Open Borders for Wildlife in the Carpathians

Open Border for wildlife in the Carpathians contributes to effective protection of biodiversity in the Carpathian Ecoregion by maintaining and improving ecological connectivity between habitats and maintaining ecosystem functions and services, the cornerstone of sustainable development.
Focus project area, approximately 4 000 000 ha, part of the Carpathians, is one of the most important global repositories of natural wealth, recognized by the Carpathian governments with the signing of the Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians.
Habitat loss, its fragmentation and degradation represent the key threats to biodiversity, not only generally worldwide, but also in the Carpathian region where the pressure on natural resources is increasing and is doubled by the plans to support economic growth.
The project targets preservation of common natural values on a landscape level, demolishing the negative effects of borders on habitats by: identifying key ecological corridors of transboundary interest for large carnivores as umbrella species, within 4 million ha by using jointly developed harmonized methodology; developing in a participatory manner and implementing management measures to increase the favourability of ecological corridors; advocacy actions for protection of corridors; awareness raising and education on biodiversity importance as a precondition for sustainable development of local communities
Project will benefit minimum 100 administrators,
custodians of protected areas (PA’s), state institutions, environmental NGO’s and last but not least 1000 local communities (4 mill. inhabitants) in ENI target area.
Project innovation relates to a first time partnership of 3 EU countries and Ukraine in a joint effort for ensuring connectivity beyond borders for wildlife through cooperation, field and policy work. Moreover, scientific monitoring equipment will bring in new data on wildlife distribution and development infrastructure.