Dismal prospects for Svydovets

A gargantuan ski resort is looming in the Svydovets mountains of Ukraine. The environmental movement Free Svydovets has filed a lawsuit against these plans, but has now been defeated in court.

snow in the mountains

The mountain landscape of Svydovets is still pristine and characterised by a great diversity of species.

© Serhii Ryzhkov
Protest of the conservation movement Free Svydovets

The environmental movement Free Svydovets, which was awarded the EuroNature Prize 2022, is fighting against the planned ski resort.

© Free Svydovets

The Administrative Court of Appeal in Lviv rejected the environmentalists’ complaint and approved the Svydovets development plans. This could soon destroy 1400 hectares of primeval and old-growth forests in the Carpathians of Ukraine. The court’s decision is questionable not least because the skiing area’s developers violated applicable law on several occasions. Among other things, proper procedures for public hearings of the affected population were not observed and access to important information was denied.

Plans for the ski resort in Svydovets became public in 2016. They include building 60 hotels, several restaurants and shops and even a private airport on the mountain range, despite Svydovets being home to many rare animal and plant species, of which 93 would be threatened with local extinction if the gigantic project were to go ahead. By granting the EuroNatur Award 2022 to the Free Svydovets conservation movement, EuroNatur spotlighted this nature-destroying tourism project.

“While thousands of Ukrainians are currently giving their lives for a better future within the community of European countries, the Ukrainian courts are moving in the opposite direction and push the country back into a dark past,” Free Svydovets stated after the court decision. The European Parliament also strongly criticised the plans for the illegal construction of the mega-resort at Svydovets. Free Svydovets has announced that it will file an appeal against the court decision.

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Airport construction threatens Albanian bird paradise

++ Construction work for airport in Narta Lagoon continues unabated despite significant protests ++ Resting area is internationally important for…

Disappointing results of last trilogue on Renewable Energy Directive

++ Woody biomass and hydropower can continue to count towards renewable energy targets ++ No will for sustainable climate policy in the EU in sight ++

Major success: River Vjosa becomes National Park

++ Today the Vjosa River in Albania has been proclaimed Europe’s first Wild River National Park ++ EuroNatur, Riverwatch and many other partners have…

More Ski Resorts Planned Around Syvdovets

In 2016, the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration announced its plans to build a ski resort of the same name in the Svydovets mountain…

Romania's primary forests are disappearing - the EU Commission must intervene

++ Investigative research uncovers scandalous machinations in the forestry industry ++ EuroNatur demands strict protection for primary forests in…

Lead ammunition finally banned from wetlands

Good news for Europe's waterbirds: the use of lead shot ammunition in wetland hunting has finally been banned. The law came into force on 15 February…

Don’t be afraid of the wolf

For the first time in more than 100 years, the presence of a female wolf has been verified in the Black Forest. Since two male wolves already live in…

Flamingos or planes: Protests against Airport in Albania

++ World Wetlands Day focuses attention on global destruction of rivers, lakes, marshes and coasts ++ Major demonstration in Albania against…

Schwaderer in German President Steinmeier's delegation

Great honour for Gabriel Schwaderer: EuroNatur Executive Director took part in Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's state visit to Albania and…

Vjosa Wild River National Park: Feasibility Study is a major milestone

The Vjosa River in Albania, one of the last wild rivers of Europe, is one major step closer to protection today as the team of Albanian and…

Legal action against the Vlora Airport in Albania

New developments on the planned airport construction in the Narta lagoon: The lawsuit filed by our partners against the project was ruled as…

Dismal prospects for Svydovets

A gargantuan ski resort is looming in the Svydovets mountains of Ukraine. The environmental movement Free Svydovets has filed a lawsuit against these…

Review of the Year 2022

War in Ukraine and the energy crisis, bird flu and a fish die-off, plus the continuing Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences: 2022 was a…

Spotlight on nature’s diversity

++ Start of EuroNatur photography competition 2023 ++ Anniversary for the “European Treasures of Nature”++

Further opposition to Albanian airport construction

European governments request that the Albanian government suspend the construction of the airport in the Vjosa-Narta Protected Area. The main…