The agenda of the EcoCommittee for December 20

The agenda of the EcoCommittee for December 20
Katerina Belousova

People's deputies will consider the problem of illegal logging in Volodymyretsk community

On Wednesday, December 20, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management will meet in person and via videoconference at 16:30.

EcoPolitic has prepared the committee's agenda for its readers.

MPs will consider the work plans of the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine for 2024. In addition, there will be an informational presentation on the principles of the circular economy of the EU member states, the experience of Austria and the city of Khmelnytskyi in waste recycling.

The Environmental Committee will also consider a letter from Yulia Ovchynnykova, MP from the Servant of the People faction. The letter concerns the appeal of the NGO Ukrainian Nature Protection Group regarding illegal logging of communal forests in the territory of Volodymyrets territorial community in Rivne region.

The MPs will also consider changes to the personal composition of the Working Group on the Development of Legislative Initiatives on Environmental Impact Assessment in the Forestry Sector (letter from Eduard Proshchuk, MP from the Servant of the People faction, and letter from the state enterprise Forests of Ukraine).

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" they made a decision to dismiss all directors of Rivne branches due to chronic deep corruption problems. Personnel purges were announced after the deputy director of the regional forest office was exposed for illegal enrichment of 150 million hryvnias.

Related
Digest of environmental crimes: widespread corruption among forestry officials and environmental pollution
Digest of environmental crimes: widespread corruption among forestry officials and environmental pollution

Most of the crimes uncovered involve foresters implicated in illegal logging, the embezzlement of public funds and negligence, which is causing damage to the forests

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a special operation, ‘Green Shield’, to tackle forestry corruption and illegal logging
The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a special operation, ‘Green Shield’, to tackle forestry corruption and illegal logging

The Bureau is identifying all those involved and intends to ensure that the millions in losses are recouped

Wind power monopoly in the Carpathians: plans are afoot to build three more wind farms in the highlands
Wind power monopoly in the Carpathians: plans are afoot to build three more wind farms in the highlands

In the future, a 1.5 GW wind energy cluster is set to be established in Zakarpattia, which will supply energy to the EU

Digest of environmental crimes: the National Police’s ‘rubbish’ special operation, forests, mineral resources and poachers
Digest of environmental crimes: the National Police’s ‘rubbish’ special operation, forests, mineral resources and poachers

Law enforcement officials have stated that they have identified 40 companies in breach of the law, which have caused over 60 million UAH worth of damage to Ukraine’s natural environment