You will be aware that your organisation, together with the GEF,  have contributed considerable funds towards the establishment of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the most important European natural wetland resource.

You will undoubtedly also have heard that the Ministry of Transport of the Ukraine are planning to go ahead with the construction of a navigable channel from the Danube to the Black Sea through the specially protected zone of the Danube biosphere reserve, in the Bystroye estuary. If this project goes ahead as presently planned it will result in degradation of the natural biodiversity of the Danube delta, will destroy traditional local employment sectors and ways of management, and could therefore result in a worsening of economic conditions in the region.

A report commenting critically and negatively on the implementation of the planned dredging project on this critical route option, by the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Bureau and the Ramsar Secretariat, can be found at http://www.ramsar.org/ram_rpt_53e.htm

In addition, the Ukraine is violating national legislation concerning public participation, protected areas and biodiversity conservation, and is destroying the habitat of Ukrainian Red Book species and IUCN Red List species.

Action to stop the execution of the route favoured by the Ukrainian Ministry of Transport is urgent and vital as a German dredging company based in Hamburg, the "Josef Moebius Bau-Aktiengesellschaft" has arrived in the Danube Delta and has begun work which will cause irreparable destruction to the important nature and wildlife habitat in the core area of the Danube Bilateral Biosphere Reserve.

 We urge you to give your immediate attention to this matter and protect your financial investment in the biosphere reserve by intervening with the Government of the Ukraine and other responsible bodies.

Yours sincerely,

(Name and address)