A special legal regime with clear rules for use, transfer of ownership, and change of designated purpose will apply to wetlands in Ukraine. The relevant changes were adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
As reported by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, these rules were approved on May 6 by the decree "On the peculiarities of the legal regime for the use of lands under peatlands and possible types of their designated purpose."
Separate registration
Peatlands will now receive their own information layer on the maps of the State Land Cadastre. Data on such plots of land will be compiled based on available materials.
Information about the presence of a peatland will become a mandatory factor when making the following decisions:
- change of land designated purpose;
- transfer of plots for use or into ownership;
- management of plots that are partially or fully occupied by peatlands.
Purpose restrictions
The document additionally restricts the list of activities permitted on lands with peatlands. EcoPolitic previously reported that this concerns such designated purposes as lands of the nature reserve fund, forestry, health, and historical-cultural territories. The composition of lands to which these areas may belong is also clarified. The Ministry of Economy believes this will allow the true value of wetlands – for water regulation and climate resilience – to be taken into account.
The ministry separately emphasizes that the new rules apply exclusively to new decisions on plot formation and changes of their designated purpose. That is, the decree does not require currently valid land users to reissue their documents.
“The decree sets out clear rules for lands where peatlands are located for the first time: such areas must be used taking into account their environmental value, not just their designated purpose. This will help prevent further peatland degradation, reduce CO₂ emissions, significantly decrease fire risks, and bring Ukrainian land policy closer to European environmental standards,” noted Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The protection of peatlands is part of Ukraine’s European integration commitments. Thus, the state is gradually introducing European approaches to the conservation of natural ecosystems.
EcoPolitic previously provided a more detailed account of the value of wetlands. In particular, they retain carbon dioxide, regulate the local water balance, and are home to numerous species of plants and animals.
