Carpathians National Park, Ukraine

Goal: supporting protection of biodiversity and people in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

Global Conservation and ForestCom are together planning the responsible development of National Park Gateways and the Verkhovyna Tourism Hub. Particular attention is paid to the territory of the Hutsul region rich both in nature’s gifts and cultural treasures.

The main project tasks at this stage are:

-       improve the efficiency of nature protection, specifically in the Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) institutions;

-       support the granting of NRF status to the high biodiversity rich areas and unique nature objects or territories, as well as connection of existing nature protection institutions;

-       promote sustainable development of local mini-infrastructure and business-oriented projects aimed both at improving the livelihood of local people and creation of sustainable financial sources of income for environmental institutions, developing an understanding of their dependence.

Verkhovyna has potential to be an important tourism hub for Great Carpathians National Park, connecting with Yaremche and other well known local tourist destinations. Verkhovyna is already a growing tourist center in Western Ukraine hosting visitors to Chornohora, Ukraine’s largest mountain range, Nature National Parks - Carpathian, Hutsulshchyna, Cheremoshskyy and Verkhovyna, as well as The Painted Stones geological nature monument, one of Ukraine’s most important Cultural Heritage and Tourism sites.

Primary partners are the Ministry of Environment, Ukrainian National Nature Park Authorities and Verkhovyna Local and Regional Governments, industry associations and related businesses.