Ukrainian Conservation Society

The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Society (UkrTOP - Ukrayinske tovarystvo okhorony pryrody) is a public environmental organization. In 1967, under pressure from the UkrTOP, the Ukrainian government established the State Committee for Nature Conservation as a central state organization. Since 1991, the State Committee for Nature Conservation has had the status of a ministry. UkrTOP promoted public awareness of recycling, environmental education and education about nature in schools, communities, authorities, at their branches in all regions of Ukraine and in most counties, as well as in cities such as Kiev and Sevastopol.

history

The UkrTOP was founded on June 28, 1946. Nikita Khrushchev had given permission to open a branch of the UkrTOP. It was in response to numerous complaints from Ukrainian scientists and conservationists. Until the mid-1960s, the UkrTOP was the only environmental vote for various political decisions. At that time the UkrTOP demanded the introduction of the ecological-economic approach for the planned economy and founded the Ministry of the Environment within the framework of the Ukrainian government. The lack of democratic structures in the state made it difficult for Ukrainian scientists to defend ecological interests at the time. However, the State Committee for Nature Conservation was established in 1967 under pressure from the UkrTOP in the Ukrainian government. The committee had a central state position in the government. The American Environmental Protection Agency was not founded until three years later. Since 1991, the State Committee for Nature Conservation has had the status of a ministry. Mykhailo Voinstvenskiy was the chairman of the UkrTOP from 1963 to 1982. UkrTOP's priority was the environmental education of Ukrainian schoolchildren, students and retirees during stagnation and restructuring. In 1991, with the independence of Ukraine, the status of the State Committee for Nature Conservation was increased to the Ministry of the Environment. According to the UkrTOP Constitution, the UkrTOP Congress established a Ukrainian Council and its Presidium. The majority of the members were volunteers. At this point in time, the UkrTOP was seeking social control over pollution and was fighting for environmental civil rights. The former Environment Minister Vasyl Shevchuk has been the chairman of the UkrTOP Presidium of the Ukrainian Council since 2002.

structure

UkrTOP is a social organization. Congress is their supreme authority. 23 regional (including Kiev and Sevastopol) UkrTOP organizations are subject to the Ukrainian Council. These regional organizations include 354 counties, 70 city branches, 23,000 primary organizations (schools and universities, etc.), more than 10,000 business members (sponsors and co-hosts of environmental events), and over two million individual members.

activities

Dialogue with government and politicians

UkrTOP contributes to public and parliamentary control over environmental protection, takes part in parliamentary environmental hearings in the Verkhovna Rada and promotes the implementation of the Aarhus Convention and the Ukrainian law "An Eco-Audit". The UkrTOP encourages Ukrainian companies to implement the following agendas: - The system of ecological and social risk management, in particular within the framework of the Equator Principles - Various business models - The promotion of sustainability through energy and resource efficiency, through sustainable land use and conservation Biodiversity - Doing business with partners who manage their environmental and social risks well - Caring for their employees and local communities.

Sections UkrTOP

The organizational system of the UkrTOP comprises ten national and 140 regional thematic sections. These deal with the following problems: ecological security, environmental protection, restoration of flora and fauna, minerals, water resources, atmosphere, soil, fish stocks, forests, nature reserves, the development and support of the Yunnatsky movement and the transfer of knowledge about the foundations of nature. The achievements of these sections include: influencing by means of recommendations and developing legally relevant documents on environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources; spreading environmental awareness among school and university students; the preparation and implementation of methodological support for the regional and local centers of the UkrTOP.

Regions

UkrTOP members take part in various international and national environmental campaigns. These include the Earth Day , the World Wetlands Day , "Pure Ukraine - Pure Land" and regional environmental actions such as "source" or "Christmas tree". Important UkrTOP activities are the regional community service days and a multitude of regional and local environmental campaigns that deal with afforestation, planting in cities, public welfare, improving the bank protection strips on rivers and lakes or cleaning up polluted areas.

Educational activities

The Ukrainian Council carries out educational and public relations work together with regional UkrTOP organizations. These activities are an important part of the work of the UkrTOP. They include various educational and awareness campaigns through public lectures, weekend excursions, film screenings, exhibitions, open discussion panels and seminars. The UkrTOP makes its concerns popular through brochures, local newspapers, publications, especially through the scientific journal “Mother Nature”.

Partners and similar organizations

Europe

Austria Austria : Nature Conservation Union Austria
Denmark Denmark : Danish Society for Nature Conservation
France France : France nature environnement
Germany Germany : Naturschutzbund Deutschland
Italy Italy : Pro Natura
Netherlands Netherlands : Milieudefensie
Norway Norway : Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
Russia Russia : All-Russian Conservation Society
Sweden Sweden : Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen
United Kingdom United Kingdom : Environmental Protection UK , British Ecological Society

Australia and Oceania

Australia Australia : Australian Conservation Foundation
New Zealand New Zealand : ECO

America

Canada Canada : Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society , Nature Canada
Mexico Mexico : Pronatura
United States United States : Sierra Club , The Nature Conservancy

Africa and the Middle East

Ethiopia Ethiopia : Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society
Israel Israel : Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
Kenya Kenya : Green Belt Movement
Nigeria Nigeria : Nigerian Conservation Foundation
South Africa South Africa : Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates : Emirates Environmental Group

Asia

China People's Republic People's Republic of China : China Wildlife Conservation Association
India India : Wildlife Trust of India
Japan Japan : Nature Conservation Society of Japan
Korea South South Korea : Korean Society of Nature Conservation , Korean Association for Conservation of Nature , National Nature Trust , The Ecological Society of Korea
Nepal Nepal : National Trust for Nature Conservation
Vietnam Vietnam : Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment