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IMPACT PROMISE 
Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact
Appeal Snapshot
Partner:
Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG)
Location:
Kyiv, Ukraine
Category:
- Capacity Building & Training
- Protected Area Management
- Scientific Research
- Wildlife Conservation
Urgent Appeals:
None currently
Date Founded:
2018
Website:
Partner Qualifications:
IUCN MemberA distinguished Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. IUCN Members are each vetted and voted on based on an independent, rigorous assessment and external references. Learn More
Legally ConstitutedThis organization is formally constituted and is a legally recognized non-profit in its country of origin.
Effective ImpactWe recognize this Partner for their tremendous efforts to make a difference for wildlife and local communities, as well as welcome technical support from Conservation Allies to improve and scale up their impact.
About Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group
The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG), formally established in 2018, is a nonprofit organization founded by biologists and environmental experts. It now includes over 50 conservation professionals and activists working across Ukraine.
UNCG’s work focuses on establishing new protected areas, conserving forests, monitoring wildlife populations, and protecting rare plant and animal species. Through field studies and assessments, they provide critical data to guide environmental efforts. Their initiatives maintain ecosystems in forests, wetlands, and grasslands, ensuring the survival of diverse flora and fauna while protecting water quality, soil health, and regional climate stability.
They have been instrumental in creating 75% of Ukraine's recent protected areas and have contributed over 500,000 biodiversity records to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. UNCG also collaborates with local communities, government agencies, and international organizations to advocate for environmental policy improvements and promote sustainable land use. Their educational outreach inspires public engagement through publications, workshops, and community programs, fostering a culture of conservation for future generations.
Their Challenges
Ukraine’s ecosystems face significant threats due to ongoing Russian aggression, which has damaged protected areas and disrupted fragile habitats. Vital landscapes, including forests, wetlands, and grasslands, have suffered extensive harm, endangering biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
With state resources focused on defense, conservation funding has become scarce, creating an urgent need for external support to sustain fieldwork, document ecological impacts, and plan for ecosystem recovery. UNCG and other conservationists are working to assess the damage and implement strategies for restoring Ukraine’s natural heritage.
Recovery efforts include establishing new protected zones, rehabilitating war-impacted habitats, and developing sustainable management practices. UNCG’s commitment to data collection, ecosystem monitoring, and collaboration with local and international partners is critical for ensuring Ukraine’s biodiversity is preserved and its ecosystems are resilient in the long term.
Their Approach
UNCG leads initiatives to conserve and restore Ukraine's ecosystems amid ongoing threats. They prioritize preserving ecological data, conducting studies, and creating methods to restore war-damaged habitats. A key focus is advocating for the legal protection of affected areas to safeguard them from regulatory gaps and limited government oversight.
UNCG identifies valuable sites across Ukraine to secure their protection status. Their efforts include establishing new nature reserves, improving the management of existing protected areas, and promoting sustainable forest management practices with civic oversight to prevent exploitation.
The organization also assesses environmental impacts and advocates for modifications to development projects that threaten biodiversity. In collaboration with international conventions, UNCG monitors and expands Ukraine’s Emerald Network, a vital system of protected sites for European biodiversity.
Their work extends to protecting grasslands and steppes from construction and deforestation and conserving rivers and wetlands from drainage projects. By gathering and analyzing data on rare species and habitats, UNCG supports evidence-based conservation actions and policies that minimize ecological harm and build long-term ecosystem resilience.
Why They Need Your Help
Supporting UNCG ensures the continuation of critical conservation efforts in Ukraine during a time of war. Contributions enable ecological surveys, legal protections for at-risk areas, and biodiversity monitoring across vulnerable landscapes.
Funding strengthens their capacity for research, advocacy, and restoration while bolstering civic oversight to counteract risks from deregulation and limited government resources. Donations directly support initiatives such as expanding protected areas, monitoring rare species, and promoting sustainable land management.
By contributing, supporters empower dedicated conservation professionals to safeguard Ukraine’s natural heritage and lay the foundation for a sustainable future amid unprecedented challenges.