Page 135 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Environmental impact on Ukraine’s quality of life

transport timber and should be reported to the authorities. Ukraine.” Its implementation involves planting one billion
Moreover, increased responsibility through substantial new trees within 3 years. By late November 2021, about 38
fines for both loggers and consumers, as well as criminal million trees had been planted, including five million in
liability for purchasing illegally harvested timber, could the Carpathian region (Zelena, 2021).
further reduce illegal logging. However, reforestation is not just about planting trees.

It is worth emphasizing that deforestation in the It involves restoring balance among the environmental,
Carpathian region has contributed to climate change, social, and economic benefits of forests and land use. In
landslides, and, subsequently, frequent large-scale floods. some cases, natural regeneration of local plants is the best
For instance, in June 2020, 300 towns and villages were approach, while in others, planting trees and vegetation
affected by floods, and 500 km of roads were damaged can accelerate the recovery of health and productivity of
(Bratyuk, 2020). Therefore, reducing continuous felling degraded landscapes (Wilkie, 2021). The Great Green Wall
and transitioning to sustainable methods of logging (e.g., is an example of the latter approach.
selective cutting) is necessary. As forests are important for It is worth mentioning that illegal and mass deforestation
moisture retention on mountain slopes, the preservation is not the only issue contributing to drastic climate change
of soils should be considered in the standards for logging.
and deteriorating quality of life. Illegal fishing, poaching
The United Nations General Assembly has declared of large carnivores, and the killing of wild birds also affect
2021 – 2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, nature. For instance, according to environmentalists, 40 –
which provides an opportunity to support the large-scale 50 brown bears are illegally killed annually in the region,
restoration of degraded forest landscapes, increasing despite fewer than 200 remaining in the Carpathians
environmental sustainability and efficiency and (Malovanyi, 2020). The population of Romania plays a
contributing to the achievement of many Sustainable critical role in preventing their extinction. Therefore,
Development Goals. Some countries have already made the animal protection system should be strengthened by
commitments under the Bonn Challenge that aim to increasing accountability for lawbreakers, using advanced
restore 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested technologies (such as drones and mobile applications to
landscapes by 2030, with Sustainable Development Goal record and report violations), and encouraging strong
15.3 targeting land degradation neutrality by 2030. There public involvement. Mineral and thermal waters are
are also regional initiatives, such as the Great Green Wall unique natural resources in the Carpathian region. To
(a project led by the African Union to combat desertification preserve them, the protection of sanitary zones around
in the south), the African Forest Landscape Restoration these resources should be reinforced, and excessive
Initiative, Initiative 20 × 20 in Latin America, and ECCA30 pumping should be prohibited, as it leads to contamination
in Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia (Wilkie, 2021). and depletion of the sources.
In November 2021, at the Conference of the Parties 26
Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, 110 countries, 4.2. Objective 2: “Clean” region
representing 85% of the world’s forests, signed the The implementation of Objective 2 aims to reduce air and
Declaration to preserve and regenerate forests (Ministry of water pollution and address littering in the territory. The
Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, 2021). Ukraine Carpathian region has the highest river density in Ukraine,
joined the Declaration and pledged to stop deforestation surpassing other regions 4 – 7 times. However, the problem
and initiate the restoration of forest cover by 2030. of quality drinking water remains pressing, as significant
amounts of agrochemicals, wastewater, and industrial waste
Several presidential orders in Ukraine focus on
nature and environmental preservation. For instance, enter the region’s reservoirs. The following measures are
Order No. 381/2017, “On Additional Measures on needed to address this problem: Rationalizing freshwater
Forestry Development, Rational Nature Management, use; establishing water protection zones and coastal
and Natural Reserve Fund Objects Preservation,” and protection zones for water bodies; reconstructing existing
Order No. 511/2019, “On Some Measures on Forests centralized water supply and sewerage systems and creating
new ones where necessary; and modernizing existing water
Preservation and Rational Use of Forest Resources.” The treatment facilities and sewerage networks. To reduce
Green Country project, launched in June 2020 in Ukraine, industrial water pollution, it is essential to strengthen
aimed to significantly increase forested areas. Within this control over compliance with legislation and standards by
initiative, the Order of the President of Ukraine, “On Some
Measures on Forests Preservation and Rehabilitation” economic entities, as well as increase penalties for violations.
(No. 228/2021 as of June 7, 2021), was issued to launch the The level of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere
environmental project titled “Large-Scale Reforestation of from stationary sources varied across the oblasts of the

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 129 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4487