UNDP in Ukraine

WHAT IS THE SITUATION?

Potential of the Carpathian region in conservation of biological diversity of European and global significance determined topic of the current Project. Indeed, environmental significance of the Carpathians cannot be overestimated. The Mountains form so called buffer zones and corridors that favor transboundary dispersal of plants, migration of birds and animals and also genetic diversity conservation throughout Europe. Forest ecosystems of the Carpathians play especial role for biodiversity conservation, contribute into the nature protection and water resources regulation and provide resources for timber industry in the region.

In the last centuries more exhaustive use of natural resources vastly weakened abilities of the biodiversity to self-renovation everywhere. Destructive processes of biodiversity loss affected the Carpathian region too. Heavy and expanded agrarian industry, forestry and hunting practices distorted ecological balance in the region and threaten biological diversity, firstly unique and endangered species. In the same time Ukrainian Carpathians are only area in Europe where virgin forests and unique flora and fauna species exist.

According to Memorandum on Understanding between the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine and the United Nations Development Programme for the Cooperation on Sustainable Development, Environment and Energy, signed on May 25, 2004, the UNDP had prepared and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) approved the project proposal (PDF A) “Conserving globally significant biodiversity and mitigation/reducing environmental risk in Ukraine’s Carpathians”. Goal of the Project is enhancement of biodiversity conservation in the Carpathians by means of institutional capacity reinforcement, imperfection of the forest management system and favoring its sustainable development, and rational use of the natural resources. Duration of the project is six months.

During that time it is necessary to develop the Project’s strategy and work plan, to define approaches and elaborate specific measures to ensure the Project’s completion. In this regard there is the intention to involve various national stakeholders including officials, local authorities, scientists and civil organizations in order to consider all their reasonable wishes and proposals. Also the Project will be extended to the region of Crimean Mountains.

HOW DID WE CARRY OUT OUR MISSION?

developed and enhanced implementation of national policies and regulations regarding to biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management both on national and local levels;

reinforced institutional capacity and resource base of national and local forest governmental agencies to conserve biodiversity, efficiently use natural resources and implement sustainable forest management schemes;

established conditions for sustainable financing of forest management to provide biodiversity conservation; introduce environmentally sound and effective forest harvesting techniques and technologies; build capacity for forest certification;

elaborated action plans to involve local communities into sustainable management of landscapes and biodiversity conservation initiatives; apply landscape and watershed approaches to the forest management;

developed monitoring system; establish links with existing networks and other models of sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation; disseminate information with existing networks and protected areas in the Carpathian region; develop links with other models of sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation practices.

The Project corresponded with national and regional programs on forestry and agrarian industry intended to support sustainable and effective development of the sectors, to conserve biodiversity and prevent land degradation. On the local level the Project supported regional forest managerial units and forest enterprises, local authorities, communities and protected areas to provide sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. Integrated approach streamlines the Project and the activities were elaborated in the way to combine traditional methods of protected areas management with innovative and more efficient mechanisms of biodiversity conservation in productive forests.

The approach ensured continuous harvesting of forests for commercial purposes in order to conserve and renew unique and endangered species of flora and fauna in Ukrainian Carpathians and Crimean Mountains where the biodiversity is of exceptional richness and landscapes are of high environmental importance. Also a model of sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation will be developed

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?

On completion of the Project it was elaborated a number of recommendations on national forest policy complying with market economy values, transparency of governmental bodies, sustainable development principles and being in line with Convention on Biological Diversity, Framework Convention on Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (Carpathian Convention) and Aarchus Conventions, to which Ukraine is a Party.

Partners of the Projects included the Ministry for Environmental Protection of Ukraine, State Forestry Committee of Ukraine, Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, local authorities and communities, scientific institutions, and non-governmental organizations.