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 Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) under the Bern Convention.
Significant gaps remain, however: approximately half the Emerald Network sites have no protection 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 was 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 and 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 to ensure that Ukrainian natural heritage is preserved.
OBJECTIVES
The ConNaturLIFE Ukraine preparatory project aimed to kick-start the institutional and legal changes needed to ensure compliance with EU environmental requirements and to establish effective conservation governance in Ukraine. In the long term, the project would 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 were 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
ConNaturLIFE Ukraine achieved its objectives. The project results, listed below, represent a package of analyses, recommendations, draft legislation, guidelines and methodological materials to serve as a guidance for the full implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and establishment of the Natura 2000 network, and strengthen capacities and expertise in nature conservation in Ukraine.
These outputs were developed in close cooperation with Ukrainian authorities and stakeholders – including the expert community, non-governmental organisations and members of parliament – whose feedback helped refine the proposed reform scenarios and ensure their practical relevance.
Key results include:
- in-depth analyses of the current state of nature conservation in Ukraine from a legal, practical and governance perspectives, and its comparison with the requirements of the EU Nature Directives and practices in other European countries, with particular attention to the Natura 2000 network,
- an action plan for preparing Ukraine to establish the Natura 2000 network, based on experiences from other countries,
- financial analysis of the current state of financing for environmental protection activities, projected funding needs for the management of the Emerald Network sites and economic benefits arising from the Emerald Network sites in Ukraine,
- draft law on the Emerald Network, updated with regard to possible entry into the EU, including the definitions from the Directives,
- draft Resolution on the list of Ukrainian Emerald sites,
- draft Law on the Prohibition of Sale of Animals and Species from Wild,
- draft Amendment to the Criminal Code of Ukraine concerning the prohibition of sale of animal and plant species protected in Europe,
- draft Governmental Decree establishing the new Agency for Nature Conservation of Ukraine, as a central executive body for biodiversity conservation, strengthening the professional capacity of Ukrainian nature conservation authorities,
- a list of 63 species to be added to Annex II, 51 species to Annex IV and 4 habitats to Annex I of the Habitats Directive,
- guidelines for species and habitat management,
- guidelines for the biodiversity monitoring, mapping and data management,
- guidelines for reporting on Emerald/Natura 2000 sites (SDF),
- guidelines for reporting on the conservation status of species and habitats,
- a policy paper summarising the suggested legislative changes,
- pilot restoration of about 15 ha of habitat Perennial calcareous grassland and basic steppes (Rupicolous pannonic grasslands, Stipo-Festucetalia pallentis) at the Buzkyi Gard National Nature Park, and creation of an action plan for conservation and restoration of the habitat, shared with Ukrainian nature conservation authorities,
- publications:
- Natura 2000 Toolkit, a brochure about the history of biodiversity and nature conservation in the EU, including detailed information about the Birds and Habitats Directives and about creation of the Natura 2000 network in the EU,
- a book about 74 Emerald Network sites across Ukraine,
- a brochure about the pilot implementation of the Action Plan for the conservation and restoration of the habitat in Buzkyi Gard National Nature Park,
- a publication on Modern Research on Rare Biodiversity in Ukraine, collecting 98 scientific articles,
- study tours for representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, key opinion leaders from main stakeholder groups, including nature conservation organizations and policy advisors, journalists, and young nature conservation specialists,
- a university course ‘Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna Species in Ukraine and the EU’,
- the Action Plan for the Development of Citizen Science Projects, identifying the necessary steps for establishing an integrated citizen science system in Ukraine for the collection, quality enhancement and official use of open biodiversity data in decision-making, while also increasing the engagement of Ukrainian citizens in the use of citizen science tools,
- the first All-Ukrainian Bioblitz – a citizen science event in which more than 100 000 entries on 5 282 species were collected.