Chance for Kinburn. If there are enough cartridges

Fourth power rumbled with a fist. Usually journalists hit with a head against the wall of bureaucratic neglect, administrative silence and public indifference. But not this time.

On August, 14 “round table” “Will Kinburn be a national park?” took place in the apartment of Ukrainian informational agency. Deputy secretary of CNSD Oleksandr Sadykov (ex-head of Mykolayiv regional state administration), vice-chairman of Mykolayiv regional state administration Sergiy Isakov, director of the National ecological center Sergiy Tarashchuk, director of the South branch of the Institute of ecology of the National ecological center Oleg Derkach, naturalist Yaroslav Movchan and chief of the department of perspective development and public relations of the Government service of reserve case Grygoriy Parchuk expressed their own vision of the problem before cameras of six television channels and journalists. The editorial staff invited to the dialog Tetyana Demchenko, chairman of Mykolayiv regional state administration as well. But we received the official answer: for objective reasons neither she nor her deputies will not be able to “take part” (Ukrainian variant of this expression contained a stylistic mistake that is not permissible in official letters) in this action. The leaders of forestry – the biggest unit of forestry on peninsula -couldn’t take part as well. And the reason is interesting: “competition between people who feel trees is planned”. We can only imagine how many trees were “felt” in Kinburn during this competition, while ecologists were meeting in Ukrainian informational agency. Astonishing knowledge was shown by clerks from the ecological committee of the Verkhovna Rada as well: yes, we know about Kinburn peninsula, a bald eagle lives there. (Super! But they, unfortunately, don’t know that very soon nobody will live there).

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE V.A. YUSHCHENKO  

Dear Viktor Yushchenko!

It is foreseen by the law of Ukraine “About the National program of forming of national ecological network of Ukraine for 2000–2015 years” that the national natural park has to be made within the bounds of the regional landscape park “Kinburn” in 2007–2009.

With beginning of the year 2007, when it seemed that it is time to implement the requirement of the law, the Mykolayiv regional board accepted a contradictory decision. On March, 16, 2007 the bounds of settlements situated in Kinburn such as Pokrovka, Pokrovske and Basylivka related to Pokrovske village board were extended in accordance with the decision № 9 of the regional board № 9 without any designed and technical grounds. Actually the area of agricultural activity was extended by means of decrease of territory of the regional landscape park “Kinburn”.

By this decision they ignored the opinion of public and the viewpoint of the South branch of the Institute of ecology of the National ecological center, according to which agricultural activity in Kinburn, expansion of recreation area in particular, will result in worsening of ecological situation and result in the loss of unique natural landscapes, flora and fauna of the peninsula.

The mentioned decision of the regional board, as the one that was accepted with violation of laws of Ukraine and Land code of Ukraine, was appealed by the protest of Office of Public Prosecutor of Mykolayiv region from June, 25, 2007.

However, having undergone the insignificant formal changes, the spirit of “decision № 9” lives.

What makes the Mykolayiv regional board in consent with the Pokrovske village board frankly break the laws of Ukraine? Probably it was the aspiration to pass lands on the seaside of the Black sea and Yagorlytska bay, the price of which can only be imagined, into the private property.

Mr. President, participants of the “round table” “Will Kinburn be a national park?” which took place on August, 14, 2007 in the Ukrainian national information agency, appeal to you with a request to solve the problem which was set up round the regional landscape park “Kinburn”. In fact, according to the article 53 of the Law of Ukraine “About the natural and reserve fund of Ukraine”, exactly the President of Ukraine is provided with plenary powers to make decision about creation of natural reserves and national natural parks. We hope that Your assistance will not allow private interests become higher than state.

August, 14, 2007.

Ukrainian national information agency

Victor KORNIYUK,

deputy of editor-in-chief and chief of the department that deals with coverage of questions of local self-government and regional policy of the periodical “Viche”;

Sergiy TARASHCHUK,

director of the National ecological center;

Oleg DERKACH,

director of the South branch of the Institute of ecology of the National ecological center;

Yaroslav Movchan,

a naturalist, laureate of the State premium of Ukraine in the field of science and technique;

Grygoriy Parchuk,

chief of the department of perspective development and public relations of the Government service of reserve case.

Valentun BUSHANSKYI