On July 31, 2022, the project “Carpathian Forest Schools – A Pilot Cooperation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Education” concludes. The project has been implemented by the Ivano-Frankivsk Tourism Association with the co-financing of the European Union under the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2014–2020.
Project partners in Ukraine include the Regional Development and Construction Department of the Dolyna District State Administration and the Vyhoda Settlement Council of Kalush District, Ivano-Frankivsk Region; in Romania, the partner is the Administration of the Maramureș Mountains Nature Park. The total project budget amounted to €672,333.53. The project lasted 34 months, commencing on October 1, 2019, and covered the Ivano-Frankivsk Region of Ukraine and Maramureș County, Romania.
The overall objective of the project was to support environmental protection practices in the Carpathian cross-border region by enhancing environmental education within the target communities. The project piloted two Carpathian Forest Schools, introducing interactive components into extracurricular student education, and conducted an information campaign for residents of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region of Ukraine and Maramureș County, Romania.
The final event of the project was the international online conference “Forum of Innovations in Environmental Education and Biodiversity Conservation”, which brought together 110 professionals working in environmental education, nature conservation, green business, and traditional agriculture, as well as students, local government representatives, and media from the target regions. The conference was organized by the main project executor, the Ivano-Frankivsk Tourism Association.
The goal of the conference was to unite participants to share project experiences and best practices in biodiversity conservation and to invite organizations to join networks that create synergy in expanding community support for environmental protection.
In addition to the presentation of project results, the conference included the following sessions:
- Conservation of biodiversity in cross-border areas;
- Impact of military conflicts on biodiversity.
During the first session, participants reviewed findings from sociological research and information campaigns conducted within the project, including results of baseline and follow-up surveys on informal environmental education and ecological awareness carried out at the beginning and the final stage of the project.
As the organizers noted, the follow-up sociological study in Romania showed positive trends: more than 52% of residents in the mountain areas of Maramureș now view biodiversity as a source of pride. The number of respondents who noted that their area offers opportunities to preserve the unique Carpathian nature increased by 80% compared to the baseline. Most Romanian respondents also expressed willingness to sponsor educational initiatives.
According to the follow-up study in Ukraine, the majority of residents still remain uninvolved in public environmental initiatives, with only about one in five respondents participating. At the same time, the share of respondents recognizing the economic benefits of biodiversity has grown, although the number perceiving it as a favorable environment for environmental education and upbringing remains very low. Ukrainian respondents have also shown decreased trust in the media and authorities on environmental issues but tend to rely more on neighbors and close contacts. These trends are likely linked to the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, shifts in values, and heightened focus on personal and environmental safety, as well as on news predominantly related to the war. Furthermore, over the past six months, the country has seen a significant shift in philanthropy and sponsorship priorities, with a primary focus on supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine rather than educational programs. Thus, enhancing public perception of environmental education in Ukraine will require more favorable times, while, naturally, making maximum efforts toward Ukraine’s victory over the aggressor state.
The Romanian colleagues shared valuable expertise: Cătălina Roibu, lecturer at Suceava University, and Alexandra Pușcaș, project manager for WWF, ISP HUSKROUA Carpathians, presented innovative technologies for biodiversity conservation and maintaining ecological corridors for large carnivores. Useful insights on influencing community behavior through social marketing tools were provided by Greek expert Leonidas Skerletopoulos, Board Member of the International Social Marketing Association. In the “Business and Environmental Education” segment, Professor Maksym Karpash, Vice-Rector of Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, shared perspectives and best practices. One of the most renowned and effective eco-educational initiatives in Ivano-Frankivsk, EcoREactive, was presented by its coordinator and volunteer Nataliia Hasiuk, Deputy Head of the Department for International and Interregional Cooperation and Project Management of the Regional Council Executive Office, and laureate of the “Terre de Femmes” Award 2019.
The next theoretical and practical session featured Ukrainian expert Nastia Drapaliuk, a specialist in protected area management, who focused on the impact of war on biodiversity, highlighting current conditions, assessment methods, and restoration approaches.
At the end of the meeting, participants formed four creative groups to develop ideas for extracurricular environmental education under conditions of military conflict and pandemics. They concentrated on children’s waste management practices, fostering care for mountain forests and forest biodiversity, and awareness of renewable energy. Group mentors included:
- Teodoziia Yatsyshyn, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Environmental Protection Technologies, Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, Senior Researcher at the State Institution “Institute of Environmental Geochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”;
- Nataliia Voloshyna, expert of the Agency for Sustainable Development of the Carpathian Region “FORZA”;
- Marta Korchemliuk, PhD in Technical Sciences, project expert, head of YAMEGO “Mama-86-Yaremche”, Head of the Analytical Control and Monitoring Laboratory of KNP National Nature Park (Ukraine);
- Goria Grosu, communications expert of the project, Maramureș Mountains National Park (Romania).
The conference concluded with a discussion involving community activists, educators, local authorities, and media representatives. Participants agreed that the event sent a strong message to Ukrainian and Romanian society: investing resources and expertise in environmental education for children reduces future risks of low environmental culture and collective aggression. In the short term, children influence adult behavior, helping transform consumption habits and promote sustainable environmental practices.
In closing, the organizers expressed gratitude to numerous individuals directly involved in the project and awarded commemorative electronic certificates of appreciation.
Communication responsible – Lada Malaniy, Project PR expert, email: office@taif.org.ua, +380507252863.
The Project “Carpathian Forest Schools – Pilot Cooperation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Education” is implemented by the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region under the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 and is co-financed by the European Union. The project partners are Department of regional development and construction of Dolyna district state administration and Vyhoda Village Council in Ukraine and the NFA ROMSILVA – Administration of Maramures Mountains Nature Park in Romania. The Project lasts till July 2022 and the territory of its implementation covered the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine and the Maramures county of Romania.
This project release has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union and the Programme. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk region and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Managing Authority/ Joint Technical Secretariat or the European Union.
