BIOFIN Initiative: Ministry of Economy and Environment selects three national nature parks to strengthen their financial capacity

Three national nature parks of Ukraine have become pilot sites of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, aimed at strengthening the financial capacity of nature conservation institutions. These are the Podilski Tovtry, Holosiivskyi and Kuialnytskyi National Nature Parks. They were selected by the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine.

In September and October 2026, BIOFIN specialists visited the Holosiivskyi and Podilski Tovtry National Nature Parks. During the working visits, they familiarized themselves with implemented and planned nature conservation and infrastructure projects, as well as initiatives in environmental education and recreation. Together with the park administrations, they discussed development priorities, urgent needs, financial constraints and opportunities for attracting additional investment.

"National parks need stable funding, proper equipment and qualified specialists to effectively protect species and natural habitats. We expect that cooperation with BIOFIN will help attract additional investment and expand international partnerships in biodiversity conservation," said Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment of Ukraine Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi.

Based on the needs assessment of the three pilot parks, the BIOFIN team will prepare investment proposals to present to international donors and potential partners, including at the COP31 conference. The specialists will also analyze European experience in financing national nature parks, develop a practical guide on diversifying revenue sources, and prepare proposals for improving the regulatory framework, in particular Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1913 and the methodologies for calculating fees for the use of nature conservation areas.

The pilot will make it possible to test the proposed approaches in practice, develop the relevant methodologies and prepare the necessary legislative amendments. These solutions can subsequently be extended to other institutions of the nature reserve fund of Ukraine to help them attract additional resources, expand sources of funding and direct funds to the preservation of natural heritage.

Background

In 2026, UNDP in Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine, launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) with financial support from the Government of Germany.

BIOFIN brings together more than 130 countries and helps governments identify biodiversity conservation funding needs, mobilize the necessary resources and channel them effectively to conservation goals.

In Ukraine, the initiative will contribute to sustainable economic development, green recovery and European integration, and will support the implementation of Ukraine's National Biodiversity Strategy until 2035, developed in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.