Recently, Veronika Bohdan, a third-year student majoring in “Ecology” (specialty 101), and Kateryna Lavrinenko, a lecturer at the Department of Agronomy, Biology, and Ecology, Doctor of Philosophy in Biology at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, took part in a study trip to Poland.

The trip was organized by the NGOs “Ekosotsium”, “Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group”, “Fundacja Dziedzictwo Przyrodnicze” with the participation of “Klub Przyrodników” and “Pracownia na Rzecz Wszystkich Istot”.

During the trip, the participants deepened their knowledge of the practical application of EU environmental legislation such as the Nature Restoration Law, the Habitats Directive, etc., as well as the specifics of preserving grassland biotopes, establishing protected areas for the conservation of rare species, including the particularities of creating national nature parks, preserving and restoring peatlands, constructing and maintaining ecoducts – overpasses and underpasses for animals. The participants had the opportunity to see a meadow-steppe area that had been restored after being overgrown with invasive Robinia pseudoacacia, and which is now maintained in a proper natural state through sheep grazing and haymaking; to visit a peatland area that had been re-irrigated by filling in melioration canals and which is maintained in line with the management plans of the Natura 2000 network, through mowing and removing biomass; to visit several eco-ducts – safe crossings for animals over and under highways – and, finally, the projected Turnicki National Park, where local eco-activists are fighting to protect forests from deforestation.

The new experience gained during the trip will be useful for implementing the best environmental practices in educational and conservation activities.

The Educational-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences