<< Globally
threatened species
Aquatic Warbler
Key Aquatic
Warbler Habitats in Prypiat River Floodplain under Threat
(Update, December 2006)
Expert assessment of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection
of Birds
(Experts — Poluda A. M., Legeida I. S.)
Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds continues its lobby
campaign to stop hydro-melioration projects in Prypiat river floodplain threatening
key breeding habitats of Aquatic Warbler.
Importance of the area under threat
Today only a few floodplain ecosystems in Volyn region remaining
in natural state. An area of Prypiat floodplain along 70 km between Richytsa village
and boarder with Rivne region still remains intact and natural. Almost all this
area included in the Ukrainian natural-reserved fund as there are ten hydrology
reserves and regional landscape park “Prypiat-Stohid” (Prypiat national park is
plan to be established here within Lubeshivsky district in 2007). Rich biodiversity
supports 26 animal species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Annually thousands
of wetland birds migrate and stop over along Prypiat river. The floodplain supports
breeding habitats and moulting grounds for waterfowls (ducks, coots, geese, waders,
etc.). Considering importance of the Prypiat floodplain for bird protection, this
site was listed as a wetland of international importance (Resolution of Cabinet
of Ministers of Ukraine No 935, 23.11.95). It is Ramsar Site # 776.
It is also important that the area supports more than 60% of
Ukrainian breeding population of Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), included
in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species, EU Bird Directive (Annex I), Bern
Convention (Annex II) and Bonn Convention (Annexes I and II). The species is also
listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
Unfortunately, there is a real threat of destructing this ecologically
valuable area where the most part of the Ukrainian breeding population of Aquatic
Warbler nests. This threat is related to implementation of some projects under
the regional Programme “Ecology 2010”, which is realised by the regional Volyn
Water Management Authority (Volyn Oblvodgosp).
Negative ecological impacts of the Programme “Ecology 2010”
Different activities under the Programme “Ecology 2010” provoke
serious criticism as to environmental impact on river floodplain. At this stage,
two projects on “Reinstatement of hydrological regimen of Prypiat river between
Vyzhivsky intake structure and Lyubiaz Lake, channel improvement” (subsection
2.1.1, cost — 8.245.000 UAH) and “Reinstatement of hydrological regimen of Prypiat
river between Richytsya village and Vyzhivsky intake structure, channel improvement”
(subsection 2.1.1, cost — 4.986.000 UAH) cause the most serious concerns. According
to the Terms of reference, excavation of 80% of the river channel between Richytsia
village – Lyubiaz lake is scheduled for the nearest future.
As a result of similar work carried out on the neighbouring
area near Komarove village in 1996-1998, a group of Aquatic Warblers (25 males)
left the site due to drying out of the sedge mire. The second stage of channel
deepening was carried out in 2004-2005 between Shchedrogir village and Turia river
mouth (6 km leg).
We have been monitoring this area of the floodplain since 1999.
It always used to have high water level. There are many lowland sedge mires located
along the river channel used by local people for haymaking. Besides, there are
a number of oxbows and watercourses in the floodplain. As a result, conditions
are optimal for breeding of the following bird species: Coot Fulica atra, Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos, Greylag Goose Anser anser (several pairs). The site supports
2.5-4% of Ukrainian population of Aquatic Warbler.
During May-June 2006, we studied effects of similar projects
of the Water Management Authority related to “renewal of hydrological regimen”
in this area of the floodplain. These projects have dramatic consequences for
the floodplain, which was dry during the survey period; even the lowest parts
of the floodplain dried out. In the second decade of May 2006, water level upstream
and downstream of the site was 0.7-0.8 m lower than the normal water level in
dry season, particularly in late July-early September. At the same time, water
level on other parts of the floodplain was high, which is normal for this season.
Channel deepening has reduced water level on those parts of the floodplain, which
are located further than 1 km from the river. In 2006, sedge tussocks, which are
normally surrounded by water, grew in dry soil. As a result, this area was no
longer a wetland and geese, ducks and coots have left the site.
Number of Aquatic Warblers decreased by 5 times in this season
and they will most probably not breed there in the next year (as the species does
not breed in dry habitats).
The same situation was observed in December 2006. In particular,
the floodplain was dry despite the summer flood on Prypiat River at the end of
summer. This flood condition was caused by abnormal precipitation when almost
four mean monthly rainfalls fell during August, which is the highest level for
the last 50 years. Heavy rainfalls were also in autumn. Under this condition,
the water level at this site should be the same as on other sites within floodplain
where dredging has been not carried out. It is not difficult to predict how the
situation will change in low water or “normal precipitation” years when the floodplain
will begin to transform, sedge habitats will disappear and both fire and peat
burning will periodically occur. In December 2006, the dredging work on the site
was officially announced completed by Volyn Water Management Authority. Such type
of activity can be defined as a “hidden drainage”.
