The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling to recover almost UAH 3 million in damages from Stryi City Council for the unlawful felling of trees on a forestry-designated land plot in Stryi district. This was reported by the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
The violations were identified by staff of the State Environmental Inspectorate in Lviv region during a joint inspection of forest stands. According to a forensic engineering and environmental expert report, environmental damage of almost UAH 3 million was caused.
Under the law, the local self-government body in whose territory a forest is located is obliged to ensure its protection and is liable for damages if the perpetrators are not identified. In view of this, prosecutors of the Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office filed a claim seeking compensation for the damage caused to the state.
The court of first instance fully upheld the claim, but the defendant appealed this decision. The Court of Appeal agreed with the prosecutors’ arguments and confirmed the lawfulness of recovering the funds from Stryi City Council.
Once the decision enters into legal force, prosecutors will take measures to ensure that the recovered funds are credited to the special fund of the local budget for environmental protection.