The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG) is announcing a joint event to maintain the proper condition of a vital habitat for the endangered European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus suslicus), known in Ukraine as the Spotted Souslik (khovrakh krapchastyi), in the Lviv region (Lvivshchyna).
We invite volunteers and concerned citizens to join our “Toloka” (a traditional Ukrainian communal work day) for essential habitat restoration.
Event Details
- When: July 4–5, 2025
- Where: Sukhovolia village, Brody municipality, Lviv region, Western Ukraine.
- Activities: We will be mowing the territory, removing excess trees and shrubs, and clearing litter.
Why This Action is Necessary
The Spotted Souslik is a keystone species of grassland ecosystems and is currently listed as endangered. These ground squirrels thrive exclusively in pastures and meadow-steppes – areas characterized by short, sparse vegetation that allows them to scan for predators.
However, in recent years, the grazing pressure from domestic livestock has dramatically decreased across Ukraine as private farming declines. Without grazing, these valuable meadow-steppe plots become rapidly overgrown with tall grasses, shrubs, and trees (a process known as bush encroachment).
One of the last remaining sites in Ukraine where the Spotted Souslik persists is now suffering from severe overgrowth due to the significant reduction in livestock grazing. Immediate action is required to restore and maintain this open grassland habitat and prevent the species from being lost in this location.
