Ukraine Nature Network: Platform for the documentation and dissemination of information on environmental and nature conservation initiatives in Ukraine in the context of the war
Keywords: The Russian war against Ukraine, platform, network, soil (including agriculture), forests and forest protection, waste management, energy production
Subject and objectives of the project
The aim of the “Ukraine Nature Network” project is to set up and sustainably establish a central platform that acts as an overarching information and networking hub for ongoing and planned environmental projects in Ukraine. The particular focus is on projects that aim to overcome and reduce the diverse ecological effects and damage caused by the war in the long term.
The platform systematically bundles information on project objectives, methodological approaches, results achieved and their positive effects on local ecosystems and affected regions. At the same time, it promotes transparency, knowledge exchange and cooperation between relevant stakeholders from science, civil society, politics and practice.
The aim of the project is to make environmental initiatives in Ukraine visible, strengthen their impact and promote synergies between different actors. Specifically, the project pursues the following goals:
- Documenting and supporting projects to protect and restore Ukraine’s natural resources, including forests, water bodies, biodiversity and wildlife populations, which have been significantly affected by the war.
- Promoting networking and cooperation between stakeholders in the field of nature conservation and environmental protection and supporting sustainable development approaches, particularly in the areas of renewable energies, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.
- Raising public awareness of the environmental consequences of war through educational programs, professional events, workshops and information campaigns to promote sustainable practices during and after times of conflict.
Innovation and exemplary nature of the project
The “Ukraine Nature Network” project is innovative because it goes beyond a mere information platform and creates an integrated structure of knowledge pooling, active networking, funding mobilization and policy support. It combines digital infrastructure with a strategic coordination and mediation function and thus responds specifically to the particular challenges of a war-related environmental crisis.
A key innovative feature is the concept of the platform as a central “information hub” for ongoing and planned environmental projects in Ukraine. The systematic recording of project objectives, methods, results and impacts creates a transparent knowledge base that is available to both specialist stakeholders and political decision-makers. The project thus contributes to evidence-based policy-making, particularly in the context of reconstruction and convergence with European environmental standards.
The structured international networking through the “Ukraine Nature Network-Germany Partnership” is also exemplary. Through moderated online matching formats, universities in Germany and Ukraine are brought together in a targeted manner to initiate cooperation in the areas of nature conservation, biodiversity and renaturation. This systematic matching represents a transferable approach that can also be used in other crisis or transformation contexts.
Another innovative component is the project’s function as a “Nature Conservation Brokerage”. The platform increases the visibility of Ukrainian environmental initiatives vis-à-vis national and international funding providers and actively supports the development of project applications. This not only shares information, but also facilitates concrete access to funding and strengthens institutional capacities.
Finally, the project combines scientific expertise with practical implementation by networking Ukrainian experts in the field of nature conservation with international experts and facilitating professional exchange even under difficult conditions. Overall, the project serves as a model, as it establishes a scalable and transferable structure for knowledge-based networking, international cooperation and sustainable environmental governance in crisis and reconstruction situations.
Special aspects of the project
A special aspect of the project is its long-term orientation and sustainability. A strategy for the permanent continuation of the “Ukraine Nature Network” will be developed during the project period. The aim is to continue the platform and the established cooperation structures after the end of the project and to anchor them institutionally. In addition, specific follow-up activities are being designed to continue the content-related work, international networking and funding acquisition in the long term. The project is therefore not designed as a one-off measure, but as a structure-building initiative with a long-term impact.
Funding theme 9: Nature conservation and water protection
Project implementation:
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
- Research and Transfer Center “Sustainability and Climate Management” (FTZ-NK)
Places of work: Germany, Ukraine
Funding period: June 2024 to May 2026
Project costs: Total volume: 169,859 euros, funding from DBU: 169,859 euros
DBU-AZ: 39643
Status: 10.03.2026