River floodplains in Rivne region may receive protected area status

River floodplains in Rivne region may receive protected area status suspilne.media/rivne

Maria Semenova

This unique wetland area is extremely important for water purification and is also home to rare flora and fauna

An area of over 100 hectares in the floodplain of the Ustyia River may receive nature conservation status. Recently, the Rivne City Council supported the decision to create a local hydrological reserve called "Rivnenski Plavni."

According to the Ecoclub, this will help protect wetlands and their inhabitants.

The uniqueness of floodplains

A unique natural landscape has been preserved in the river floodplain. This ecosystem is home to rare animals and plants. At the same time, floodplains are critical to natural water purification processes—they act as a kind of filter for the Ustyia River.

The scientific rationale for the creation of the reserve has been developed by the Ecoclub in collaboration with the Ostvitsya historical reconstruction club since 2024.

facebook.com/ostvytsya

Source: facebook.com/ostvytsya

Status that will protect the area

Official recognition of the Rivne Plans as a nature reserve should protect the land from human interference. This includes various activities, from construction to drainage. Therefore, there is a chance that people will not harm the ecosystem or disrupt the hydrological regime.

The community believes that this will also give impetus to the development of local environmental education and responsible tourism.

When to expect a final decision

The environmental protection status of the Rivne Floodplains is not yet final. The legal procedure must be completed by the regional council.

"We urge the deputies of the regional council to support this initiative and ensure real protection for the Rivne Floodplains," emphasize environmental activists.

Two new nature monuments will appear in Kirovohrad region. EcoPolitic reported that virgin steppes with rare plants will now be protected from interference there.

Related
Illegal crossing results in a minimal fine: activists to challenge the police’s decision
Illegal crossing results in a minimal fine: activists to challenge the police’s decision

The structure was built to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery to the wind farm construction site in the mountains

Shooting animals in the nature reserve is illegal: activists have won their court case against the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration
Shooting animals in the nature reserve is illegal: activists have won their court case against the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration

The authorities did not even specify the types of animals, effectively allowing hunters to kill them at their own discretion

Communities in the Kharkiv region are refusing to allow environmentalists to establish protected areas
Communities in the Kharkiv region are refusing to allow environmentalists to establish protected areas

The Regional State Administration even went so far as to break the law by failing to provide either comments or approval of the applications

A major clean-up in Holosiivskyi Park: Kyiv residents are invited to join the initiative on 20 June
A major clean-up in Holosiivskyi Park: Kyiv residents are invited to join the initiative on 20 June

The organisers provide a transfer from Kyiv to the national park and back