Problems of applying legal liability for offenses in the sphere of long-term temporary usage of forests in Ukraine

Abstract

Problem setting. Today the institute of legal responsibility functionates inefficiently, which can be explained by a weak theoretical development problems of this institution in particular legal sciences (including the environmental law); legislative gaps; low level of skills of the executive officers in the field of environmental protection, rational use, restoration and protection of natural resources. These provisions completely relate as well to the problems of applying legal responsibility for violations in the field of long-term temporary use of forests. Recent research and publications analysis. Issues of legal responsibility for offenses in the sphere of forest usage were considered in the scientific works of B. Boreiko, S. Kravchenko, O. Shumilo, O. Storchous etc. Anyhow, the legal precedents in the scope of offenses in the sphere of long-term temporary usage of forests in Ukraine remains not studied. Paper objective is the analysis of the most typical recent legal cases in the scope of long-term temporary usage of forests that demonstrate the roots for conflicts between the forest users, local public authorities and the public. Paper main body. Based the an analysis of cited precedents, it can be unequivocally concluded that the forest legislation doesn’t regulate efficiently the liability for violations in the field of long-term temporary usage of forests in Ukraine. Forest users often fail to comply with the contract terms of using forests in the part of veto on business activity, as well as constructing fences, that impedes the access of local residents to natural resources. The procedure for receiving forest lands in temporary usage is extremely corrupt, and citizens have to go to court to bring regional administrations to administrative responsibility for unjustified refusal to provide forest lands in the long-term temporary usage. Conclusions of the research. Author believes that the effective solution of modern problems is not to increase fines for administrative and other offenses, but in enhancing the transparency and openness of the permit system, limiting corrupt practices in providing forest lands in temporary usage