June 2019. Kiev, Ukraine. WWF Ukraine has developed Scientific and methodological recommendations for the preparation of EIA report for road construction. After the cross-sectoral presentation of the report on June 13, 2019, the document will be officially presented to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

High-quality road infrastructure is an important aspect of the economic development of the Carpathian region. At the same time, the construction, operation and reconstruction of roads is a source of negative environmental impact, as it creates barriers between ecosystems, destroys habitat as a result of direct changes in natural systems, contributes to air pollution through road transport, and so on. In addition, as a result of road accidents both people and animals are injured or even killed.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an extremely important and effective tool that helps to avoid or at least minimize and plan for compensation activities for environmental damage. It allows taking into account the interests of all stakeholders of the infrastructure project: local residents, public authorities, road companies, drivers, and, of course, academics and conservation groups.

However, environmental aspects were not sufficiently addressed during road planning and construction stage due to the lack of relevant instruments and guidelines, since the Law on EIA was adopted relatively recently in 2017 in Ukraine.

• ‘Scientific and methodological recommendations for the preparation of EIA report for road construction have been developed by an interdisciplinary team of experts in order to ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of what should be included in the ATS report and have the opportunity to influence the process at the planning stage of the construction, or road reconstruction’ - says Svetlana Matus, Policy Coordinator WWF Ukraine.