Svitlana Grynchuk, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, and Bohdan Vykhor, Executive Director of WWF-Ukraine, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and WWF-Ukraine. At this stage, the key areas of activity will involve joint efforts to create natural monuments of virgin forests that are of national importance in Ukraine.

“This memorandum is a step towards the formation of our joint information technology platform for the exchange of experience, scientific research and engagement of experts from various fields in solving environmental problems. In this way, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and WWF-Ukraine combine their resources and experience to restore nature and develop innovative approaches to environmental protection,” said Svitlana Grynchuk.

The Ministry has already approved a proposal to grant virgin and quasi-virgin forest status to more than 750 hectares of forests in a number of forestries – Verkhniobystrianske, Vuchkivske, Zaperedilianske, Izkivske, Lopushnianske, Maidanske and Mizhhirske forestries. The preparatory stage of the project “Integrating Biodiversity Conservation into Upstream Planning of Linear Transport Infrastructure in Ukraine” is underway. This project aims to integrate biodiversity conservation measures into the upstream planning of transport infrastructure in Ukraine. WWF-Ukraine experts have already assisted in the development of action plans for the conservation of bison, brown bear, lynx and sturgeon in Ukraine, which were approved by orders of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

“The focus of our cooperation is not only biodiversity conservation projects and effective management of protected areas, but also combating ecocide, climate change adaptation, and harmonisation of Ukrainian and European legislation. I am grateful to WWF-Ukraine for its initiative and systematic approach to our common goal. After all, the most important thing we can do today, when the state’s priority is security and defence capability, is to unite and join our efforts. I am confident that we have many interesting and important projects ahead of us,” said Svitlana Grynchuk.