The war in Ukraine shakes us at FZS to the core. Our priority was always to ensure the safety of our project partners and colleagues. Several have already reached Poland. But most of our team are still on-site and are helping where they can in the current situation.
Donations will be processed by the Frankfurt Zoological Society US. FZS-US is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 30-0457102) and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
FZS supports almost 20 protected areas (national parks, biosphere reserves) in Ukraine – this is our largest country program in Europe. Many of these protected areas are located in Central Europe’s most important and largest natural landscapes and are part of our world heritage. In the north of Ukraine, Polesia holds one of Central Europe’s largest natural river floodplain landscapes.
Normally the focus of our work is on acquiring better equipment, investing in management and training of protected area staff, and more practically, building, renovating, or constructing ranger posts.
In the current situation, our team is helping the protected areas handle the influx of people seeking shelter within, for example, protected area administration buildings in the Carpathian Mountains in southwestern Ukraine.
Our assistance includes the delivery of materials such as sleeping bags, sleeping mats, flashlights, heaters as well as support for the basic running costs of the parks – fuel, heating, salaries.
In the Carpathians, we work not only in Ukraine but also in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. Our partners in these countries are busy organizing urgently needed supplies that they then bring across or to the Ukrainian border. The cargo is then received and distributed by protected area employees. This is currently working well but might become more difficult if, for example, fuel in Ukraine becomes scarce.
We have been working in Ukraine with our partners and dedicated national park staff since 2002 in Polesia and the Carpathian Mountains. We will continue to support these areas as long as possible. If you want to help us, please donate to the special account below. We thank you very much for your support.
Donations will be processed by the Frankfurt Zoological Society US. FZS-US is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 30-0457102) and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.