Back in 2012, plans for the large-scale construction of small hydropower plants (HPPs) in the Carpathian Mountains were first announced. The intention was to build hundreds of dams, transforming free-flowing rivers into a cascade of stagnant ponds.
At the time, conservationists declared this to be Ukraine’s #1 environmental problem and launched a campaign to save the Carpathian rivers. Through the joint efforts of local residents, tourists, ecologists, artists, journalists, and all concerned citizens, they managed to defend and preserve the Cheremosh, Stryi, Opir, and other Carpathian rivers.
But those who want to destroy the rivers are now returning to the same areas. On the Bilyi Cheremosh (White Cheremosh) river, there are new plans to build an HPP in the village of Holoshyna, Verkhovyna district. On the Cheremosh river, a dam is being planned in the village of Roztoky, Kosiv district.
The construction of these small HPPs does not solve Ukraine’s energy problems, as their output is insignificant. However, the consequences for the rivers, biodiversity, and tourism would be catastrophic. Furthermore, this type of construction contradicts Ukraine’s international obligations to the European Union, specifically the “do no significant harm” (DNSH) principle. Adherence to this principle is a condition for receiving funding under the Ukraine Facility program.
The Cheremosh river must be preserved! The best way to do this is to grant reserve status to sections of the Bilyi Cheremosh and Cheremosh rivers within the Verkhovyna and Kosiv districts. Scientific justification for the establishment of this reserve was prepared back in 2015. Now the final decision rests with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration (Ivano-Frankivska ODA) and the local communities.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures for the mentioned HPP construction projects have already begun.
