EcoPolitic has compiled a list of the five most damaging cases of environmental damage over the past week, from July 26 to August 1. The information was published by the State Environmental Inspection (SEI) and its divisions, the press services of the prosecutor's offices, and the Office of the Prosecutor General.
1. In Rivne region, unknown persons cut down more than 1,500 trees, causing damage totaling nearly UAH 5 million.
Environmental inspectors discovered the tree felling on land owned by the Kostopil City Council near the village of Yapolot in Rivne district.
Photo: t.me/polissyareg_dei.
After conducting an investigation, environmental inspectors from the Polissya district and representatives of the Kostopil City Council confirmed the fact of deforestation.
A total of 1,554 pine trees were cut down. The environmental inspection estimated the damage at almost UAH 5 million. The Kostopil City Council must pay the amount of damage caused on its territory, otherwise the case will be referred to court.
2. In the Zaporizhzhia region, 107 elm trees were damaged.
In the local nature reserve “Balka Maryanivska” on the territory of the Novomykolaivska village council, environmental inspectors recorded the felling of elm trees to the point of stopping their growth. The Novomykolaivska village council is responsible for the damage caused to the area. The damage is estimated at UAH 1.3 million.
3. In the Odesa region, the fire covered more than 25 hectares: the air quality has deteriorated.
Fires have been recorded in the Berezivsky district on the territory of the Andriyevo-Ivanivska territorial community. Fifteen hectares of vegetation and shrubs were burned.
Photo: t.me/deionline
In the Dachnensky territorial community, the fire spread to about 10 hectares.
Due to large-scale fires, more than 18,000 tons of pollutants were released into the air. The total damage amounts to more than UAH 55 million.
Photo: t.me/deionline
4. In Zhytomyr region, forestry officials were exposed for causing damage to the state amounting to UAH 23 million.
The specialized environmental prosecutor's office of the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor's Office, with the participation of the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Department of Strategic Investigations, and the State Bureau of Investigations, exposed representatives of the forestry industry for abuse of office. Among the violations were deforestation and smuggling of timber prohibited for export.
Photo: zhit.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
The list of suspects in the crimes includes:
- an official of the state-owned enterprise “Grozinske” – facilitated the illegal felling of trees in a protected forest area. The amount of damage amounted to UAH 14.6 million.
- a forest master at the Stolychny Forest Office branch of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” – allowed the felling of 286 trees worth UAH 2.4 million.
- the head of a limited liability company – organized the smuggling of sawn timber worth over UAH 5 million.
Photo: zhit.gp.gov.ua/ua/index.html
5. Illegal tree felling was recorded in Zakarpattia: the head of the forestry allowed the felling of trees in a protected area.
Criminal felling of trees was discovered at the Yasinya Forestry and Hunting Enterprise, a branch of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.” The head of the Svidovets Forestry was suspected of improper performance of official duties.
Photo: t.me/zakprok
The official allowed the felling of 84 trees within the Svidovets Forestry nature reserve. The total damage is estimated at UAH 4.5 million.
