Acronym
ProtectNature
NUMBER
PBU2/0849/18
Project type
Micro-project
STATUS
Completed
THEMATIC OBJECTIVE
HERITAGE
PRIORITY
1.2 Promotion and preservation of natural heritage
PARTNERSHIP
PL-UA
LEAD BENEFICIARY
National Natural Park "Skolivski Beskydy" (Lviv Oblast, Ukraine)
BENEFICIARY
Association of self-governments "Euroregion Carpathians - Ukraine" (Lviv Oblast, Ukraine)
Association for Development and Promotion of Podkarpacie "Pro Carpathia" (Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland)
The Carpathian Mountains are of high value as natural heritage. This area is a center of biodiversity, a refuge for many endangered plant and animal species, and Europe's largest virgin forest area. Breathtaking sceneries and the opportunity to explore „wild” nature attract a growing number of tourists. However, speaking of protected areas, is tourism good or evil? On the one hand, areas of natural parks need investments to develop recreation infrastructure, on the other hand, the growing human pressure caused by the increasing intensity of tourist traffic may be harmful to local ecosystems.
The ProtectNature project team is convinced that tourism should be based on the concept of sustainability. Thus, the project’s activities will enhance sustainable tourism in natural parks. Employees of Ukrainian national natural parks will go on a study visit to natural parks in Poland and learn the best practices in this field. The issue will be also discussed during the conference "Modern solutions for the development of active tourism in nature protected areas". Then, a cross-border concept of active tourism in natural parks will be elaborated laying the ground for further cooperation. It will also include the recommendations for recreation infrastructure in 3 natural parks in Ukraine - "Skolivski Beskydy", "Hutsulshchyna" and "Synevyr" (information and security signs, bans and landmarks, information stands, garbage collection).
Finally, recreation infrastructure will be installed in the pilot natural park "Skolivski Beskydy" (information point "Dubravka"). The project will contribute to the promotion of natural parks, enhancing ecological awareness and preserving the natural heritage on both sides of the border. The achieved results will strengthen the existing forms of cooperation and initiate new ideas. Skill-sharing, personnel exchange and mutual trainings will lead to a better knowledge and awareness of the Polish and Ukrainian communities, as well as enhance visitors to see these beautiful Carpathian sites.
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