Ukraine Context

Impact of Russia's War against Ukraine on the State of Ukrainian Soils

by the Land Matrix Initiative: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1no1zfx-yRHhglS4A7bZhDqf6TRlAq-M2/view?usp=sharing

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of the war on Ukrainian soil. The document discusses the following key areas:

• Military activities: The war has caused widespread damage to agricultural land through shelling, bombing, and the use of landmines. This damage has destroyed crops, contaminated soil with explosives and other hazardous materials, and made it difficult for farmers to access their land.

• Displacement: The war has displaced millions of people, including many farmers. This displacement has disrupted agricultural production and made it difficult for farmers to maintain their land.

• Economic sanctions: Economic sanctions imposed on Russia have also had a negative impact on Ukrainian agriculture. These sanctions have made it more difficult for Ukrainian farmers to import and export goods, and have increased the cost of inputs such as fertilizer and fuel.

The document estimates that the war has caused over $10 billion in damage to Ukrainian agriculture. This damage is likely to have a significant impact on food security in Ukraine and the wider region.

The document also discusses the following specific impacts of the war on Ukrainian soil:

• Increased erosion: The war has disrupted agricultural practices, such as crop rotation and cover cropping, which can help to prevent soil erosion. This has led to increased soil erosion, which can damage soil structure and reduce crop yields.

• Soil contamination: The war has caused soil contamination with explosives, oil products, and other hazardous materials. This contamination can make the soil unsafe for agriculture and can also pose a risk to human health.

• Loss of biodiversity: The war has destroyed habitats and disrupted ecosystems, which has led to a loss of biodiversity. This loss of biodiversity can reduce the resilience of soil ecosystems and make them more vulnerable to damage.

The document concludes by discussing the challenges of restoring Ukrainian soils after the war. These challenges include the need to remove landmines and other hazardous materials, to rehabilitate damaged soil structures, and to restore biodiversity. The document also recommends a number of actions that can be taken to address these challenges, such as providing financial support to farmers, investing in research and development, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Overall, the document provides a sobering assessment of the impact of the war on Ukrainian soils. The war has caused widespread damage to agricultural land, contaminated soil with hazardous materials, and disrupted agricultural production. These impacts are likely to have a significant negative impact on food security in Ukraine and the wider region. The document also discusses the challenges of restoring Ukrainian soils after the war and recommends a number of actions that can be taken to address these challenges.

Soil Metamorphosis: Ukrainian Study of War Impacts on Soils

Posted on April 28, 2023,  By Editor 3 Comments on Soil metamorphosis: Ukrainian study of war impacts on soils, by Valeria Kolodezhna, Translated by Nick Müller & Jennifer Castner: https://uwecworkgroup.info/soil-metamorphosis-ukrainian-study-of-war-impacts-on-soils/#more-2649

“Contaminated Ukrainian soils are now estimated in millions of hectares. The figure is imprecise, and the assessment of their condition is incomplete. However, today, even while the war is ongoing, crop production represents 30% of the country’s GDP. Researchers are studying post-military action soil conditions in Ukraine as urgently as possible for economic reasons, but only environmental considerations make it possible to weigh and rationally choose a plan for further actions. In this article, we consider the results of a study presented by the Ecodia Center for Environmental Initiatives on the impact of hostilities on soils in individual Ukrainian communities. Ecodia brings together experts and activists to influence environmental conservation decision-making.”

There are several causes of soil damage due to war activities:

• Physical damage. The passage of heavy equipment and troops compacts soils and thus damages the natural structure and layering (horizons) of soils.

• Chemical contamination. Mines, UXOs, munitions debris, and their reaction byproducts contaminate the soil with heavy metals and other hazardous compounds. These materials and chemicals can typically be found at great distances from impact craters.

• Thermal impacts. Fires due to war activities, when combined with the physical compaction of rolling heavy equipment like tanks across farmland and forest, would have some serious soil compaction impacts.

