Securing vast primary forests and wetlands

Ukraine is the meeting place of the steppe, Mediterranean, and forest vegetation types. The country offers outstanding natural landscapes whose stories remain largely untold both nationally and internationally.

The heart of the Carpathians arcs across the western corner of the country. This mountainous region harbors the largest intact tracts of old-growth and primary forest in the temperate zone of Europe. These impressive forests stretch, in huge proportions, across peaks and valleys where the trees grow to be centuries old. Even after they die, these trees provide important habitats for a myriad of organisms including mushrooms, mosses, insects, bats, and birds. Larger animals like capercaillie, black grouse, brown bears, wolves and Eurasian lynx also benefit from the diversity and complex structures which result.

A sizeable part of one of Europe’s largest, mostly-intact floodplains is also found in Ukraine – Polesia. Nestled in the northwest of the country, bordering Poland, Russia, and Belarus, Polesia hosts extensive riparian forests, large intact mires, and expansive open-water wetland areas. It is a major hub for migrating birds in spring when hundreds of thousands pass through the landscape to breed, rest, and feed.

Ukraine is already working hard to protect its nature and wildlife – in the Ukrainian Carpathians, there are ten national parks, one strict reserve, and two biosphere reserves. In Polesia, there are four strict reserves, two national parks, and one radiation and ecological reserve. The focus of our work in Ukraine is on strengthening and, where necessary, expanding these protected areas.

Our focus areas

  • Developing protected areas
  • Technical support and provision of equipment to protected areas
  • Scientific research to monitor wildlife and guide protection in the target protected areas
  • Working with local communities to promote nature-friendly businesses
  • Environmental education and public outreach
  • Improving protected area infrastructures for management, administration, and eco-tourism
Moss in Verkhovinskiy National Park in the Carpathian area, Ukraine. © Sergey Kantsyrenko
The FZS vehicle in Verkhovinskiy National Park in the Carpathian area, Ukraine. © Sergey Kantsyrenko
Mushrooms growing on dead wood in the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
Old-growth Beech forest in the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
The river Pripyat in the Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
A brown bear in Sinevir National Park, Ukraine. © Sergey Kantsyrenko
Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
Nets for bat catching being set up. Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
A European Pond Turtle along the Stokhid River in the Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
Different kinds of beetles in the Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren
Horses and boats by the Stokhid River in the Pripyat-Stokhid National park in Polesia, Ukraine. © Daniel Rosengren

News from Ukraine

  • Carpathians’ Life: FZS Ukraine Photo Contest

  • FZS Ukraine adapts

  • E40 waterway would destroy biodiversity hotspots and key protected areas, says new report

Our projects in Ukraine

Milestones

Transfer of essential equipment including vehicles, uniforms, IT and fieldwork equipment to 12 protected areas across the Ukrainian Carpathians.

2021

The most extensive camera trap survey in Polesia to date launched.

2020

Ukrainian Nobelskiy National Park is designated with an area of 25,000 ha and subsequently supported by FZS with equipment.

2019

ELP-funded project Polesia – Wilderness Without Borders launched.

2019

Campaign work against the E40 waterway as part of the international Save Polesia coalition started.

2019

Boikivshyna National Park was created by presidential decree.

2019

IKI funding launched to support the management and protection of Carpathian national parks.

2019

KfW funding launched to support protected areas in the Carpathians.

2016

Scientific study on (more than 100) most valuable natural areas in Polesia to inform future conservation activities is completed.

2016

Feasibility studies completed for the Carpathians to elaborate potential expansion areas

2014-2016

FZS initiates transboundary cooperation for the protection of Polesia.

2012

West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, Belarus/Poland/Ukraine, is designated.

2012

Ukrainian President issues two decrees mandating the creation of 55 new conservation areas – primarily national parks – by 2013 and the Ukrainian Ministry of the Environment approaches FZS for support.

2008

After 5 years of intensive work, the Pripyat-Stokhid National Park is designated in Ukraine, covering 40,000 ha.

2007

The administration of the Pryipyat-Stokhid Regional Landscape Park is established.

2002

Contact

Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt von 1858 e.V.
Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1
60316 Frankfurt

Telephone: +49 (0)69 - 94 34 46 0
Fax: +49 (0)69 - 43 93 48
E-Mail

You will find our office in the Zoogesellschaftshaus (1st floor).
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