If we want to preserve the authenticity of the Carpathians, we must consider it in a broader spectrum – Mykhailo Rivis

These days, the European Congress of Local Self-Government was convened for the fourth time in the Polish city of Krakow.

It is attended by more than two thousand leaders of self-government and executive branches, international experts, scholars from Central and Eastern Europe, including the chairman of the Transcarpathian Regional Council Mykhailo Rivis and the heads of Svalyava and Velyky Berezny district councils.

On April 27, there was the panel discussion "Authenticity of the Carpathians: the role of local self-government in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage", where Mykhailo Rivis presented the cultural heritage of Transcarpathia. In his speech, he noted that everyone views the authenticity of the Carpathians only in terms of architecture and folklore.
– But I am convinced that we must consider the authenticity of the Carpathians in terms of its unique human resources, – the head of the regional parliament emphasized, and added – We must understand that the people, who live there, are the main assets of this system, which has been being created for centuries, and that they preserve those customs, traditions. And these traditions must not be lost. To do this, we need to look for another level of resources.

He also raised an equally important and authentic issue – the ecology of the Carpathians. "Now that Czech partners often visit us, they are fascinated by the nature, but they say that we "sanitize" the Carpathians, which lose their naturalness and the attractiveness of wildlife. Unfortunately, nowadays we see a lot of garbage on the banks of the rivers, river hydroelectric power stations are being built, which ruins the landscape that attracts tourists. There is also the authenticity of the Carpathians, which we must preserve – the emerald rivers, where HPPs should be prohibited, and people need to be given the opportunity to be compensated for these losses. 
Therefore, if we want to preserve the authenticity of the Carpathians, we must consider it in a broader spectrum, other than architecture. Currently, Transcarpathian wooden churches are registered in the UNESCO. But there is not enough money in the regional budget to maintain them in good condition. And although the Transcarpathian Regional Council approved the relevant program, those funds are enough only for 1 or 2 churches", – Mykhailo Rivis emphasized in his speech.