Project “Creation of a Public System of Fire Protection of Forests in Ukraine”

12.7.2023

The All-Ukrainian Environmental League is implementing a pilot project “Creation of a Public System of Fire Protection of Forests in Ukraine (pilot)”, within the framework of the U.S. Forest Service International Programs.

The problem of forest fires is extremely relevant for the entire territory of Ukraine. Every year, the country lost 30,000 to 60,000 hectares of forest area to fires, and since the beginning of full-scale Russian military aggression, more than 3,000 fires have been recorded on an area of more than 2.5 million hectares. Fires in natural ecosystems cause significant damage to forests and meadows, and can destroy valuable habitats and rare species of flora and fauna.

The main goal of the project is to strengthen the fight against forest fires in Ukraine by creating a system of voluntary fire brigades in pilot communities.

To actively engage civil society in forest fire prevention and protection in Ukraine, measures have been taken to form, train, provide the necessary special equipment (firefighter’s protective suit, helmet, transparent face shield, fireproof gloves, boots) and insure five teams of volunteer fire brigades to prevent and eliminate the effects of forest fires. It also provides for the creation, content and promotion of a website for volunteer fire brigades, preparation and publication of educational materials, conducting training lectures and seminars, on-site practical exercises and interactive trainings, and installation of information stands on forest fire prevention. Volunteer fire brigades are trained at the Training and Methodological Centres of the SES of Ukraine’s Special Purpose Emergency and Rescue Units.

Public involvement in forest firefighting is extremely important in light of the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Functioning of Local and Volunteer Fire Protection” (Reg. No. 75571). Volunteer fire brigades must include citizens permanently residing in the community, who have reached the age of 18 and are able to perform their duties for health reasons.

The law provides that local self-government bodies, public organisations, business entities and other legal entities may form voluntary fire and rescue units. Territorial communities can cooperate in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Cooperation of Territorial Communities” to jointly provide local fire protection.

The project involves cooperation with local governments of the target territorial communities, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and its territorial units, the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine, the Ecological Watch Information and Education Centre, the Environmental Education and Information Centre, and the Interregional Centre for Scientific Research and Expertise.

The project is being implemented in five territorial communities:

– Narodytska (Zhytomyr Oblast);

– Kozlivska (Ternopil Oblast);

– Rassoshanska (Khmelnytskyi region)

– Pyriatyn (Poltava region);

– Korsun-Shevchenkivska (Cherkasy region).

The main tasks of fire and rescue units of the voluntary fire brigades are to ensure fire safety, prevent fires and fire accidents, extinguish fires, rescue people, and assist in eliminating the consequences of other emergencies.

Membership in the units is open to persons who are permanent residents of the relevant territory, are at least 18 years old, have full civil capacity, and are able to perform their duties for health reasons.

The public’s interest in combating fires during the Russian military aggression on the territory of Ukraine demonstrates the readiness of Ukrainians to take care of the environment for the future. In the future, it is possible to expand the project’s activities to all territorial communities of Ukraine.

More information on the project’s implementation in the following newsletters.

According to the Faculty of Natural Sciences