New Regulations for Peatland Areas Under Consideration
The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers is expected to adopt a decree in April titled 'On the Specifics of the Legal Regime for the Use of Peatland Areas and Their Possible Designated Purposes.' This move is part of Ukraine's ongoing effort to implement the European Union's Water Framework Directive. The draft decree is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice. Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Iryna Ovcharenko, noted that the Ministry published the draft for public consultation in January.
According to available data, waterlogged and marshy lands in Ukraine cover approximately 5.4 million hectares, of which over 3.3 million hectares have been drained. Under the proposed legal framework, the potential designated purpose categories for these peatland areas include:
- Nature conservation
- Water protection
- Forestry
- Recreational/health
- Historical and cultural preservation
"These lands could be designated for purposes such as nature conservation, water protection, forestry, recreation, or historical and cultural preservation... This is a limited list of potential categories," stated Iryna Ovcharenko.
Legislative Reform and Environmental Impact of Land Reclamation
In a related development, draft law No. 7577 was adopted on February 25, 2026, concerning improvements to the management system for state-owned land reclamation infrastructure. This legislation proposes the creation of operators for state reclamation networks. "There is an understanding today among the institutions managing reclamation that it involves both irrigation and drainage," Ovcharenko noted. "Drainage was primarily aimed at drying peatlands to bring more land into agricultural use."
She further emphasized that past reclamation efforts were not always appropriate and could cause environmental harm. Peatlands, she explained, are crucial carbon stores, holding ten times more carbon per unit area than forest plantations. "Preserving small rivers is unrealistic without preserving peatlands and marshes," she added.
Finally, Ovcharenko reported that the draft decree is now receiving final feedback from the Ministry of Justice and awaits a concluding stage of coordination with the Ministry of Finance. "I believe that sometime in April we will have the finalized document," she concluded.
The adoption of this new decree represents a significant step toward environmental stability and effective natural resource management in Ukraine. This policy shift aligns with broader European environmental goals, where peatland conservation is recognized as vital for climate mitigation. Establishing clear land-use categories for peatlands can help protect these unique ecosystems, which play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and improving water quality. It also reflects Ukraine's commitment to integrating European environmental protection standards.