Moscow, Apr 21 (UNI) A team of UNESCO officials has arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to find out the environmental damage that may be caused by the large-scale construction of facilities for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Ecologists from UNESCO have already voiced the fear that massive amount of construction work being undertaken before the Winter Olympic Games will harm the flora and fauna in the area.
More than 200 venues are to be built in and around the resort for the Winter Games of 2014.
The team will carry out its inspection in Sochi on April 20-24 together with specialists from the Russian Natural Resources Ministry.
''The visit aims to assess the impact of the planned construction of sports facilities for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games on the Caucasus State Nature Biosphere Reserve that is on the UNESCO World Heritage list,'' the Ministry said in a statement.
Environmentalists have been protesting against the construction plans for Sochi, warning they could damage the unique landscape of the North Caucasus, where some territories are protected as natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Meanwhile, the Greens and several environmental watchdog agencies have also expressed their concern that the natural landscapes in the area may be ruined by construction companies.
The spokesman for the World Wildlife Fund in southern Russia, Alexzander Levchenko said this particular area must be preserved for migratory animals.
UNI XC RJ HS1631