INTERNATIONAL OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED DEEP-WATER NAVIGATION CANAL THROUGH THE CORE AREA OF THE DANUBE DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE
By electronic mail to:
Izmail City Council
Executive Committee
62, Suvorov Pr
68600 Izmail
Ukraine
Fro the attention of.
S. Repnikov
Head of the organisation of public hearings Working Group
Dear Mr Repnikov,
Although the notice given of the public hearing on the "Creation of the Danube-Black
Sea Deep-Water Navigation Canal on the Ukrainian Part of the Delta - Complete Development", and the time available to send
objections, is ridiculously short, the fact that a public hearing is being held
at all is a positive development.
It is to be hoped that the public hearing will be conducted in a democratic manner.
In this context we would be grateful if copies of this email be passed to the officials conducting the public hearing.
Based on all available information it is clear that this project will result in
degradation of the natural biodiversity of the Danube delta, will destroy traditional ways
of management, and could also result in a worsening of economic conditions in the region. It conflicts with the principles
of the function of a biosphere reserve defined by UNESCO's program "Man and the Biosphere".
The proposals to construct this channel through the reserve are based on the conclusions
of the environmental assessment conducted by Kiev National University. This assessment is basically
and factually flawed and several NGOs already have lodged complaints against its conclusions.
We urge that the report of the joint mission which was carried out by the
Man and Biosphere Programme (MaB) of UNESCO and the Ramsar Secretariat to the Danube Biosphere Reserve and Kyliiske Mouth
Ramsar Site in October 2003 is considered by this hearing. The report at
http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.ukraine_danube_ram53.htm
This concludes that the canal construction as presently proposed 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 particular the nesting of tens of thousand birds will be threatened. The reserve will lose
almost all staging areas for migrating waterfowl and waders. Altogether 223 species of birds, including 5 on the European
Red List and 31 in the Ukraine Red Book will be affected as well as many rare and disappearing species of mammals and insects.
The outcome would be that the Danube Biosphere Reserve will lose its importance
on an international and national level. Furthermore the proposed construction project violates both national legislation and
international obligations of Ukraine.
It would be wrong to implacably and thoughtlessly oppose ship transit through
the Ukrainian part of the Danube delta. We do however feel that you should positively consider
other alternative canal variants; which also have a chance of attracting investment and sparing the taxpayer and the environment.
On this basis we herewith lodge our objection to the project as planned on the grounds
that the heritage of present and future generations of all Europeans is at risk.
We remain,
