Main points
- It is prohibited to cut trees or collect firewood on coastal protection strips owned by the state or communities.
- It is permitted to cut down trees for fuel on private land.
Where it is forbidden to chop firewood / Photo Unsplash
Firewood is the easiest way for rural residents to prepare for the heating season. This way, you can stock up on a lot of fuel before the cold weather sets in.
What is known about the rules for chopping firewood in Ukraine?
At the same time, cutting or removing branches is not possible everywhere, as stated in the Law “On Environmental Protection”.
For example, you might see trees in riparian buffer zones – specially designated areas of land along rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
But the plants there belong to the state or communities. Therefore, cutting down trees or collecting firewood there is prohibited by law .
Such actions cannot be taken to prevent pollution of water bodies. This is stated in the Water Code of Ukraine.
The width of these zones depends on the size of the reservoir:
- small – 25 meters;
- medium – 50 meters;
- large – 100 meters.
On private land, the owner can safely cut down trees to use for fuel. But if a tree falls in a forest or park, it belongs to the state or community where the event occurred.
Important! Ukrainians may be fined or held administratively liable for violating the laws.
What else should Ukrainians know about tree felling?
- If the land plot where the tree is located is privately owned, the decision regarding the tree is made by the owner himself. At the same time, liability is provided for the intentional destruction or damage of trees within populated areas.
- In particular, the distance from the tree trunk to the fence should be at least 4-6 meters, and for a bush – at least 1 meter. But if the trees were planted before 2019, then the rule of state building codes does not apply to them.