The restoration of nature after the war will continue for decades. Ukrainian Pravda reports on the required 50 years, referring to the Czech publication "Blesk". Czech and Ukrainian ecologists determined such a time.
“Different ecosystems have different recovery times. For example, according to estimates, it will take fifty years to restore the ancient steppe in nature conservation areas in the south of Ukraine," says Marcela Chernochova, program coordinator of the "Ukraine" project.
Photo: Ivan Rusev
Some ecosystems and populations of some animals and plants have been destroyed to such an extent that we may lose them irrevocably.
Greenpeace spokesperson Lukasz Grabek notes that the destruction of the environment occurs on such a scale, in particular, because of the enemy's tactics.
"Destruction of the environment, for obvious reasons, takes place somewhat in the shadow of those human tragedies that we observe and sympathize with. Primarily because Russia uses scorched earth tactics and destroys large areas, including cities, with the intensive bombing," Greenpeace spokesman Lukasz Grabek said.
Experts emphasize the problem of moving heavy military equipment and shelling, which cause fires. Due to explosions, fires, and flooding of the affected areas, water, air, and soil are polluted with dangerous substances that can remain in the environment for decades.
"In the future, all toxic substances in the soil can get either directly into food or the food chain," Chernokhova said.
Ukrainian expert Maksym Soroka, part of the team preparing the methodology for assessing and calculating damages from the Russian invasion, emphasizes the importance of not separating crimes against the environment into a separate category. He believes that this is also a crime against humanity.
"The Ukrainian environment and nature are being deliberately destroyed to harm people, destroy their homes, and making it impossible to live in their country," he says.