Other projects within the framework of the Programme “Ecology
2010” may also have negative ecological effects.
Legal Aspects
Is the activity of Volyn Water Management Authority legal? It
does violate national environmental legislation. For example, channel dredging
between Strybuzh lake and Shchedrogir village (one of the projects to be implemented
in 2007) is planned within hydrological reserve “Shchedrogirsky”. Such activity
violates the following laws of Ukraine: Law on Environmental Protection (Article
64, 68), Law on Wild Animals (Articles 9, 10, 39, 40-44), Law on Nature Reserve
Fund (Articles 7, 26), Law on the Red Book of Ukraine (articles 11, 20), Law on
State Programme of Developing National Ecological Network for 2000-2015 etc. For
example, Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine” stipulates
that “any activity, which has negative impact on the state of natural complexes,
should be banned” within reserves, this especially refers to destruction of water
resources within hydrological reserves.
Furthermore, the above mentioned river bed restoration, which
is conducted by bulldozer for one specific depth, does violate international legislation
Bern Convention, Bonn Convention, Ramsar Convention, Convention on Biological
Diversity. All these conventions are ratified by Ukraine and require protection
of rare species and their habitats.
Volyn Water Management Authority is aware of this violation
of the law, as they state in the report on “Scientific and Ecological Justification
of River Bed Restoration in upper Prypiat of Volyn region” (2003). It is written
in the report that despite the protection status, restoration of river bed is
still necessary. For some projects, they justify the need ion the “river bed restoration”
by the need to protect people from floods. At the same time, our data and water
monitoring results show that the threat of floods in the area is over-estimated
and the dredging in any case is not the most effective solution.
EIA of the individual projects under “Ecology -2010” Programme
were conducted, but we did not have the opportunity to receive the copies of conclusions.
We have all the reasons to suspect that the EIA conclusion was prepared without
proper scientific study of all ecological effects. Volyn Oblast Envitronmental
Authority has approved the Programme “Ecology-2010” in 2005 and we this decision
was not appropriately justified.
What is already done, what needs to be done?
There is a question why Water Management Authorities intend
to break the law. Is their only reason to spend 13 million hrivnas for their all
dredging activities? Such activities should be stopped now and the possibility
of their conducting in the future should be minimized.
USPB’s objectives in the lobby campaign are
to:
- - Encourage environmental authorities to stop all hydromelioration projects
in Prypiat floodplain (impose moratorium on such activities);
- - Question state EIA of the individual projects under the Programme “Ecology
2010” and request additional state EIA;
- - Encourage establishing Interagency State Appraisal Commission with involvement
of experts in ecology (hydrology, botany, zoology, and hydrobiology) for assessment
of conducted activities on channel improvement and possible future changes of
conditions in this part of Prypiat floodplain in the case of its drainage. We
also aim at active participation in the work of such Commission.
- - Attract public attention to the problem and educate all stakeholders about
negative environmental impacts of the “Ecology 2010” Programme.
USPB has launched a protest campaign and took
the following steps:
- - Information was widely circulated through USPB web-site, environmental
list-serves, forums, personal meetings etc;
- - Press-releases were distributed among national/ regional mass media;
- - Protest letters were sent by USPB and other organizations which joined
protest campaign to Volyn Oblast Environmental Authority, Volyn Water Management
Authority, Ministry for Environmental protection of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers
of Ukraine.
- - Articles are regularly published in the USPB membership newsletter.
Results of the lobby campaign so far:
- - More than 20 organisations from different East European countries have
joined our lobby campaign;
- - The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry for Environmental
Protection of Ukraine have requested regional authorities to investigate the situation;
- - We started the dialogue with Volyn Oblast Environmental Authority. For
example, a joined field on-site appraisal was organized in December 2006, which
allowed USPB experts to study the situation.
- - Volyn Water Management Authority does deny not only ecological impacts
of their projects, but also the fact that some of the projects are planned! However,
the discussion started, in which we apply our scientific expertise.
- - We are building partnership with relevant international organisations,
including Pilot Project on Transboundary Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment
(Kiev office);
- - We receive support from BirdLife partners who are ready to join our lobby
campaign.
What is next?
Now we encourage establishing the Interagency State Appraisal
Commission and introducing the ban on hydromelioration in Prypiat floodplain.
We encourage national NGOs to request Ministry for Environmental Protection of
Ukraine to take lead in those issues. We hope we will be able to solve the problem
on the national level, but those international and/or foreign organisations who
are interested in the situation may also help through lobbying the Ukrainian government
and requesting detailed explanations from state bodies (Cabinet of Ministers,
Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine, State Committee on Water Management).
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