Twelve Environmental Control Points operating in Ukraine: new unit set up in Yaremche to strengthen protection of the Carpathians

Ukraine continues to expand its network of Environmental Control Points (ECPs), thereby ensuring rapid response to environmental violations and strengthening preventive monitoring of the environment. Nowadays, 12 such points are operating across the country, including a newly opened ECP in Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk region.

The ECP will function within the Yaremche city community. Its area of responsibility also includes the Polianytsia, Vorokhta, and Verkhovyna territorial communities, covering 31 settlements with a total area of more than 1,292 km².

The Carpathian region is one of Ukraine’s most valuable natural complexes, but it faces significant human pressure due to tourism development and infrastructure expansion. The opening of the ECP shall ensure effective preventive measures, rapid response to violations of environmental legislation, and protection of the Carpathian ecosystems.

State inspectors will carry out environmental control measures aimed at improving environmental conditions, respond to citizens’ complaints, and record cases of illegal logging, off-road driving, littering and land pollution, water pollution, and other violations of environmental law.

Modern technical equipment will be used in their work, including drones and photo/video recording devices, allowing for quick documentation of violations and proper response.

The ECP shall also coordinate the work of state inspectors and facilitate cooperation with local governments, law enforcement agencies, and public organizations.

Currently, ECPs operate in six districts:

- Central (Cherkasy and Poltava regions)  

- Polissia (Zhytomyr and Rivne regions)  

- South-West (Odesa and Mykolaiv regions)  

- Carpathian (Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions)  

- Capital (Kyiv region)  

- Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad regions)  

Background

ECPs are part of the reform of state environmental oversight, ensuring a shift from a mostly punitive model of control to a system focused on preventing environmental violations. The project is being implemented by the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine within the framework of the Strategy for Reforming State Environmental Control until 2029. Coordination is carried out by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.