Ecosystem-based adaptation and regional development by empowerment of Ukrainian Biosphere Reserves

Adaptation to the impacts of climate change has not yet been consistently integrated into Ukraine’s land management and strategic planning. This has resulted in various land use practices and infrastructure projects that have led to the critical loss of the regulating ecosystem services. The project integrated an EbA approach to sustainable land use into national and regional planning. Specifically, it supported the Desnyanskyi, Roztochya and Shatskyi biosphere reserves through the introduction of participatory and adaptive ecosystem management. This was also achieved by building up knowledge among local stakeholders, increasing the number of personnel and by developing strategies and networks. The project also developed proposals on how EbA principles can be incorporated into environmental legislation and ecosystem management. Suitable proposals for EbA measures were also being tested in a pilot scheme using an ideas competition in the three biosphere reserves.

Project data

Countries: Ukraine
IKI funding: 988,298.17 €
Duration: 07/2018 till 02/2022
Status: completed
Implementing organisation: Michael-Succow-Foundation / Michael Succow Stiftung
Political Partner: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources - Ukraine
Implementing Partner: Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde - HNEE) - Germany
Online: https://eba-ukraine.net/

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State of implementation/results

Project completed.
The 2nd edition of the information brochures "Climate change impacts and adaptation (in the target areas)" was completed.
During the period under review, additional information materials (UA/EN) were made available to a wide audience on the project website
Shooting of a short documentary about the project started and should be ready by the end of the project. It is intended to provide a deeper look at the project issues and outcomes.
A call for proposals on EbA in three biosphere reserves (BRs) in Ukraine ended with about 30 applications from civil society actors. Three projects were selected from each of the three BRs, for a total of nine pilot projects. The projects are progressing well. The implementation of the projects is regularly monitored by the project consortium and the respective experts via online meetings as well as field mission: www.eba-ukraine.net/…
Together with the BRs, ten workshops have been held as part of EbA strategy development process. Based on the elaboration/collection of EbA strategies and measures
Five criteria-based "EbA key strategies" per BR were selected. In addition, work plans as well as monitoring plans were developed on the part of BRs. As a result, five detailed work plans including monitoring plans per BR are ready for implementation
Currently, there is also a discussion on how to legally and politically incorporate the EbA approach into the management of BRs in Ukraine.
26 Ukrainian and German experts jointly prepared a statement paper in the framework of the international training program "Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change" in Eberswalde. The authors are experts and active members of five out of eight Ukrainian BRs, governmental and NGOs and universities. The statement paper is available on the project website.
Regular information on the project and its content is published on the project Facebook page for a broad, even non-expert target group.

Latest Update:
03/2025