Rules for felling trees outside forestry farms were established

Rules for felling trees outside forestry farms were established shutterstock
Katerina Belousova

Previously, there was no established procedure for granting permission and control over such fellings

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the rules for felling trees and shrubs and using this wood in forest areas not intended for forestry.

This will reduce the risks of abuse and uncontrolled deforestation and strengthen control over such logging, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources said on Facebook.

It is noted that the order was developed to implement the Law of Ukraine dated June 20, 2022 No. 2321-IX "On forest preservation".

The press service explained that the document establishes the rules for felling and using this wood in the event of:

  • changes in the intended use of land and forest plots (for example, for the construction of power lines, roads, residential buildings, etc.);
  • establishment of servitude (rights to use land with certain restrictions) for their use for purposes not related to forestry;
  • transfer of forest land plots to non-forest lands, which is carried out exclusively for the own needs of forest farms.

"By establishing clear rules for felling of forests and shrubs on forestry lands when their purpose is changed, we thereby reduce opportunities for abuse and uncontrolled deforestation and strengthen control over the said felling. After all, previously there was no established procedure for granting permission and control over such works," he said Minister of Environment Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strelets.

He explained that previously local authorities could approve the decision to cut down trees or enter into an agreement on the establishment of a land easement. However, the process of obtaining permission and carrying out the felling was unclear.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments to the Forest Reproduction Rules, which will regulate the preservation of self-seeded forests, meadows and pastures within the framework of the law "On the preservation of forests".

As EcoPolitic previously reported, in the Kyiv region, in the Yagotyn district, on part of the territory of the future reserve of local importance "Chernyakhiv meadows" destroyed self-seeded forest.

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