Dnieper River basin management strategy to be discussed at Belarus-Ukraine forum

GOMEL(BelTA) - The Dnieper Basin Council will convene for a meeting during the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine due in Gomel on 25-26 October, chairman of the Gomel regional committee of natural resources and environmental protection Andrei Sushchevich told the media on 16 October, BelTA has learned.

The council will focus on the draft plan of the Dnieper River basin management. “Basin management is a new thing for our country. It is therefore very important to study existing experience, including that of Ukraine,” Andrei Sushchevich said. The strategy will define the activities of Belarus and Ukraine in water monitoring, water quality control, compliance with the hydrological regime, etc.

The council will also examine the results of the inventory of water objects of Gomel Oblast.

The forum will include a meeting of the Belarusian-Ukrainian commission on coordination of matters related to the protection and sustainable use of transboundary natural reserves. The preliminary agenda includes five issues. They will pertain to the operation, preservation and sustainable use of the transboundary Ramsar areas Stokhod-Pripyat-Prostyr and Olmany - Perebrody mires. The commission will consider the development of the transboundary biosphere reserve Pripyat Polesie. “This will enhance the status of this territory, contribute to the coordination of the actions of the Belarusian and Ukrainian sides in protecting the biodiversity of the animal and plant world, combat invasive plants, and preserve the uniqueness of the Polesie,” said Andrei Sushchevich.

Framework agreements will be adopted following the meetings of the council and the commission.