• Due to the war and the higher temperatures and lesser rainfall due to climate change, particularly in the south and east of Ukraine, can lead to soils losing their ability to infiltrate or retain water which in turn can adversely impact the growth of plants and crops.

It is important to note that there are significant variations from one region to another in Ukraine in both the intensity and duration of war activities and regional vulnerability to those impacts.

A significant Ukrainian tool already in use for tracking war events in time and space is the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. In addition, “At the beginning of 2022, the Ukrainian government approved a method for calculating soil damage resulting from emergency situations and/or armed aggression and fighting. Research in this direction has not ceased, and now the Department of Environmental Safety and Mine Action within Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense is developing its own method, with some projects proposed by the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. That said, analytical phases for studying military combat consequences for soils are best presented in Ecodia Center for Environmental Initiatives’ study, “Land pollution as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine”, in collaboration with and presented by Anastasia Sploditel.

For less severely contaminated areas, the Kolezhna report recommends in-situ phytoremediation or phytoextraction, which would work by allowing specially selected plants to uptake the heavy metals naturally with the removal of the plants. The report is not clear on how or where the removed contaminated plants would be disposed of, except to say that human consumption should be prohibited. In more severe cases, the report recommends temporary closure of the contaminated area, thus letting the soil fallow and allowing self-recovery by natural attenuation of the contaminants.

International Best Practices

Assessment and Cleanup of Hazardous Waste Sites: A Summary of the USEPA's Process

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) employs a comprehensive, multi-step approach to clean up the soil and groundwater of sites contaminated with hazardous wastes. This process is designed to protect public health and the environment while ensuring responsible and effective remediation.

This summary provides a general overview. The specific steps and procedures involved in cleaning up a hazardous waste site may vary depending on the site's unique characteristics and the chosen remedy, including the types of compounds or materials; their toxicity, corrosiveness, flammability, reactivity, radioactivity, carcinogenicity, health effects, etc.; their presence and concentrations geographically and by environmental media (soil, groundwater, surface water, air, buildings); and their mobility, pathways for migration, and proximity and exposure to vulnerable receptors (people, land uses, biota, etc.).

Here's a breakdown of the key phases:

1. Site Assessment

• Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI): This initial phase involves gathering information from historical records, interviews, and a site visit. The goal is to assess the potential for a release of hazardous substances and determine if immediate action is needed. (URL: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-site-assessment-process)

• National Priorities List (NPL): Based on the PA/SI findings, the USEPA may consider adding the site to the NPL. The NPL prioritizes hazardous waste sites for further investigation and cleanup based on their potential risks. (URL: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-national-priorities-list-npl)

2. Site Characterization

• Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS): This in-depth investigation defines the nature and extent of contamination, identifies potential pathways for exposure, and evaluates risks to human health and the environment. The RI/FS also develops and analyzes potential cleanup options, considering their effectiveness, cost, and long-term impact. (URL: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-remedial-investigationfeasibility-study-site-characterization)

3. Remedy Selection and Design

• Record of Decision (ROD): After considering public comments and input from stakeholders, the USEPA issues a ROD that documents the chosen cleanup remedy. The ROD justifies the selection based on factors like effectiveness, cost, implementability, and long-term protectiveness. (URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/supreme-court-epa-administrative-state.html)

4. Remedial Action

• Implementation of the Cleanup Plan: The selected remedy is implemented according to the approved design and specifications. This may involve various technologies, including excavation and disposal, treatment, containment, or monitoring. (URL: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/cleanup-approaches)

5. Site Completion and Long-Term Monitoring

• Site Completion: Once the cleanup goals are met, the site is considered complete and may be delisted from the NPL. However, long-term monitoring and maintenance may be required to ensure the continued effectiveness of the remedy and protect human health and the environment. (URL: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-cleanup-process)

Additional Resources

• USEPA Superfund Program: https://www.epa.gov/superfund

• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-comprehensive-environmental-response-compensation-and-liability-act