Fw: [proactupdates] Danube Delta - quick reaction

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" David J A Conlin " <david.conlin

<proactupdates >

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 3:12 AM

[proactupdates] Danube Delta - quick reaction

 

 

>

> David, this is very Urgent!

> Best

> Olga Berlova

>

> Dear friends!

> It seems that breaking point and the last battle comes in the story

> of Danube reserve defense. (all story is at

> www.seu.ru/projects/eng/dunay) In December Ukrainian President

> Kuchma said that Council of National Safety and Defense should make

> a final decision on where the deep water canal Danube - Black Sea

> should be constructed - inside the Danube biosphere reserve or

> beyond its limits. The Council meeting will happen on Wednesday,

> April 23. The Ministry of Transportation pushes forward the project

> that would literary kill the reserve and leave many rare and

> endangered species without habitat. The situation is still very

> complicated, and your action is urgently needed. The Ukrainian

> authorities are aware of the possible reaction from the

> international community. Even in the unfavorable draft of the

> decision there are recommendations to the Ukrainian Embassies to

> study the international reaction to the possible canal construction,

> especially in the countries of Danube commission. Also, besides

> Ukrainian budget, Ministry of Transport hopes to get funding credits

> from international institutions, like World Bank and EBRD. Sending

> your letters will let them know the reaction. Please, send your

> faxes to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and to the Chairman of

> Council of National Safety and Defense Eugene Marchuk. Please, if

> possible, send or give the hard copies of your letters to the

> Ukrainian embassies in your country! (Especially in case if office

> refuses to accept your fax)

>

> President of Ukraine, Kuchma L. D., 01220. Kiev, Administration of

> the President of Ukraine, str. Bankovaya, 1, fax +38(044) 291-6161,

> http://www.president.gov.ua/eng/feedback/

>

> Chairman of Council of National Safety and Defense Eugene Marchuk.

> fax +38(044) 255-0601

>

> The Danube Biosphere Reserve Territory Should Remain as it Is!

>

> Dear sirs!

> Since the end of March Ukranian Ministry of Transport has

> intensified lobbying for deep water canal Danube - Black Sea

> construction through Bystroe Estuary, in strictly protected zone of

> the Danube biosphere reserve. Minister G. Kuchma has stated

> intention of his Ministry to withdraw all estuaries from the

> reserve. The final decision on the reserve fate is to be taken at

> Council of National Safety and Defense of Ukrain meeting. Relating

> to that we would like to draw your attention to the fact that

> biodiversity of the region would be conserved only if reserve

> territory remains as it is now. The withdrawal of estuaries from the

> protected area will result in irreversible damage to the unique

> natural system. The deep water canal construction through Bystroe

> estuary, which is the only reason for the proposed changes to the

> Danube Biosphere reserve territory, will worsen or even make

> impossible the nesting of tens of thousand birds. The reserve will

> lose practically all the places where flocks of waterfowl and near-

> water dwelling birds congregate seasonally. The natural habitats of

> birds in these territories will be radically damaged. Just in the

> proposed zone of the shipping lanes reside 223 species of birds,

> including 5 on the European Red List and 31 in the Red Book of

> Ukraine. On the territory also reside or temporarily inhabit many

> rare and disappearing species of mammals and insects. The normal

> habitats of many of them are incompatible with what is being

> planned. The canal construction will irreversibly change the

> hydrological regime of the delta, disturb natural processes of delta

> formation, inescapable pollution of the ecosystem by oil products,

> change the habitat for most of the species, decrease of the trade

> fishery amount, will threaten endangered species inhabiting the area.

>

> In fact, the only reason for the changes in protection of the area

> would be is conservation value loss. However, this has not happened

> yet. If the plans of the Ministry of Transportation are realized,

> the Danube Biosphere Reserve will actually lose its importance on an

> international and national level. Biodiversity, natural systems of

> the area are defining its conservation value and make it

> internationally important area. This is why, in case of deep water

> canal construction through Bystroe estuary, Ukraine will loose one

> of its most valuable natural territories. Taking in account all

> listed above, we consider repugnant the deep-water canal

> construction through Bystroe estuary within strictly protected zone

> of the Danube Biosphere reserve. Attempts to change the borders of

> the biosphere reserve and to withdraw part of its key protected area

> will have a negative impact on the international image of Ukraine,

> especially taking in account the fact that Ukraine is hosting

> European Ecoforum in May 2003.

>

> We hope that Ukrainian authorities will take all necessary steps to

> conserve the reserve.

>

> Signature

>

>

> We ask to send copies of your letters to Pechenegi group at

> pecheneg

>

>

>