Why Ukraine needs the Emerald Network
The Verkhovna Rada is awaiting the first reading of Draft Law No. 4461 "On Emerald Network Territories". If this law is adopted, nature protection in Ukraine will be built at the European level.
Source:
Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group
However, not only nature benefits from the creation of the Emerald Network. Among the advantages are the image of our state in the international arena, progress towards European integration, economic benefits, and, most importantly, the well-being of citizens. Emphasizing the importance of the draft law, 200 scientists from 85 scientific institutions appealed to the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada with a call to support Draft Law No. 4461.
The Emerald Network is a network of protected areas of European importance, created in fulfillment of the provisions of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. The Emerald Network already exists in Ukraine. Currently, its Ukrainian list includes 377 valuable natural territories with a total area of 8 million hectares.
Legal status needed
According to Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy Yulia Ovchynnykova, the draft law is very important for biodiversity conservation in Ukraine:
The Bern Committee has recognized all these territories, but they do not yet have legal status and can be destroyed. Under international obligations, Ukraine must protect them and the rare species that inhabit them, but there are no real mechanisms without the adopted law "On Emerald Network Territories".
The draft law was unanimously supported by the Committee on European Integration, as it meets all European standards. Currently, the draft law is awaiting its first reading in the plenary hall.
Ukraine's obligations
Head of the Department for Protection and Use of Nature Reserve Fund of the Department of Nature Reserve Fund and Land Resources of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Anastasia Drapalyuk assures that the Ministry of Environment supports the draft law:
Firstly, these are our European obligations. Annex 30 stipulates that Ukraine must create mechanisms for managing the Emerald Network. Secondly, every 10 years, the Red Book of Ukraine is replenished with new species. Species of flora and fauna are disappearing. And this means that we are destroying nature and leaving nothing behind. This leads to socio-economic problems in our state and in other countries.
Everyone wins!
Not only nature benefits from the creation of the Emerald Network. The economy of our state will also benefit from the real work of the Emerald Network, emphasizes Olena Kravchenko, executive director of the International Charitable Organization "Environment-People-Law":
This is a law on balanced development, on friendship between wildlife, local population and businesses that are ready to implement their type of activity. According to the law, this activity will be built in such a way that both business and the community can develop, and that unique species and habitats are preserved. These are the principles of European business conduct. And with this law, we are moving towards the European Green Deal.
Europe is interested in Ukraine
The European Program Manager of the International Renaissance Foundation Olha Kvashuk notes that the EU has long been interested in implementing the best European practices in Ukraine:
The International Renaissance Foundation has long taken a comprehensive approach to environmental protection issues. Thus, with the support of the EU last year, we launched a large project #EU4USociety, one of the important areas of which is strengthening the voice of civil society for Ukraine's participation in the European Green Deal, forming a responsible environmental policy at national and local levels. That is, EU taxpayers' money is aimed at integrating Ukraine into the EU and building the best European practices here.
Natura 2000 and the Emerald Network
The Emerald Network operates in most European countries. However, in EU member states, the network is called Natura 2000, and in non-EU countries, it is called the Emerald Network. The Natura 2000 network is identical to the Emerald Network in everything except the aspect of membership in the European Union. Currently, the Emerald Network operates effectively in Switzerland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
These two networks are as similar as possible. Their main idea is to achieve balanced development, which is achieved through territory management. For example, for each species and habitat, their own management plans are prescribed - the conditions for their preservation. Sometimes it is even about passive nature protection - that is, you just need not to interfere with natural processes, - explains Kateryna Polyanska, an ecologist at the International Charitable Organization "Environment-People-Law".
Unique Ukraine
The head of the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group Oleksiy Vasyliuk is convinced that the implementation of the Emerald Network is beneficial for all Ukrainians:
Countries with the largest number of protected areas have the highest standard of living. Examples are Norway, Sweden, Switzerland. They have clean air, clean water, incredible natural landscapes. People live longer and healthier from this, have better mental health, and have a higher happiness index. Our country is unique on the map of Europe; we can only preserve our unique nature for all of Europe by preserving it in Ukraine.