The project is aimed at developing the Emerald Network and implementing NATURA 2000 standards in Ukraine in accordance with the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. The initiative focuses on adapting national legislation, strengthening the institutional capacity of nature conservation authorities, and piloting best European management practices at selected sites. Through the partnership between Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and the European Union, the project creates a solid foundation for systemic reforms in nature protection, ensuring long-term biodiversity conservation and training a new generation of specialists.
This page presents an archive of project results and its implementation progress. Below are the materials available for review and download: books, expert documents, methodological recommendations, and a timeline of key events.
Project Co-funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic
Project Number: 101148569
Project Acronym: LIFE23-PRE-CZ-ConNaturLIFE Ukraine
Name: LIFE-2023-PLP
Topic: LIFE-2023-PLP-Bauhaus-Phoenix-Emerald
Action Type: LIFE Project Grants
Granting Authority: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
Project Start: March 1, 2024
Project End: February 28, 2026
Duration: 24 months
Project Budget: 1,088,512.07 EUR, funding level 90% (979,660.86 EUR)
Consortium Czech Republic – Ukraine
Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic (NCA CR) – Lead partner, coordinator
Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG) – Financial partner
Environment – People – Law (EPL) – Financial partner
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine (MEPR) – Non-financial partner
Work Packages, Activities and Deliverables
WP1 Project Management and Coordination
- Project management and monitoring of project progress
- Collaboration
WP2 Shared Legislative Space of Ukraine and the EU for Nature Protection
- Activity D.2.1 Legal support for the establishment of the Emerald Network
- Activity D.2.2 Practical transformation of the Emerald Network into the NATURA 2000 network
- Activity D.2.3 Legal and practical regulation of species protection
- Activity D.2.4 Effective monitoring, reporting, and data management
Main Results
- Updated Table of Concordance between the legal systems of Ukraine and the EU
- Analysis of legislative and practical gaps in the field of territorial and species protection
- Comparison of the reporting system on derogations under the Bern Convention and Directives. Identification of ways to ensure their consistency
- Analysis of EU countries’ jurisprudence regarding the formation of the NATURA 2000 network
- Proposals for legislative changes and plans for legislative amendments (Emerald Network and species protection)
- Analysis of the sufficiency of current monitoring, mapping, and data management
- Analysis of compliance between the Emerald Network and the NATURA 2000 network
- Proposals for the transformation of the Emerald Network into the NATURA 2000 network
- Analysis and proposals for adding species/habitats to the Annexes of the Directives
- Guidelines for the development of species action plans
- Guidelines on species and habitat management
- Guidelines for monitoring, mapping, and data management schemes
- Guidelines on reporting on Emerald sites / NATURA 2000 sites (Standard Data Form, SDF)
- Guidelines on reporting on conservation status (Art. 12 BD and 17 HD)
WP3 Modern European Governance and Management Model for Nature Protection in Ukraine
- Activity D.3.1 Analysis of governance structure and professional capacity
- Activity D.3.2 Analysis of financial capacity
- Activity D.3.3 Development of a general policy paper
- Activity D.3.4 Piloting steppe habitat restoration with the improvement of Emerald site management practices
Main Results
- Institutional set-up assessment report with recommendations for restructuring and role redistribution, including a proposed organogram
- Materials of the analysis of financial aspects
- Policy paper (Consultation document)
- Draft decisions on increasing institutional capacity and financial sustainability
- Action plan for one selected species or habitat developed through the pilot project
WP4 Development of the NATURA 2000 Network in Ukraine: Transition from Theory to Practice
- Activity D.4.1 NATURA 2000 Toolkit
- Activity D.4.2 Experience exchange via study tours
- Activity D.4.3 Publication and dissemination of information materials
- Activity D.4.4 Populating open biodiversity databases through citizen science as a transparent decision-making tool
- Activity D.4.5 Training nature conservation leaders in Ukraine: innovative training course for future civil servants and NGO representatives
- Activity D.4.6 Discussion of project goals and results
Main Results
- Publication on Ukrainian Protected Areas
- Publication on the selected Emerald site
- Study tour to the Czech Republic for 5 experts from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine
- Study tour to the Czech Republic for 10 Ukrainian conservation experts
- Study tour to the Czech Republic for 3 journalists
- NATURA 2000 Toolkit
- Development of the educational program
- iNaturalist Day in Ukraine
- Layman’s report on nature protection
- At least 3 press releases
- Project description published on partners’ websites
WP5 Sustainability, Dissemination, and Exploitation of Project Results
- Activity D.5.1 Preparation of the After-LIFE Plan
- Activity D.5.2 Replication and exploitation of project results
Main Results
- After-LIFE Conservation Plan
- Document with developed drafts of normative legal acts
- Dissemination of developed guidelines
- 1 expert meeting on nature protection between the Czech Republic and Ukraine
- Letter with practical materials developed as part of the pilot project
Project Publications
Collection: “Modern Studies of Rare Biodiversity in Ukraine”
The collection includes 98 scientific articles prepared by 142 highly professional experts of various specializations.
