At the beginning of the 20th century, there were large areas of wetlands in the lowland part of the Zakarpattia province of Ukraine, which played a water-accumulating role in the Tysa river basin. The largest of them were the «Black Swamp» and the «Salva» wetland. The wetlands were a habitat of a high diversity of bird species that nested there. In the second half of the 20th century, these wetlands were meliorated.
As a result of the destruction of wetlands on the territory of Zakarpattia, up to 65% of nesting species of wetland avifauna have disappeared, most of which are now included in the national and regional Red Lists.
On the territory of the wetlands, 5 reservoirs and an irrigation system of canals for agricultural land were created. Over the last 30 years, this water management system has degraded.
In recent decades, wetland birds have gradually begun to inhabit the «Salva» and «Fornosh» reservoirs. In these places, birds need special protection from poachers and from the burning of reeds by the local population. The Fornosh Reservoir is an important place for mass gatherings of waterfowl during spring migration. This is a habitat for species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine – Bucephala clangula, Platalea leucorodia, Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta. The species included in the Red List of Transcarpathia are found here: Ardea cinerea, Aythya fuligula, Callinula chloropus. Anser anser, Vanellus vanellus, Larus ridibundus are also found here in large numbers during migrations. The Salva Reservoir occasionally hosts such Red Data Book species as Platalea leucorodia, Ardeola ralloides, Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta, and Aythya nyroca nests here. After a half-century break, species from the Red List of Transcarpathia have nested again: Ardea purpurea, Botaurus stellaris, Nycticorax nycticorax, Anas clypeata, Callinula chloropus, Chlidonias hybridus. Both reservoirs require more thorough research to determine the full list of rare species, their status throughout the year, and to identify trends in their numbers.
Today, there is a chance for conservation of the transformed wetlands by establishing 2 Ornithological Reserves. This decision will be the best contribution to the conservation of species diversity as well as ecosystems important for adaptation to climate changes in the region.
As a rule, communities do not see economic benefits from protected areas. They do not perceive them as opportunities, only as restrictions on economic activity. In our case, it is not about the fact that local communities do not support the creation of ornithological sanctuaries on the territory of the «Fornosh» and «Salva» reservoirs. Local communities in Ukraine generally do not support the creation of nature conservation areas. This happens due to the lack of legal financial compensation mechanisms for restrictions on economic activity. Therefore, we propose to create ornithological sanctuaries on the most valuable water bodies for birds, where no economic activity is conducted.
Area of activity: Mukachevo territorial community and Vynohradiv territorial community of Zakarpattia region
Goal: to create favorable conditions for biodiversity conservation and increase support for wetland protection in Zakarpattia province by authorities and communities.
Objective 1: To prepare a package of documents for the establishment of two new Protected Areas in the region.
Objective 2: To implement an educational and informational campaign for awareness raising of the regions society about climate change, the need for conservation of climatically important ecosystems, such as wetlands, biodiversity conservation, and benefits that the communities can have from the establishment of new Protected Areas and the increase in the area of existing PAs.
Objective 3: To establish the first in the region infrastructure for birdwatching.
Expected results:
- The issue of establishing 2 ornithological reserves for restoring wetlands and biodiversity conservation is included in the agenda of a session of the Zakarpattia Regional Council.
- An extracurricular educational program for schoolchildren of local communities has been developed and implemented.
- An information campaign about wetlands, the importance of biodiversity conservation, and support implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has been conducted.
- The infrastructure for birdwatching on the territory of the future ornithological reserves/species management areas has been established.
These results will serve as a stimulus for local economic development in rural communities. The construction of birdwatching infrastructure will act as a magnet for the development of birdwatching as a form of ecotourism and related tourist destinations. The project’s key outcome will be the realization among local communities that the establishment of protected areas does not limit development, but rather opens up new opportunities for growth. Ornithological sanctuaries and birdwatching will create opportunities for new tourist destinations and job places in rural areas of Zakarpattia.
Partners: The International Climate Initiative.
Since 2008, the International Climate Initiative (IKI) has supported Ukraine in its climate action efforts, in the adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and in the conservation and restoration of natural carbon sinks and the conservation of biodiversity. Ukraine is a priority country of IKI. Due to the effects of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the IKI portfolio will in the future increasingly focus on the requirements of Ukraine for climate-friendly and resilient reconstruction. At the same time, the climate-relevant and biodiversity-friendly transformation will be promoted and accelerated.
