The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management has supported and recommended the parliament to approve in the second reading the government bill No. 11024 “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Natural Reserve Fund of Ukraine’ to ensure the preservation of territories and objects of the natural reserve fund”.
This was reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
This bill concerns amendments to Articles 3, 14, 64 of the relevant law.
The most expected by environmentalists and eco-activists additions are contained in Article 14 “Determination of the regime of territories and objects of the natural reserve fund”. The lawmakers prohibited the passage of motorized vehicles within the territories and objects of the natural reserve fund (NRF), except for public roads, streets and roads of cities and other settlements, highways on private territories.
According to the head of the department Svetlana Grinchuk, the adoption of this document in the second reading will put an end to discussions on the use of vehicles in the territories of the natural reserve fund.
“This option will remain in a limited form for employees of nature conservation agencies, law enforcement and other agencies and services in the performance of their official duties,” she says.
The minister is sure that “there is no critical need for the use of jeeps, enduro motorcycles and buggies by tourists” and that this type of recreation should become a thing of the past just as it happened in European countries.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reminded that this type of “entertainment” pollutes soils, destroys plant life and harms wildlife.
Bill No. 11024 also specifies the procedure for canceling and changing the protection zones of territories and objects of the SPF. These actions should be carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the ministry said.
Svitlana Hrynchuk added that the vote for this bill is expected early next year.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that February 19, 2024 the Cabinet of Ministers approved bill No. 11024 “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Natural Reserve Fund of Ukraine”, which provides for a ban on jeeping in protected areas and strict liability for this.
Later, March 25 eco-committee recommended parliament to pass this government bill. And June 20 the Verkhovna Rada voted in the first reading for draft Law No. 11024 concerning the natural reserve fund.
