On April 24 2018, Oleksandr Ignatenko, PLEDDG Senior Expert in Inter-governmental Cooperation and Economic Development, took part in the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Small Grants Program of Global Environment Facility in Ukraine, held during a retreat in the “Holosiivskyi” National Nature Park.
Last year, the Small Grants Program of Global Environment Facility in Ukraine provided financing for PLEDDG partner regions. Specifically, among the projects implemented last year, there was a project on “Conservation of Biodiversity of Steppe Area in Seaside National Nature Parks in Ukraine”, totaling 39.02 thousand USD. Zaporizhia Regional State Administration is among the Project’s partners. The project’s achievements are conservation of biodiversity on the territory of three national nature parks by raising awareness of local communities, tourists, and scientists, with “Pryazovia” NNP, including Berdiansk and Melitopol cities. In the framework of the project, trees were planted, eco-lessons were conducted, excursions, expeditions, conferences, as well as various videos were made, leaflets, were designed and printed, and newspapers such as “The Eco-day”, “The Development and Environment”, “The Nature and Society”, and “The Steppe Newsletter”. Overall, the project brought together 1151 people (421 women, 368 children, and 362 men).
Another project was “Conservation of Biodiversity of Steppe Area with Granite Outcrops in Zaporizhia Region”, worth 40 thousand USD. Zaporizhia Regional State Administration is among the Project’s partners. The project’s achievements are the promotion of steppe areas and steppe conservation areas of Zaporizhia region for development of rural green tourism and cycle touring, with communities involved in organization thereof. There was invented “Steppe Pectoral” (Melitopol — Kam’iana Mohyla — Melitopol), the first cycle route in Zaporizhia region; established 10 conservation signs, 10 road signs, and 10 Braille type information boards; established 4 bicycle parking facilities; purchased and transferred 12 trekking bikes and 4 tandems for “The Zaporizhia Regional Department of Association for Promotion of Development of Rural Green Tourism in Ukraine” NGO and “Photosynthesis” NGO; designed and printed the prospectus with the first cycle route demonstrated; provided a public consultation and held a closing seminar; and designed and brought the website into service. Overall, 343 people took part in the project, with 200 women among them.
The project “Removing Barriers to Increase Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings” within the issue-related direction “Extension of Local Communities Opportunities by Implementing Low-Carbon Technologies and Renewable Energy Sources” is nearing its implementation stage. The project proposals include the ones located in the Steppe Area covering Berdiansk and Melitopol areas of Zaporizhia Region.
At the meeting, participants discussed continuation of support for PLEDDG partner cities and regions within the framework of the directions set out in the activity of the Small Grants Program of Global Environment Facility in Ukraine.
