Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, spoke about the threats to the countries of the Carpathian region due to deforestation and climate change.
The forests of the Carpathians are disappearing at an alarming rate. Andersen said this at a meeting with representatives of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine on Wednesday, November 25, the UN press service reported.
Andersen said that the trees are being illegally cut down and taken abroad – this has negative consequences for the ecosystem.
She also recalled several devastating floods that Ukraine has experienced in recent years.
“Villages and roads are flooded. The bridges have been destroyed. People killed. Floods are partly related to climate change. But illegal logging, taking place under the guise of difficulties experienced by Ukraine, destroyed large chunks of forest that soak up excess water and provide protection from floods,” Andersen said.
“Don’t be fooled: The Carpathian region is in real and immediate hazard,” she said.
Over the past 20 years, illegal logging has cost Romania more than EUR 5 billion, a UN spokeswoman added.
The UN representative called on the countries of the region to strengthen the rule of law to ensure environmental protection, as well as increase cross-border cooperation and intensify the fight against climate change.
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