The Cabinet of Ministers has introduced a new legal regime for the use of land plots with peatlands, clearly defining their intended purpose and management conditions for these areas. This step is aimed at reducing climate risks and enhancing the country’s environmental safety.
This is reported by Finway
Key Changes in the Regulation of Peatland
The resolution “On the Features of the Legal Regime for the Use of Land Under Peatlands and Possible Types of Their Intended Purpose” was adopted on May 6. It establishes special conditions for the formation, transfer of ownership or use, as well as changes in the intended purpose of peatland.
One of the main innovations is the creation of a separate information layer in the State Land Cadastre that will contain data on all plots with peatlands. This layer will be mandatory for consideration when making decisions regarding the management of such lands, including when transferring ownership, changing the intended purpose, or managing plots occupied by peatlands.
The document also details the possible types of intended purpose for peatland and clarifies the composition of lands to which these areas may be classified. The new approach allows for consideration not only of formal cadastral parameters but also of the natural value, climate, water regulation, and ecological functions of each plot.
Protection of Owners’ Rights and Environmental Safety
The resolution does not provide for an automatic review of already established intended purposes of lands and does not require owners or users to re-register documents. The new rules will only apply to future decisions regarding the formation or change of the designation of plots.
Separate provisions have been made for the transfer of land to former owners of real estate destroyed as a result of armed aggression by the Russian Federation. This allows for the protection of citizens’ rights to be combined with the requirements for environmental preservation.
“Peatlands are a natural resource that is significant for both the environment and climate safety. The resolution establishes clear rules for lands where peatlands are located for the first time: such territories should be used considering their ecological value, not just their intended purpose,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Economy Iryna Ovcharenko.
According to ministry representatives, the implementation of new rules will help prevent the degradation of peatlands, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, lower fire risks, and harmonize Ukraine’s land policy with European environmental standards.
The Ministry of Economy emphasized that the adoption of the resolution significantly brings the Ukrainian regulatory system closer to EU approaches regarding the protection of natural habitats, ecosystem restoration, as well as water and climate policy.
Peatlands are crucial for climate and water balance: in their natural state, they accumulate carbon, regulate water regimes, and serve as natural filters. Draining and degrading such areas leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions, deteriorating water quality, and heightened risks of peat fires.