The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG), in partnership with the Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków (OTOP) from Poland and the Snowchange Cooperative from Finland, invites you to an international online conference on the urgent issues of wetland and peatland restoration.
This event is crucial for sharing best practices, discussing common challenges, and ensuring that Ukraine can implement effective, nature-based solutions (NBS) during its post-war recovery and environmental planning.
Event Details
Topic: Nature-Based Solutions in Open Wetlands Restoration for Biodiversity, Water Quality Improvement, and Climate Mitigation
Date: June 12, 2025 (Please note the Polish partner’s date; the Ukrainian announcement listed June 2nd. The June 12th date is confirmed by the lead partner.)
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM CEST (Central European Summer Time) / 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Kyiv Time
Platform: Online (Zoom link will be sent to registered participants)
Language: English and Ukrainian, with simultaneous interpretation provided.
Registration: Participation is free. Please register using the form linked in the original announcement.
Why Attend?
During the conference, speakers will address critical and current issues related to the protection and restoration of bogs and peatlands, sharing lessons learned and discussing how Ukraine can avoid common pitfalls while implementing successful practices.
Key Topics to be Covered
- The impact of peatland rewetting (restoration) on biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and water quality.
- The role of traditional knowledge and local practices in wetland conservation.
- Peatlands in the context of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and military security.
- In-depth case studies from Finland, Poland, and Ukraine.
- Hands-on tools and guidance on peatland restoration prepared by OTOP.
Confirmed Speakers
The conference features leading experts from the partner organizations and academia:
- Wiktor Kotowski, Warsaw University, Centre for Wetland Conservation (CMOK)
- Tero Mustonen, Snowchange Cooperative
- Kateryna Harbarchuk, Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG)
- Petro Tiestov, Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG)
- Oleksii Vasyliuk, Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
- Katarzyna Zagórska, Warsaw Centre for Ecological Economics (WOEE)
- Paweł Pawlaczyk, Club of Naturalists
- Tiina Oinonen, Snowchange Cooperative
This event is for everyone: naturalists, conservation professionals, farmers, local government officials, and anyone committed to environmental and water stewardship.
The conference is organized as part of the project “Nature-Based Solutions in Open Wetlands Restoration for Biodiversity, Water Quality Improvement and Climate Mitigation.” The project is executed in partnership with the Snowchange Cooperative (Finland) and Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków (OTOP) (Poland), and is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM).
