Legal provision of prevention and combating land flooding in Ukraine

Abstract

Due to global warming, overregulation of water bodies, disruption of water runoff, unsatisfactory functioning or complete absence of drainage systems, reduction of forest areas, Ukraine will not avoid the problems related to land flooding. The harmful effects of water are caused by both global factors, such as warming and melting of glaciers, and regional features, namely the system of water exchange between water bodies, changes in precipitation and river flow. Land flooding is a phenomenon that cannot be completely prevented. However, human activity increases its probability and impact. The risk of flooding and the extent of damage caused, as well as the impact on the health and socio-economic situation of those affected, will continue to increase because of climate change. Inadequate river management, construction in freshet-prone areas, and the growing population living in these areas further exacerbate the effects of land flooding. Ukraine has already taken appropriate steps to implement the provisions of international acts in the field of preventing and combating land flooding in national legislation. However, the quality of implementation of national programs in the defined area leaves much to be desired, as most of the measures, unfortunately, are not implemented. Failure to comply with measures in certain amounts creates high risks of land flooding, as a result of which the population and the national economy suffer multimillion-dollar losses.