Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets, together with Oleh Bondarenko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, and Eduard Proshchuk, an MP, paid a working visit to the most remote nature reserve in the Ukrainian Carpathians, almost on the border with Romania, the Verkhovynskyi National Nature Park.
There, they visited the new environmental and educational visitor center Ilkivtsi, created with funds from Ukraine and the EU, and talked to the Park's staff.
"I was impressed by what I saw in the modern visitor center. Excursion services and modern exhibition and exposition modules, VR glasses, where visitors can admire the Carpathians from a bird's eye view. For convenience, there is a parking lot and a soft playground. It is immediately apparent that the employees of the national park are passionate about their work," said Ruslan Strilets.
In addition, Verkhovynskyi Park has become a powerful shelter for temporary migrants. The restored administrative building of the park has rooms equipped for comfortable living, where IDPs are now finding shelter. The park is also actively developing its tourist services, creating everything for the comfort of visitors. For example, to buy a ticket to the visitor center, you just need to go to the park's website and make a transaction in a couple of clicks.
The Minister and the Head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine, Yuriy Bolokhovets, also handed over to the Cheremosky National Nature Park the premises of the Perkalab Forestry to be used for various environmental activities.
"Despite the war, our nature reserve fund has a rich potential for development. Today, Ukraine is the center of attraction for the international community. I am sure that after our victory over the invaders, many tourists will have the desire to visit our country, and we must do everything possible today to make sure that our Ukraine is known not only as a victorious state, but also as a country with rich natural and tourist potential.
I thank the specialists of the national parks for their hard work to preserve our natural and cultural heritage," Ruslan Strilets summarized.