At the IBA #064 (Dnipro estuary and Kardashynski lakes) Tetyana Ardamatska and Olga Yaremchenko, IBA coordinators, implement project on conservation of Pygmy Cormorant through awareness raising and forming positive attitude to the species among local people. Considering that negative attitude of local people to the species prevails among the main problems, which prevent successful breeding of the species in the Dnipro river lowlands, project coordinators conduct awareness raising campaign among local people, particularly demonstrate video film and provide lectures about conservation issues of the species. Information about species were also disseminated through the local newspapers and radio. Furthermore, informational poster were printed. Two round tables with involvement of local authorities, hunters’ groups, landowners, NGOs, and teachers were conducted for elaboration of action plan of the species conservation.
Tetyana Atemasova, IBA coordinator from Kharkiv region, implemented project on improvement of management at the IBA #304 (Gomilsha forest summer house) that was aimed at carrying out survey of the hill oak forest within the IBA, identifying valuable areas for incorporation of them into protected area of the park, carrying out detail inventory of the breeding habitats of the key and rare bird species, identifying treats and conservation measures. Furthermore, digital maps with vector data of the IBA boundaries, maps of the abundance and numbers of bird species within IBA, and map of general diversity and wintering birds at the site were prepared. Papers for the enlargement of the protected area submitted to the official authorities. Informational poster was printed for promotion of IBA in the region.
Other project on improvement of site management was implemented by Azov regional branch under the guidance of Oleksandr Koshelev, IBA coordinator. The project covered IBA #071, Altagirskyj and Rodionivskyj forests, Molochny estuary. Main project objectives include carrying out biotechnical measures for attraction of breeding birds. Schoolchildren and students from local university constructed and installed more than 120 nesting boxes and watering places for the forest birds. Moreover, management plan aimed at increasing number of breeding birds in local forests was developed for the local forestry department.
The next project continues activity started in previous years. Project implemented by Kostyantyn Redinov, IBA coordinator in Mykolayiv region, at the IBAs #063, 065 (Kinburn peninsula, Yagorlytska and Tendrivska bays) was focused on supporting successful breeding of rare bird species, for example Eider, Avocet, Oystercatcher, etc. Two big and six small nesting rafts for the waterfowls were renovated and regularly inspected during the breeding season.
Dnipropetrovsk regional branch holds an awareness raising campaign for protection of rare forest birds in the Samarskyj forest (IBA #038) that coordinated by Petro Chegorka, IBA coordinator. Project team carried out monitoring of birds at the forest and identified threats for the bird population. Based on the collected data they prepared informational poster “Rare birds of the Samarskyj forest” and held a photo exhibition.
Geographical scale of the Sergiy Kurochkin’s project covers most IBAs of Odessa region and is aimed at their promotion. In particularly, release and distribution of CDs with pictures of local birds and IBAs will be carried out under the project.
Two projects are realized in the Volyn region this year. One of the projects, implemented by Anatoliy Poluda and Mykhailo Khymyn, aimed at protection of the Prypiat river floodplain (IBA #005) as a habitat important for Aquatic Warbler. Spring monitoring of Aquatic Warbler’s habitat and inspection of three dams, constructed by USPB in 2005 were carried out under the project. Some management measures, particularly burning reeds and shrubs in order to enlarge the habitat, were carried out in March 2006.
Other Volyn project, also implemented at the IBA #005 under the guidance of Ivan Legeida, IBA coordinator, involved holding a public EIA of the project by Volynvodgosp (regional water management authority) on protecting villages Shlapan and Grechyschne of Lyubeshiv district from flooding. Project documents, meteorological data for the site, plant and wildlife composition of the site were examined and analyzed. EIA conclusion submitted to regional environmental authorities.