A protected island was turned into a landfill in Kyiv. Photo

A protected island was turned into a landfill in Kyiv. Photo facebook.com/oleksandr.sokolenko
Katerina Belousova

Entrances to the nature reserve are open, and trash and hazardous waste continue to accumulate

In Kyiv, in the landscape reserve of local importance "Zhukiv otsrov" a natural landfill, traces of numerous fires and felling of trees were discovered.

Also, in the protected territory, despite the ban on the entry of vehicles, traces of cars, ATVs and motorcycles were found, Oleksandr Sokolenko, an employee of the Holosiiv National Park, reports on Facebook.

facebook.com/oleksandr.sokolenko

He said that the territory of the island, including reservoirs, is littered with plastic and glass bottles, car tires, canisters, bags, car parts and other garbage.

facebook.com/oleksandr.sokolenko

"Today, we could not find a single reservoir here, the surface of which would not be full of plastic waste. Ducks and even swans dig in this dirt," Sokolenko emphasized.

facebook.com/oleksandr.sokolenko

He added that the roads on the island are broken by cars. In addition, some trees were cut down and taken away.

facebook.com/oleksandr.sokolenko

Sokolenko also criticized state institutions, in particular KMDA, the State Environmental Inspection, "Kyivzelenbud" and the Koncha-Zaspa forest park management, for ignoring the problems of the protected island. After all, the entrances to the nature reserve fund are open, and garbage and hazardous waste continue to accumulate.

facebook.com/oleksandr.sokolenko

He also called on the eco-inspectors to find out who was issued a security bond for this object and to impose fines on the responsible persons for environmental damage.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Supreme Court of Ukraine made a final decision regarding the return of 17 protected areas on Zhukov Island to the Kyiv community. At the end of the 2000s, 3 hectares of the island, worth more than 45 million hryvnias, were given free of charge for development.

As EcoPolitic reported earlier, in Kyiv, eco-inspectors discovered pollution of the Orihuvatsky ponds located in the park named after Maksym Rylskyi and is part of the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park. The content of some pollution indicators exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations by more than 6 times

Related
This week’s round-up of environmental crimes: deforestation, environmental pollution and land disputes
This week’s round-up of environmental crimes: deforestation, environmental pollution and land disputes

In the Chernivtsi region, a forestry official is to stand trial for felling trees that ‘obstructed’ the unplanned construction of a road

Bring a furry friend into your family: on 18 and 19 July, residents of Kyiv are invited to the AdoptMe Days festival
Bring a furry friend into your family: on 18 and 19 July, residents of Kyiv are invited to the AdoptMe Days festival

Visitors can also chat to volunteers and learn how to provide first aid to animals

In Vinnytsia, more than 100 homeowners’ associations have sent 90 tonnes of sorted waste for recycling
In Vinnytsia, more than 100 homeowners’ associations have sent 90 tonnes of sorted waste for recycling

Neighbours can use the money raised from recycling for the benefit of the building

New nature reserves have been established in Ukraine to protect forests, steppes and wetlands
New nature reserves have been established in Ukraine to protect forests, steppes and wetlands

These are unique ecosystems that are home to rare species of flora and fauna