Recently, the Young Conservationist School was held at the Sokyrno Educational and Sports Complex of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy.

More than 20 people, including students and young specialists from nature conservation institutions, participated in the event. It was organised by the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group and Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy.

The School’s programme included theoretical sessions, panel discussions, and practical workshops.

Among the trainers working with the young conservationists were academic staff from the Educational-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences. Kateryna Lavrinenko, a lecturer at the Department of Agronomy, Biology, and Ecology, conducted a practical session on habitat mapping. Maksym Havryliuk, Director of the Educational-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences, led a practical session on the protection of white-tailed eagle nests. Oleksandr Spriahailo, Vice-Rector for Scientific, International and Innovation Activities, served as an expert during practical sessions on biodiversity research.

The School’s participants included students majoring in Ecology – Volodymyr Andrushchenko, Anna Riazanova, and Yuliia Kravchenko – as well as graduates: biologist Olena Shamrai and ecologists Veronika Bohdan and Oleksandr Diadyk.

The programme featured intensive training on topics including biodiversity research in forest and aquatic ecosystems, the mapping of old-growth trees, nocturnal insect trapping, and more. For the students, it was a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge, develop new skills in biodiversity research and conservation, and improve their communication skills.

“It is important that most of the fieldwork was conducted in the area of the proposed Irdyn Swamp National Nature Park. During the research, new habitats of plant and animal species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and the appendices to international conventions were identified. These findings once again demonstrate the need to establish the Irdyn Swamp National Nature Park in order to ensure more effective management of this area,” said Maksym Havryliuk.

The Educational-Scientific Institute of Natural and Agrarian Sciences