future of Ukrainian forests can participate in it.
"The more of us there are, the more chances we have to prevent logging," the activists emphasize.
Photo: a section of the forest plot scheme near the village of Zhdenievo. Source: facebook.com/SavePikuy
Broken promises and environmental impact
Environmental activists are outraged by the discrepancy between official statements and the reality on the ground. According to them, the Ministry promised that forest clearing for the WPP project on Runa would not be required, at least that is what was specified in the environmental conditions of the EIA.
“According to the EIA report, the project does not involve logging forests,” wrote Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev in his Facebook post. However, he overlooked the issue of constructing the power transmission line to the facility.
Meanwhile, the works could harm the biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. The construction is planned in forests that are home to numerous wildlife species. In the activists' opinion, the EIA has not sufficiently assessed the impact on them, and as for birds, this aspect was not evaluated at all.
“The transmission line is being built in areas where we and local residents have identified black stork nesting sites-a rare species with special protection status. It is well known that the negative impact of transmission lines on birdlife is significant,” conservationists write.
Destruction of recreational potential
A series of systemic violations and infrastructure projects are leading to the loss of recreational potential in the Zhdeniiv community. Environmental groups emphasize the negative impact of such factors as:
- fragmentation of forests caused by roads, which in turn has opened up access for jeep drivers to the Runa and Hostra mountain meadows;
- the construction of artificial river crossings;
- mass logging for the construction of roads and power lines;
- round-the-clock construction in the villages of Pidpolozzia, Zhdenievo, and Zbyny;
- heavy machinery traffic.
Authorities ignore the public
Back on February 15, veteran and environmentalist Andriy Tupikov submitted a petition to the President’s Office regarding the sustainable development of the Carpathian region, namely-to halt the destruction of the highlands. The legally allowed two days for moderation expired two weeks ago, but according to the activist, there has still been no response from the authorities.
“I have submitted a complaint to the Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the violation of my constitutional rights and the complete disregard for the requirements of current legislation,” the environmentalist reported.
Meanwhile, as citizens are unable to use legal mechanisms of influence, the destruction of the Carpathian forests continues.
EcoPolitic recently reported that the Ministry of Economy granted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) opinion for the construction of wind power plants in the Turya-Remety community. Despite this, the same Ministry confirmed that the investor began the construction of foundations for wind turbines without the EIA conclusion.
The public and Members of Parliament are actively advocating for the preservation of the Carpathians. Nevertheless, with its decision, the Ministry of Economy ignored their position as well.
