FZS has been active in Ukraine since 2002 and works with almost 20 national parks and biosphere reserves in Ukraine. Most of these protected areas are located in the Carpathians and Polesia, in important natural and cultural landscapes of Central Europe. Part of the Carpathians is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”, while Polesia, in north-western Ukraine, is home to one of the largest natural floodplain landscapes on the continent, also covering parts of Poland, Belarus and Poland Russia expands.

The war in Ukraine has shaken us all deeply. In the last few days, the FZS has mainly tried to get its Ukrainian project partners and colleagues to safety. Some have already reached Poland. However, most of the Ukrainian protected area employees are still on site and everyone is helping where they can. FZS is supporting this team to deal with the massive challenge associated with the influx of people fleeing their homes across Ukraine to the west of the country: to parts of Polesia and the Carpathians. These regions are still relatively quiet at the moment. The Ukrainian protected area workers and FZS are continuing their work on the ground to the best of their ability, albeit in a new reality. The protected area infrastructure is now home to many displaced people.

In the Carpathians, FZS works not only in Ukraine, but also in Poland, Slovakia and Romania. The partners in these neighboring countries have mobilized and are trying to get urgently needed relief supplies across the border. Within Ukraine, the FZS and the employees of the protected areas distribute these materials to the people who are in their region and infrastructure. Protected areas in neighboring countries are also opening their doors to welcome people who make it across the border, including families of workers in Ukraine.