During 2023, we created protected areas, detected cases of damage to the nature reserve fund (NRF), opposed projects and plans harmful to nature. What did we achieve this year?
Nature reserve fund
We prepared applications on the establishment of 78 new objects of NRF (including three new national parks) in 14 regions with a total area of 120,000 hectares this year. Seven of our sanctuaries and regional landscape parks with a total area of over 6,500 hectares have been created. We are looking forward to the establishment of the rest ones! In addition to protected areas, due to our applications the first protective zones were created in Zhytomyr and Mykolaiv regions.
Protection of natural ecosystems from harmful economic activity
We managed to stop 42 projects of mineral extraction in forests, marshes and protected areas, illegal and inappropriate loggings on an area of more than 4,000 hectares. Our organization prevented 6 projects of river destruction projects, including 4 small hydropower stations. Our greatest victory, together with other NGOs, was the rejection of the EIA conclusion for the construction of the Tashlytsk HPS. We also submitted applications for preservation of 292 plots of self-seeded forests on an area of more than 4,700 hectares.
Detection of illegal economic activity in natural ecosystems
We revealed 104 facts of illegal loggings and 10 illegal plowings of grasslands. According to our statements criminal proceedings continue, and the prosecutor’s office files lawsuits to return illegally granted land plots to state ownership.
Biodiversity
Approximately 70 datasets on GBIF were published (140,000 records about finds of plant and animal species in total, most of them concerned rare species). We are the most active organization in Ukraine publishing data on biodiversity in open access:)
We developed a special web browser allowing to get quickly information about rare species of plants, mushrooms and animals for any land plot of Ukraine. We also prepared our own methodology for assessment of ecosystem service losses caused by hostilities, and published methodical recommendations on soil sampling in war zones.
Our lawmaking as victories at the system level
Our team managed to get the approval of the procedure for the creation of protective zones for biodiversity. We prevented the adoption of new logging rules (which should have helped foresters to fell whatever they want) and draft laws that would permit to abolish protected areas, to build up lake and river banks. Our comments were taken into account in the new procedure for dividing forests into categories (thanks to this, the area of permitted planned clear-felling in Carpathian forests will decrease).
Assistance to national parks
We continued to help objects of NRF affected by Russian aggression as part of the campaign “Save nature in the days of war together!”. Our team continues to support specialists evacuated from the war zone and occupied areas, and involve them in scientific research. We also organized and supported fundraising for the purchase of a car for Kamyanska Sich National Park; bought devices for improving the quality of communication and delivered them to Polissky Reserve. You can support us in this work by following the link ➡️ Our accounts for charitable contributions in Euro & USD
Monitoring
We monitored the effects of war on wilderness. After the terrorist attack at the Kakhovka Dam we conducted the first expeditions there, recorded the situation and continued to study how natural ecosystems are restored on the site of the former reservoir. Our data on the consequences of the terrorist attack for biodiversity and prospects for the restoration of the territory are still the only reference information about the Kakhovka terrorist attack and biodiversity.
Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
We should help the Armed Forces of Ukraine to get more achievements. During the war the head of our expert department Petro Testov takes care of this work. The dozens of drones, Starlinks, thermal imagers, night vision devices were bought and given to the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to collected funds, including money collected by our colleagues. Paypal ➡️ [email protected]
