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Ramsar, governments, and international organizations critical of Ukrainian canal

Ukraine forgets its international commitments…

The country will celebrate tomorrow its independence with the irritation of international organizations as a background

Gland, Switzerland, 23 August 2004 (Ramsar Convention Secretariat): Several international organizations and countries, including the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, UNESCO, the Government of Romania, Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Shröder, and the Government of the United States of America, have expressed their deepest concern regarding Ukraine’s repeated deafness to the recommendations of the international community. The country’s project to build a navigable waterway through the Bystroye arm of the Danube delta has raised significant international opposition, as the project is affecting an important natural area listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and the core zone of a UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve, as well as a national protected area in Ukraine. While Ukraine will celebrate tomorrow its independence day, the context of this strong international opposition may dampen the celebrations and cause Ukraine to reflect on ways to live up to its international commitments.

International mobilization

The Ramsar Convention was one of the first international agreements, together with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme, to try to find an acceptable solution to the Bystroye problem. In 2003, a joint advisory mission reported that the project, as it is being conducted today, is the worst of the three choices the Ukrainian government could make for this area. The report (see www.ramsar.org/ram_rpt_53e.htm) provided Ukraine with alternatives and technical assistance to ensure the preservation of the ecological character of this area of international importance, one of Europe’s foremost, largest and most valuable natural coastal areas. More recently, the UNESCO Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves reinforced these recommendations, asking Ukraine to provide a full impact assessment of the Bystroye project and to start a consultation process with the Romanian authorities regarding this project. The Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention already expressed his official concerns, a few months ago, to Ukrainian President, H.E. Mr. Leonid Kuchma, as did several diplomatic missions including the Unites States of America, Germany, the European Community, the Council of Europe, the International Commission on the Danube River, etc.

International obligations

Ukraine joined the Ramsar Convention in 1991 and has designated, to date, 22 Ramsar sites totaling 716,250 hectares. By joining the Convention, Ukraine took the international responsibility to conserve its wetlands and water resources and work to find an equilibrium between development and conservation (see Ramsar’s wise use principle). The Kyliiske Mouth of the Danube delta is a 32,800ha Ramsar site and was designated on 23 November 1995 for its great importance for the conservation of biodiversity. It contains rare and endemic species of plants, and is an important area for birds both for their migrations and for their breeding.

Possible implications

For questions, comments or for any further information on this document or on the Ramsar Convention, please contact Sebastià Semene Guitart (ssg@ramsar.org) or Dwight Peck (peck@ramsar.org), Tel: +41 (0) 22 999 0170, Fax: +41 (0) 22 999 0169.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 24 August 2004.