Russia uses the international base of nature conservation areas to legalize its stay on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

In the international database of protected areas (WDPA), the Russian Federation entered data on “Russian protected areas” within Ukraine. For example, in this global database, information about the “Charivna Gavan” national natural park (please note that the name of the NPP is actually Ukrainian) looks like this: https://www.protectedplanet.net/555709807 In the same form, all caring people…

The evacuation of the unique herbarium, which was collected by scientists of the Kherson State University for more than 50 years, took place!

The second operation to save the herbarium in 100 years was successful (the first, by the way, took place at Kharkiv University during the Second World War). This would not have happened without our colleagues from UNCG, professors of Kherson State University Ivan Moisienko and Oleksandr Khodosovtsev. “When we were still in occupied Kherson, in…

What is the inextricable connection of Emerald sites and European integration of Ukraine and what is at stake during their occupation?

The Emerald Network is an apt name for a network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) in Europe. These areas were brought together and endowed with a single conservation status for the whole of Europe. In order to be granted this status, an area must provide an adequate level of protection for habitats and…

Saving scientific data during war: how is it possible and why it matters?

By Oleksii Marushchak Oleksii Marushchak is Chief Data Manager at Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG). UWEC Work Group invited him to describe data management and security in wartime conditions. UNCG is actively involved not only in scientific research of Ukrainian biodiversity, creating and supporting Nature Reserve Fund sites, and environmental education on different levels, but…