Kyiv, 10 December 2025 – The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine has published the draft Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine until 2035 on its website for public discussion.

The document was developed by the relevant department of the ministry with the participation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Ukraine is a strategic planning document that defines the long-term priorities of state policy and integrates nature protection issues into all areas of state development. It establishes a framework for the decisions of state authorities, local governments, and other stakeholders concerning the preservation of ecosystems and species.

“Russia's armed aggression is causing irreparable damage to Ukraine's biodiversity,” noted Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine Oleksii Sobolev. “Many species of plants and animals, including rare ones, as well as their natural habitats, are being affected, threatening their existence. This includes natural steppe ecosystems and coastal areas in southern Ukraine, as well as bogs and wetlands in the north.”

“For Ukraine’s post-war recovery, we need a comprehensive state policy that enables us to restore infrastructure, ecosystems, and wild nature. The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and its Operational Action Plan will help integrate nature conservation objectives into all sectoral and regional policies and decisions in support of sustainable development.” 

The Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Ukraine is aimed at achieving the following results:

• Stopping biodiversity loss and restoring key ecosystems;
• Integrating the concept of nature conservation into all sectors of the economy;
• Strengthening the resilience of communities and the state to climate and natural risks;
• Supporting the “green” recovery of Ukraine.

Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, noted that “Mitigating the consequences of climate change, increasing resilience to climate risks, ensuring environmental safety, and conserving and restoring ecosystems is one of UNDP’s global priorities, including here in Ukraine.”

“We hope this strategy will lay a reliable foundation for conserving and restoring ecosystems and species, increasing the country's climate change resilience, promoting the sustainable management of natural resources, and supporting Ukraine in fulfilling its international environmental obligations,” Lootsma said. “We’re convinced that nature restoration must be an integral part of Ukraine’s sustainable recovery.”

The Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine is oriented towards the realization of the global goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which Ukraine is continuing its efforts to fulfil – despite all the challenges of wartime. Like the global framework, the strategy contains 23 strategic tasks for biodiversity conservation, while also taking into account the specifics of Ukraine.

"Government officials, international experts, scientists, representatives of environmental civil society organizations, and leading specialists from various fields spent nearly a year working on the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy under the challenging conditions of martial law," said Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine Ihor Zubovych. “After passing all the necessary procedures, the strategy will be submitted to the government for review and adoption. And now we’re inviting everyone who cares about conserving living nature to participate in the public consultation on the draft strategy and send us their comments and suggestions for review."

The draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and other details can be reviewed via this link.

Proposals and comments on the draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy will be accepted for 30 days from the start of the public discussion via email: o.blazhevych@me.gov.ua.

Media enquiries:
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP in Ukraine
yuliia.samus@undp.org