Chernobyl area fields to be used for growing rape

The heavily contaminated territory of the Zone of Alienation around Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster may be used for growing industrial crops, particularly rape.
On one hand it will provide an opportunity to increase biodiesel production and thus to decrease environmental contamination. However, will the biofuel production be safe? And should we tinker at the Alienation Zone at all? And how will the Ministry of Environment and Nature Conservation respond to such proposals?  We asked Heorhiy Filipchuk, the Minister for Environment and Nature Conservation of Ukraine to answer to these questions for us.

New species unknown before the disaster emerged

Mr. Filipchuk, there are some proposals to use the contaminated area for growing industrial crops. How do you personally feel about that?

First there should be a scientific, environmental and economic background to provide reason for such an approach. Most importantly is that how is it going to affect people who will be working in the fields of the Chernobyl zone? Would it be reasonable now to increase the area of cultivated lands all the more in the alienation zone? According to the number of cultivated lands Ukraine has already crossed the critical line. Besides, when it comes to rape or soya, especially of foreign origin, I should say that Ukraine needs to be protected from genetically modified seeds no less than from radioactive materials. According to the latest estimates around 1.5 million hectares of Ukrainian lands have been sown with genetically modified seeds.

Biofuel is good, but you cannot consider issues one-dimensionally, otherwise we will have “fix one thing and break another” situation. I believe that the entire alienation zone should be turned into a “Chernobyl Special” wildlife sanctuary, with some parts of it or even most of the area be given the status of a nature’s reserve. By and large managing lands for conservation is one of the tools of preserving and renewing of biotic resources. Unfortunately, Ukraine cannot boast of good results in this issue either, and the situation calls for an immediate solution for a number of issues as to the development of reserve management and studies.

The so called reclamation efforts in the alienation zone for  growing industrial crops — if such will take place — would it affect the peculiar kind of natural balance that has been  formed there over the last two decades following the disaster?

All agricultural activities have been suspended in the 30 km zone in the last 22 years. Thousands of people have been evacuated and now we are witnessing a unique natural complex that is renewing itself. Animal and fish resources have increased, oppressed species have regenerated themselves, new species that had not been observed before the disaster have appeared, particularly birds. God forbid that we should regenerate the environment by such means! Because the Chernobyl tragedy was caused by human activity — pseudo-technocratic social development policy. By and large it should be recognized that under the present circumstances people have become increasingly unable to adjust to the changes they introduce  to environment. It’s a pity! However, to ensure humanity’s survival there is only one paradigm of “unlimited responsibility of people for all flesh.” The Red and Green Lists of Ukraine testify to the shortcomings of social behavior norms. 448 fauna and 665 flora species have been included in the List over the last decades.

Who will want Chernobyl biodiesel?

Forest and water regeneration also help conserve the environment and not only in Chernobyl zone…
There is a long road to recovering uncontrolled logging in the Carpathians, Volhynia, Zhytomir regions waiting for us. For instance, we have 14.5 percent  of aforestation today. I believe that number is too low for Ukraine. That is why over March-April this year millions of nurslings have been planted. That would not become a one-time promotion campaign and  there are plans to hold a large nation-wide forestation campaign. And of course, we will take tough measures from financial standpoint to eradicate the so called total logging method, wood exports, especially of fine woods from Ukrainian woodworking  industry and wood policy. Because it’s not just about environment but also about healthcare, demography, national economy and social policy, jobs and culture, and tourism and sustainable development. Forest utilization without timber regeneration should be banned in Ukraine. Let’s say, it would be logical to introduce single legislation for forest owners — per each 1 m3 of timber 10-20 nurslings should be planted. We should pay more attention to building forest roads to get to over mature woods, and not just completely log “profitable” places.

As far as Chernobyl is concerned aforestation there is a natural process for good reason with human interference. So nature there regenerates itself in wild conditions so to speak. So you understand what can interference of forest owners result in. Why should rapeseed be planted exactly there? Who will want to utilize biofuel, produced in the alienation zone? Only those, who do not know where it comes from! Inroads are being made not only on Chernobyl zone but also on all protected lands in each region of our nation.

Author: Ivan Kotchenov