As part of its efforts to protect the Nistru River, including under the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of protection and sustainable development of the Dniester River basin, the Ministry of Environment considered that a comprehensive scientific assessment of the adverse effects of the operation of the Dniester Hydropower Complex (DHC) was required in order to better understand the source and extent of these effects on one hand, and to address the Ukrainian authorities for their elimination/minimization and to stop the degradation of ecosystems, restore them and conserve the biodiversity, in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned Agreement.

The detailed study on the existing environmental and socio-economic impact of the DHC on the territory of the Republic of Moldova provides credible, unbiased, scientifically argued answers to many of the issues raised by the functioning of the DHC. The research results are summarized in this brochure.

The study was commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova and prepared by a group of independent experts, at the request of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, with the financial support of Sweden. Opinions belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of the Environment, UNDP or Sweden. The opinions expressed in the study belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of the Environment, UNDP or Sweden.