In Rivne, unknown persons systematically use the smooth rivers of Ustya for commercial riding on scooters and quad bikes, which harms wild flora and fauna.
Eco-activist and deputy of the city council, Oksana Maiboroda, was told about this by local residents, who contacted the State Environmental Inspection of Polissky District about this, she wrote on Facebook.
"Thanks to the caring residents, I found out about such activities in the floodplains. This is wild in Europe, but it is still the norm in our country – to destroy the natural ecosystems of the Carpathians, meadows, floodplains on quad scooters. And few people pay attention to this," she wrote Maiboroda.
In her address, she emphasized that such entertainment destroys the ecosystem, higher aquatic plants, animal habitats and bird nests, causes noise pollution and oil pollution of the green zone. In addition, ATV riders rode in the fins even during the breeding season from April 1 to June 15.
It is noted that four-wheelers also arbitrarily built a bridge across the river.
Maiboroda demands to check and establish the facts of violations of legislation, namely "On environmental protection", "On animal life", etc.
She emphasized that Ukraine's status as a candidate for EU membership obliges to protect biodiversity at the level of habitats (biotopes).
"I am asking you to actively contribute to the process of acquiring nature conservation status for this territory, which is already at risk of destruction and may not wait until Ukraine joins the EU," Maiboroda said in her appeal.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in Transcarpathia, eco-activists from the Save Pikuy community launched a charity fundraiser for photo traps for registration of entry of motorcyclists in the "Pikuy" botanical reserve.
As previously reported by EcoPolitics, the community of Holosiivsky District of Kyiv announced "hunt for motorcyclists" in the national park and Rylsky Park. The reward for a photo of the violator's license plate number is 1,000 hryvnias, and for his detention until the arrival of the police and national park guards, the reward is 5,000 hryvnias.
