New UNDP Ukraine Project to Support Ecological Corridor Establishing in Polissya

On November 4-6, 2006 the press tour for the Ukrainian journalists was organized to introduce the new UNDP Ukraine project “Consolidation of the Polissya Ecological Corridor”.

During the trip the media representatives had a chance to visit two key project sites: Prypyat –Stohid Regional Park (47 000 hectares) and Shats’k National Park (48 977 hectares), which are to be included to the transboundary ecological corridor to be strengthened between Ukraine and Belarus.

During this trip, the participants talked to the management as well as key experts on the particularities as well on the most urgent needs and problems of these unique sites in Polissya. In the Shats’k National Park, the Director Mr. Volodymyr Naida led the tour and showed Svityaz and Pesochnoe lakes, briefed about the successful experience of cooperation between local community and this reserved area. Besides, the journalists had a chance to ask questions from the residents as well as heads of the local and rayon administrations and scientists.

Following on-site visits, the journalists and experts took part in the press club to discuss such issues as establishing ecological corridors, interests of the national parks and local communities, development of tourism and ecologically responsible business.

The project “Consolidation of the Polissya Ecological Corridor” is supported by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and implemented by UNDP. Among other outcomes, this project will be targeted at elaborating long-term programme of the reserved territories development, strengthening capacity of both parks, supporting green tourism development in Polissya, as well as strengthening cooperation between Belarus and Ukraine on establishing trounsboundary ecological territory in Polissya.

The photoreport from the press-tour is available here.

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For more information, please contact Ms. Veronika Vashchenko, UNDP Communications Officer at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel: +380 44 253 9363, 254 0035.