Concerns about Desert or Harmful Plant Spread in Kakhovka Reservoir disproved
Researchers have found that fears of desertification or the proliferation of harmful plants in the Kakhovka reservoir due to the destruction of the hydroelectric power station by Russian occupiers are unfounded. Ivan Moysienko, a botany professor at Kherson State University and member of the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, confirms that the bottom of the reservoir is now densely populated with willow trees, with no observed negative impacts.
«Following the explosion of the hydroelectric power station, there were concerns over dust storms, airborne heavy metals, and soil salinization. However, the reservoir is now home to local plant species, particularly willows, as well as marsh plants like reeds and bulrush. While some non-native species are present, they do not outcompete native flora and are typically found in drier areas,» explains Moysienko.
