Dr. Zinovy BROYDE, Director of the EcoResource Centre: „In the long term, the A7 can contribute to the transition to a circular economy, where resources are used optimally and sustainably”

EcoResource, under the leadership of Dr. Zinovy Broyde, promotes the sustainable development of territorial resources and spatial security in Ukraine, as well as cross-border cooperation with neighbors

In the context of the construction of the A7 highway, it is essential to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Organizations such as EcoResource play an important role in ensuring the responsible ecological development of infrastructure.

How do you see the impact of the construction of the A7 Highway on the environment and the management of natural resources in the region?

Being one of the key elements of the new TEN-T “Baltic – Black Sea – Aegean” corridor, approved by the EU on December 22, 2023, the A7 highway and the parallel railway are essential for implementing the key task set by Commissioner A. Vălean on December 11, 2019, for the implementation of the European Green Deal: “As part of the EU Green Deal, our goal is to move a significant part of freight transport from vehicles to rail and inland waterways. Higher capacity and multimodal solutions are needed.”

The construction of the A7 will have a significant impact on the environment, especially on the natural resources of the region, passing through sensitive areas, the basins of the main tributaries of the Danube, and important ecological corridors. The correct combination of multimodal road and rail transport will reduce habitat fragmentation, impacts on biodiversity, rivers, wetlands, and other environmental components.

It is important that large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the A7 highway, are developed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, integrating ecological solutions throughout the entire life cycle of the construction and operation of these transport systems.

What measures do you think should be implemented to minimize the environmental impact of this project?

The need for environmentally-oriented development of such multimodal connections in the cross-border basins of the Siret and Suceava rivers was agreed upon at the UA-RO meeting of the intergovernmental working group for transport and infrastructure in Chernivtsi on May 17-18, 2018. The need to optimize the construction of the A7 in the area of the main international border checkpoint “Porubnoye – Siret” and the reconstruction of the main railway crossing “Vadul-Siret – Vicșani” was discussed with the designers of the A7 and representatives of the border regions at an online interministerial meeting on March 12, 2020.

As a result, the A7 project includes a bypass of the city of Siret through the village of Vășkauți, where it is proposed to connect this highway to the shortest route with the Vadul-Siret station through the Vălcineț Noi – Vășcauți transition, in accordance with the 1996 intergovernmental agreement. For this, it is proposed to build an 8 km (6 km on the Ukrainian side and 2 km on the Romanian side) parallel road and railway, connecting Vadul-Siret to the now inactive Siret – Dornești railway line and the A7 highway towards Vășcauți.

The strategic environmental assessment and the environmental impact assessment, as required by international and Ukrainian legislation, will allow for minimizing environmental risks to aquatic ecosystems, fauna, etc., including the rehabilitation of areas affected by construction.

Furthermore, the transition to transport technologies that comply with the European Green Deal will make it possible to attract funds from European programs for ensuring electric mobility in transport, developing green energy, and other elements of green infrastructure.

How can modern infrastructure contribute to the sustainable development of the region?

This communication development is outlined in the Bucharest Summit Declaration of April 30, 2001, “Sustainable Development and the Environment in the Carpathian-Danube Region.” At the same time, this construction meets the main principle of the Transport Protocol of the Carpathian Convention, initiated by this summit—optimizing transport flows that cross and bypass the Carpathians (especially the international highways E-85/A7 and E 58).

At the same time, according to the first priority of the Three Seas Initiative, multimodal connections along the A7 highway provide, bypassing the Carpathians, basic communications, including military mobility, both along the eastern flank of the EU and NATO (from Finland to Turkey), and between their main expansion areas—Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova.

Meanwhile, the intensification of goods and passenger (tourist) flows contributes to the development of relevant services, the construction industry, and economic clustering, strengthening Romania’s internal unity and cross-border cooperation with the regions of Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, and the Baltic States.

Thus, the development of modern transport infrastructure contributes to creating new jobs and stimulating the local economy.

What initiatives does EcoResource Centre have to support environmental protection in the context of large-scale infrastructure development, such as the A7 Highway?

EcoResource Centre actively cooperates with local and regional authorities, as well as with state and international bodies, to promote environmentally oriented infrastructure development.

