Loggers who destroyed more than 3.5 thousand ancient trees detained in Odesa region

Loggers who destroyed more than 3.5 thousand ancient trees detained in Odesa region shutterstock

Elizaveta Volkotrub

The amount of damages is more than UAH 8 million

State environmental inspectors, together with police officers, have identified and detained people who were illegally cutting down ancient greenery in the Berezovsky district of Odesa region.

This was reported by the State Environmental Inspectorate of the Southwestern District on Facebook.

It is noted that as a result of the felling, more than 3.5 thousand trees of the species White Acacia, Common Oak, Birch, Cherry plum and others were destroyed.

The inspectorate analyzed the materials and calculated the amount of damage to the forest fund. The damage is estimated at over UAH 8 million. The police have already initiated criminal proceedings over the violation under part 1 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The inspectorate reports that the investigation is ongoing and law enforcement agencies continue to carry out the necessary investigative and other procedural actions.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, officials of the state-owned enterprise "Kutske Lisve Gospodarstvo" were informed about the suspicion of illegal felling of the forest in the amount of UAH 250 million in the territory of the National Nature Park "Hutsulshchyna".

Related
Work at the andesite quarry in Zakarpattia is continuing without an environmental permit, but the court has refused to halt it
Work at the andesite quarry in Zakarpattia is continuing without an environmental permit, but the court has refused to halt it

The company even acquired more than 32 hectares of woodland under an easement, but the court saw no grounds for returning it to the state

Hungary has once again allowed logging in nature reserves, reverting to Orbán’s practices
Hungary has once again allowed logging in nature reserves, reverting to Orbán’s practices

The felling of old trees leaves the undergrowth unprotected, which could threaten the survival of primeval forests

Digest of environmental crimes: widespread corruption among forestry officials and environmental pollution
Digest of environmental crimes: widespread corruption among forestry officials and environmental pollution

Most of the crimes uncovered involve foresters implicated in illegal logging, the embezzlement of public funds and negligence, which is causing damage to the forests

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a special operation, ‘Green Shield’, to tackle forestry corruption and illegal logging
The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a special operation, ‘Green Shield’, to tackle forestry corruption and illegal logging

The Bureau is identifying all those involved and intends to ensure that the millions in losses are recouped