Ecologists: Adler-Krasnaya Polyana road is threat to unique woodland

At least two relic tree varieties of the Sochi National Park are under threat of extinction as a result of construction of the combined road Adler-Krasnaya Polyana in the Krasnodar Territory within the preparation for Olympiad-2014. This was stated by Andrei Rudomakha, coordinator of the Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus.

Now, the federal commission of experts conducts the state ecological examination of the project of the above combined road. According to Mr Rudomakha, at least several rare plants are in danger.

"Our greatest fear is with the fate of Colchis boxtree (relic evergreen bushes or small trees usually some 9-10 meters high; entered into the Red Book, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot"). So far, they don't fell boxtrees; however, in the future the combined road will pass right through the boxtree flood valley - the largest forest of these trees in the territory of Russia," the ecologist told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "It its today's form, the project assumes to cut several thousands rare trees."

Another relic plant, now in danger because of the Olympic construction is the pterocarpous wing nut (a big tree up to 30 meters high, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot"). As explained by the coordinator of Ecological Watch, since spring this year, felling of these trees is at full swing in the Sochi National Park.

According to Mr Rudomakha, "ecologists can only guess about the consequences of this construction for the environment, since, despite numerous requests, until now the activists of the Ecological Watch were not allowed to see any EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) on any component of the Adler-Krasnaya Polyana road."

The press centre of the "Olympstroy" State Corporation has refuted the fact that the project of the combined Adler-Krasnaya Polyana road is in closed access. However, the question of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on where and when one can get acquainted with the EIA on the project remained unanswered. None of the Corporation's experts on ecology issues was accessible on that day for comment.