At the core is the use of geo-information technologies (GIS) and the exchange of geo-spatial data between distributed databases. As demonstrated by the large-scale tripartite project (RO-UA-MD) EAST AVERT on flood risk and water resource management in the Prut and Siret basins, this approach is the most promising for planning, design, construction, and sustainable development, including environmental monitoring and national and cross-border interaction in emergency situations.

Have you interacted with the authorities or companies involved in the project to implement ecological solutions?

Yes. The EcoResource Centre was one of the initiators and creators of the pilot Ukrainian-Romanian-Moldovan Euroregion “Prutul de Sus,” which included Suceava and Botoșani counties from Romania, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions from Ukraine, and seven territorial units from Moldova’s “Nord” zone. A model is being developed based on this Euroregion—EcoEuroRegion Carpathians-Black Sea—where sustainable development and the greening of transport, energy, and water systems are the main priorities.

Since the formation of the “Prutul de Sus” Euroregion in 2000, EcoResource has ensured the functioning of its Working Commission on technological-ecological safety, environmental protection, sustainable development, and EcoEuroRegion. The Euroregion Council and its working commissions interact with the central authorities of the states. An example was the Council meeting on May 29, 2010, when three countries joined the EU Danube Strategy, attended by the Ukrainian Cabinet Minister and four State Secretaries from Romania’s key ministries.

In this context, EcoResource participated in discussions with the authorities and companies involved in the A7 Highway project, as well as with the Romanian company Grampet.

What plans do you have to monitor and support the sustainable management of resources during and after the highway’s construction?

One of the objectives of the EcoResource Centre is to introduce forecasting, planning, and design systems, including environmental monitoring, based on GIS. With their help, parameters such as air, water, and soil quality are integrated into state and municipal management systems, fostering interaction with civil society, merging long-term forecasting, environmental and human health impact monitoring with the planning of appropriate corrective actions.

How do you think the A7 Highway can promote the use of sustainable solutions and technologies in infrastructure development?

The creation of a multimodal transport system along the A7 Highway could become an example of sustainable infrastructure integrating sustainable solutions and the best available technologies (BAT).

An important aspect is promoting carbon-emission-free mobility by installing electric vehicle charging stations along the route. Therefore, the use of eco-friendly construction materials and the promotion of energy-saving technologies during construction and operation are crucial measures.

In the long term, the A7 could contribute to the transition to a circular economy, where resources are used optimally and sustainably, thereby reducing waste and pollution.

What are the main environmental challenges you see related to this project, and how can they be effectively managed?

One of the major challenges is the fragmentation of natural habitats, which can negatively impact biodiversity. This can be managed by creating wildlife passages and green corridors to ensure habitat continuity. Another priority is protecting water resources, especially in areas where the highway intersects rivers and lakes. The implementation of efficient drainage systems and the use of natural barriers to filter pollutants are essential solutions for protecting aquatic ecosystems. Last but not least, there are challenges that require innovative technological solutions and a strong commitment to sustainability, such as managing construction waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Do you have recommendations for maximizing the ecological benefits and sustainability of the A7 Highway?

Our recommendations for maximizing ecological benefits include:

• Implementing green infrastructure. The A7 Highway should be equipped with green infrastructure elements, such as solar panels and recharge zones for electric vehicles, to reduce the carbon footprint.
• Ecological corridors. It is imperative to create ecological corridors to allow wildlife to cross the highway safely and minimize the impact on natural habitats.
• Continuous monitoring. Establishing a long-term environmental impact monitoring system, based on GIS, to ensure compliance with environmental standards throughout the entire lifecycle of the highway.

How can the EcoResource Centre collaborate more effectively with partners in Romania and Ukraine to promote ecological initiatives in the region?

The EcoResource Centre is already collaborating with partners in Romania and Ukraine to promote ecological solutions in infrastructure projects. I believe that expanding cooperation through cross-border projects within regional initiatives, such as the Three Seas Initiative and the EU Danube Region Strategy, will bring significant benefits.

Through the exchange of expertise and the creation of cross-border networks for geo-spatial data sharing, we can monitor and manage natural resources more efficiently. Furthermore, collaboration with local communities and regional governments will be crucial for implementing sustainable solutions and educating the public about the importance of environmental protection.

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