Conservation of Natural Heritage for Life in Ukraine

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

In 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate country status for EU membership. The European Commission believes Ukraine partly aligns with EU Nature Directives as it has made efforts to identify and designate its Emerald Network of Sites of Special Conservation Interest (SSCI) under the Bern Convention. 

 

Significant gaps remain however: approximately half the Emerald Network sites have no conservation status, and even those with protected area status are inadequately managed and protected. While most species are protected under Ukrainian legislation, the legal framework protecting habitats and birds needs to be assessed. 

 

Draft legislation has been prepared to address gaps in managing and protecting the Emerald Network, but given the current war with Russia there is an understandable lack of capacity, support or urgency. Nonetheless, Ukraine is suffering from unprecedented war-related environmental damage and it is essential that post-war reconstruction is carried out in line with European environmental standards.

OBJECTIVES

The ConNaturLIFE Ukraine preparatory project aims to kick-start the institutional and legal changes needed to implement EU environmental requirements and to establish effective conservation governance in Ukraine. In the long term, the project will help strengthen Ukraine’s conservation capacity at both strategic and operational levels through education, communication and outreach activities involving local authorities, scientific organisations landowners, civil society organisations and other communities. 

 

ConNaturLIFE Ukraine specific objectives are to:

 

• bring Ukrainian nature conservation legislation and practice into line with European standards
• develop a roadmap for transposing and implementing the EU Birds and Habitats Directives (the so-called Nature Directives) into Ukrainian law
• create a strategy to expand and improve the Emerald Network and transform it into Natura 2000 sites
• identify species and habitats in Ukraine requiring additional protection measures as defined by the Nature Directives
• develop and disseminate best practice guidelines for improved management and monitoring of Natura 2000 sites
• promote institutional reform of the nature conservation sector in Ukraine
• strengthen the conservation partnership between Ukraine and Czechia by establishing personal contacts and encouraging further cooperation
• implement the Nature Directives on an Emerald Network pilot site
• encourage young people — tomorrow’s public conservation officials — to understand the importance of implementing EU Directives
• involve experts, decision-makers and the wider public in the good governance and management of nature conservation

RESULTS

The project’s expected results are:

 

• draft amended or new laws to harmonise Ukrainian legislation fully with EU Nature Directives
• proposals to transform the Emerald Network into the Natura 2000 network
• proposal to include important Ukrainian species and habitats in the Annexes to the Nature Directives
• draft amended legislation or new laws for species protection
• guidelines for monitoring, mapping and managing data systems for species and habitats
• guidelines for reporting on Natura 2000 sites and on the conservation status of species and habitats
• draft proposals to improve the professional capacity of Ukrainian nature conservation authorities
• draft proposals to increase sustainable funding for reforming the nature conservation sector
• policy paper with recommendations for legal and institutional reform
• species or habitat action plan piloted and implemented in 1 Emerald Network site
• publications on Ukrainian protected areas and the selected Emerald Network site
• action plan for developing citizen science programmes
• establishment of a ‘Nature Day’ in Ukraine
• course on European biodiversity conservation legislation and practice for university students