May 22, 2010
Nearly a month ago, we were informed that a plot of land adjacent to the Chygyryn forestry (Cherkasska region) was being planted over with no legal basis whatsoever. The fact was reported by the regional Office of Forestry and Hunting itself (‘Foresters expect a simplified scheme of converting the land to plantations’, original Ukrainian text here: http://lis.ck.ua/news/show/id/1117). Among various claims, the following raised our suspicions: ‘the village councils will gladly allot 700 ha [for afforestation] of several thousands that can be found in the Chygyryn district… but local foresters are ahead of their time. They have already begun planting trees on the soon-to-be allotted plots currently under the jurisdiction of the Chygyryn city council and Subotiv and Ivaniv village councils. The plantations will already require care this year… By the time the land-use rights are transferred [to the forestry], the woods will already be growing.’ When translated, it means ‘the state enterprise ‘Chygyryn Forestry Office’ plants trees on land not legally theirs.’ Consulting satellite images of the region yielded the predictable result: the last remains of steppe gullies were being demolished. The State Committee of Land Resources of Ukraine, when made aware of the problem, supported eco-activists. The SCLR confirmed that the forestry appropriated and afforested land plots of total area of 69.15 ha, and also that they fined the office 87754,66 hryvnas for the offence. The case is being processed by the Chygyryn district prosecutor’s office. The incident is one of many indicating that forestry, as an industry, cannot be trusted to regard steppe conservation seriously, and is not above violating the law in their machinations.
Civil Initiative ‘Save Ukrainian Steppes!’ www.pryroda.in.ua/step
