Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the VGP Foundation has continuously supported local conservation partners in strengthening environmental education, protecting biodiversity, and providing children and young people with opportunities to reconnect with nature despite the ongoing crisis.
This project builds on that long-term commitment and continues a successful series of conservation education initiatives in the Ukrainian Carpathians. It focuses on one of the region’s most pressing conservation challenges: fostering coexistence between people and large carnivores.
The Conservation Challenge
The Ukrainian Carpathians are home to four of Europe’s most iconic predators: the brown bear, wolf, Eurasian lynx, and European wildcat. These species play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, yet they are often perceived as a threat due to livestock losses, fear, and long-standing misconceptions. At the same time, the war has severely disrupted education and reduced opportunities for children to engage with nature, making environmental awareness and positive outdoor experiences more important than ever.
Project Objectives
The project aims to promote peaceful coexistence between people and large carnivores by combining innovative environmental education with practical awareness-raising activities. Building on the successful educational approaches developed through previous VGP-supported projects focusing on bats and reptiles, the initiative adapts and expands these methods to address human–wildlife conflict while inspiring a new generation to value and protect the natural heritage of the Carpathians.
Environmental Education and Community Engagement
A central component of the project is a comprehensive environmental education programme involving schools, youth centres, and local communities across the Transcarpathian region. Through interactive workshops, educational events, a travelling exhibition, creative competitions, social media campaigns, and an eco-puppet theatre performance, children and adults will be introduced to the ecological importance of large carnivores. These activities will also help address common misconceptions and promote practical measures for coexistence.
Teachers and educators will receive high-quality educational materials that can be integrated into future lessons, ensuring the project’s long-term impact beyond its implementation period.
Creating a Lasting Educational Legacy
To create a lasting educational legacy, the project will establish a permanent Green Classroom near the Brown Bear Rehabilitation Center in Synevyr National Nature Park. Equipped with interactive learning tools, educational displays, and practical teaching materials, the facility will serva as a long-term hub for environmental education, community engagement, and conservation awareness.
Long-Term Impact
By continuing the VGP Foundation’s support for Ukraine during this challenging period, the project will not only contribute to the conservation of the Carpathians’ most iconic wildlife but also strengthen environmental education, resilience, and hope among thousands of children and young people. In doing so, it will help lay the foundation for a future in which people and large carnivores can coexist within one of Europe’s most valuable mountain landscapes.
Photo credits © IERS / NABU
