The main objective of the Green Treasures of the Carpathians project is to support nature protection in the Carpathian Mountains in Slovakia and Ukraine (High Tatra and Transcarpathia regions) through raising awareness about their nature values and the ways to protect them, primarily among children and youth. The selected areas – despite of their location in national park protection zones – are now exposed to extensive uncontrolled construction causing disappearing of their precious nature values. This, together with climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, are big challenges the next generations will have to deal with. And we want to offer them a helping hand.
Inspired by good practices from the Bavarian Forest National Park (DE) and Šumava National Park (CZ) the project team will develop high quality interactive methodologz of nature pedagogy and environmental education materials ready to be used by teachers, guides, national park rangers and youth leaders. Following that, several outdoor environmental programmes and camps will be prepared for active youth. The programmes will be focused on discovering the nature values as well as their threats and will be led by professional environmentalists and mountain guides. To make them more appealing an adventurous activities like rafting, rock climbing, animal tracking and interactive outdoor games will be added to the program. In Slovakia the activities will be held with active participation of Ukrainian refugees (both children and adults). Moreover, the project activities will include a thematic theatre play created and presented by both Slovak and Ukrainian artists in the project regions.
Within the project an innovative modern communication tools will be used to reach the youth as well as the wide public. The goal of the communication is to make the recipients understand the importance of the actions needed to be carried out for the purpose of solving the environmental challenges in both regions.
The project is in line with the programme specific objective and priority of enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure and reducing all forms of pollution in the cross-border area. It recognises that the goal cannot be attained without engaging the public, building genuine commitment and discussing real solutions.
