The Ukrainian Carpathians, a region rich in biodiversity, are facing increasing challenges due to habitat destruction and conflicts between humans and wild animals. To address these issues, an international initiative is working to foster cooperation between local communities and nature conservation efforts.
On March 6, during a General Assembly meeting of the Carpathian Vatags, Yaroslav Zelenchuk, Deputy Director of the Verkhovinsky National Nature Park, introduced the project “Cooperation for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Harmonious Coexistence of Humans and Wildlife in the Transborder Region.” Since the beginning of this year, project activities have focused on equipping communities with innovative tools to minimize human-wildlife conflicts.
COOP4SAFE project is implemented by WWF Romania – Filiala Maramures Association (Lead Beneficiary) in collaboration with RachivEcoTour (Ukraine), County Association of Hunters and Anglers Maramures (Romania), Aevis (Slovakia), and National Nature Park “Verkhovynskyi” (Ukraine). With a total budget of €924,594 and EU contribution of €832,134, the project runs for 24 months and focuses on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development across the transboundary region of Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine.
Key Actions of the Project:
- Establishing a biodiversity monitoring system to track wildlife populations and human-nature interactions.
- Restoring habitats and creating ecological corridors for wild animals.
- Testing and promoting new conflict prevention methods to enhance peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.
Through these efforts, the project aims to balance biodiversity conservation with the needs of local communities. The Carpathians are a shared natural treasure—let’s work together to protect them!