Protected Areas of European Importance in Ukraine
The book is dedicated to the Emerald Network of Ukraine — part of the pan-European nature conservation system established under the Bern Convention.
Action Plan for Biotope E1.2: Perennial Calcareous Grasslands and Basic Steppes in Ukraine
This document is a strategic, analytical, and planning material aimed at the conservation and restoration of steppe ecosystems.
Project Deliverables
- D2.4 Document of analysis of comparing the system of reporting on derogations in Ukraine
- D2.11 Document of analysis of sufficiency of the current monitoring, mapping, and data management practice
- D2.12 Document of analysis of compliance of Emerald Network and Natura 2000 network
- D2.13 Proposals for transformation of the Emerald network to Natura 2000 network
- D2.14, D2.15 Analysis and proposal for adding species/habitats into the annexes of the Nature Directives (Natura 2000)
- D2.18 Guidelines for the monitoring, mapping, and data management schemes
- D2.18 Scientifically adapted translation of monitoring methodologies for species and habitats protected in the EU (Habitats Directive)
- D2.19 Guidelines on reporting on Emerald sites / Natura 2000 sites (Standard Data Form, SDF)
- D2.20 Guidelines on reporting on conservation status (Arts. 12 BD & 17 HD), including related notes and guidelines
- D4.2 Implementation of a pilot project for the restoration of steppe habitats in the “Buzkyi Gard” National Nature Park
- D4.8 Action plan for citizen science development
Project Partners' Deliverables (ZIP, 200 mb)
D2.1 Updated Table of Concordance reflecting conformity between Ukrainian and EU Legal systems
D2.2 Document of analysis of legal and practical implementation gaps in respect to territorial protection
D2.3 Document of analysis of legal and practical implementation gaps in respect to species protection
D2.5 Compendium on analysis of the jurisprudence of the EU countries on formation of Natura 2000
D2.6 Analytical materials summarizing results of evaluation of conformity in the Table of Concordance
D2.7 Proposal for legislative amendments (Emerald network)
D2.8 Proposal for legislative amendments (Species protection)
D2.9 Plan of legislative changes (Emerald network)
D2.10 Plan of legislative changes (Species protection)
D2.16 Guidelines for the establishment of species action plans
D2.17 Guidelines on species and habitat management
D3.1 Assessment report of institutional set-up
D3.2 Materials of the analysis of financial aspects
D3.3 Policy paper
D3.4 Draft decisions on increasing institutional capacity and financial sustainability
D3.5 Action plan for one selected species/habitat developed with a pilot project
D4.1 Publication on Ukrainian PAs
D4.3 Study tour to the CR for 5 MoE representatives
D4.4 Study tour to the CR for 10 Ukrainian stakeholders
D4.5 Study tour to the CR for 3 journalists
D4.6 Natura 2000 toolkit
D4.7 Educational program
D4.9 Layman’s report
D4.10 Press releases
D4.11 Project description published on partners’ webpages
D5.1 After-LIFE Plan
D5.2 Letters about sending of developed drafts of normative legal acts
D5.3 The developed guidelines disseminated
D5.4 Meeting on nature protection between Ukraine and the Czech Republic
D5.5 Letter with practical materials developed as part of the pilot project