On the eve of Christmas and New Year, Ukrainians traditionally decorate their homes, offices, and classrooms with fir trees and pine trees, or set up artificial holiday trees.
EcoPolitic has prepared tips for its readers on how to choose the "right" Christmas tree so as not to harm nature, as well as how to make a festive tree yourself.
Live Christmas trees should be chosen at special Christmas tree markets and be sure to check the tags. All Christmas trees that were harvested in the forests of the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" have tags confirming their legality.
These tags can be checked on the open.ukrforest website by entering the numbers in the section "Checking Christmas trees".
In addition, a Christmas tree can be purchased directly at the branches of the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine", where it will cost from 70 to 350 UAH.
It is worth noting that on the eve of New Year's holidays, utility workers in cities treat conifers with special chemicals. These substances are not harmful to the plant, but emit an unpleasant odor in a warm room.
In addition, a fine is provided for each arbitrarily cut conifer, the size of which depends on the size and location of the green space:
- in forests – from 759 to 3432 hryvnias;
- within the city and other settlements – from 1,152 to 1,852 hryvnias;
- within the territories and objects of the nature reserve fund – from 11,495 to 52,311 hryvnias.
During the season, eco-inspectors and law enforcement officers will conduct joint raids to identify illegal trees.
Some Ukrainians prefer artificial Christmas trees, in particular to protect nature. However, sh fat Christmas trees pay off their ecological footprint in 20 years, while live ones absorb carbon in special plantations for several years. And after the holidays, live trees can be handed over for recycling.
However, you can create a festive mood with your own hands by making a Christmas tree from materials at hand. This will allow you to create a unique design, as well as creatively spend time with loved ones.
TOP-5 do-it-yourself eco-trees:
- from cones – for this you can make a cone and cover it with cones. According to the same principle, you can create a "sweet" Christmas tree from candies;
- from threads – such a cone can be wrapped with a film and wrapped with threads dipped in glue. After the glue dries, the base must be separated;
- from books – you can put your favorite books on the table or floor in the shape of a Christmas tree and decorate them;
- wall-mounted or hanging – Christmas decorations can be fixed on the wall by creating a base from a strong cord or wire. In addition, decorations can be fixed on threads to a chandelier or a ladder;
- from branches – during a walk you can collect original branches and create a festive composition with Christmas decorations from them. In addition, the branches can be painted with acrylic paint in any color.
You can also decorate a living tree on the street.
As EcoPolitic reported earlier, eco-activists called on Ukrainians not to destroy living trees to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, but to create a creative festive composition from ears of corn, paper, nets, etc.
