MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI) – The Russian Council for Human Rights (CHR) is seriously concerned with possible negative environmental effects resulting from the construction by Poland of a shipping canal across the Vistula Spit, a statement published by the CHR on Wednesday reads.

The Vistula Spit together with Vistula Lagoon is a unique nature site inhabited by many Red Book animals and plants.

The CHR is concerned with the fact that the construction requires cutting of trees, which, the Council says citing media outlets, has already started, will change water relationships in the lagoon resulting most probably in the destruction of sea and shore ecosystems, including those in the Russian territory.

According to the CHR, an international environmental examination is needed prior to the implementation of the project.

In this relation, the statement reads, the Council welcomes the stand taken by the European Commission in this regard and hopes Poland will consider protests on the part of the public and environmentalists.