Carpathian National Parks Receive 15 Vehicles from German Partners

The national parks in the Ukrainian Carpathians cover tens of thousands of hectares of predominantly forests. To get around these vast areas, which are mostly made up of rough terrain, the rangers need vehicles that they can rely on and that support them in their important work of protecting and researching nature. The Hutsulshchyna, Cheremoskyi, Skolivski Beskydy, and Zacharovanyi Krai national parks are, from now on, able to more effectively patrol the territory to protect wildlife and preserve natural ecosystems, but also work with tourists who seek a break in the wide, untouched nature of the Carpathians.

“It is very important to continue the conservation activities in the national parks. Nature needs protection, also in times of war. The forests and valleys with their river-streams, the quiet sound of nature suddenly has a new important function: families and in particular children seek a break from the war, take a rest from attacks and air-alarm in these areas. We provide ongoing support to the Ukrainian national parks and will continue to help them overcome any new challenges that arise,” said Michael Brombacher, Head of FZS Europe Department.

With the new equipment, the employees of the protected areas will be able to patrol the national park faster and, accordingly, respond more quickly to environmental threats. Since the areas are often difficult to access, the parks were given four-wheel drive vehicles and motorbikes to reach more remote corners and to be able to pass along narrow paths. The patrols are of crucial importance for the conservation of the Carpathian primeval forests. In addition, the high quality and modern vehicles will reduce the consumption of fuel and therefore reduce the running and maintenance costs for the parks who struggle by the lack of funding caused by the war.

As the vehicles wear out quickly on the uneven mountain roads in the Carpathians, the Frankfurt Zoological Society is servicing these and other cars and motorbikes of the protected areas with its own local workshops at no cost.

Since 2022, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and the Federal Foreign Office, has been implementing the International Climate Initiative (IKI). It is an important component of the German government’s international commitments to finance climate change and biodiversity protection. Thanks to the support of IKI and the close collaboration with the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the vehicles will soon be on the roads of the Carpathians.