Environmental threat — river banks are being illegally plowed in Odesa region

Representatives of the Environmental Inspectorate examined the condition of the water protection zone of the Southern Buh River. The results of the inspection showed that the condition of the reservoir is deteriorating due to the activities of local residents.

This was reported by the State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District.

"Despite the existing project documentation for establishing the boundary of the coastal protection strip, there have been numerous facts of plowing the coastal strip of the Southern Buh River, which leads to a deterioration of its condition," the report says.

Why is it dangerous

A coastal protection strip is a certain area near the banks of the river (for small rivers 25 m, for medium-sized ones 50 m). Plowing land in these areas can lead to:

•    shallowing and silting of the river;
•    herbicides and fertilizers entering the water body;
•    reduction in the number of animals and plants.

Agricultural work in coastal zones is punishable by a fine or, in the case of land pollution or illegal seizure of land, by imprisonment for a term of ten years.

It should be reminded, that in the Odessa region the bottom of the estuary was almost given to a private company. In addition, the territory of the National Park was returned to the state in this region.