Heifer Project International in Ukraine
Programme has been working in Ukraine since 1994
Registered as an International Charitable Foundation “Heifer Project International” (ICF “HPI”) in 2000
Key objective in Ukraine: assisting rural communities, small businesses in rural area, farmers and their associations to raise the life standards and achieve self-support
Offices – Kyiv (11 employees), Lviv (4 employees); regional representatives in Crimea and Odessa
50 projects since 2004.
Areas of Heifer work in Ukraine
Heifer International in the world
Heifer International – international charitable foundation, with a mission to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.
Founded in 1944 in USA, Little Rock
Works in more than 50 countries
Supported over 10 mln. families
See more at: www.heifer.org
Sustainability and Heifer International Headquarters
Green Facts
• Water is collected on roof in 25,000-gallon water tower, where it is cleaned by a natural filtration system;
• As water moves around the building, it is filtered by native indigenous plants that remove impurities;
• The building is crafted to maximize sunlight, with an east-to-west, narrow, curved design.
• Brownfield recovery of the site before construction
• Recycled ecologically friendly construction materials;
• Recycling
Heifer International’s SD efforts in the field
• Soil Conservation (incl. vermiculture)
• Water Conservation
• Agro-biodiversity
• Agroforestry
• Indigenous Breeds of Livestock
• Zero-grazing
Heifer International SD Projects in Mountain Areas
Example: Project for the Sustainable Development of the High Mountains’ Biodiversity, Peru
Project components include management and use of biodiversity conservation & the promotion of agroecology, incl.
– incorporation of manure;
– compost and humus;
– crop rotation for the control of pests;
– crop diversification on the family premises for greater food options;
– reforestation of slopes and agroforestry with native plants;
– use of medicinal plants for pest control and diseases;
– recovery of native forages;
– Improved cookstoves.
Carpathian Region
• Europe’s largest mountain range!
• Living environment for up to 18 million people!
• Europe’s greatest reserve of pristine forest, refuge for brown bears, wolves, bison, lynx, eagles and some 200 unique plant species found nowhere else in the world
• Continent’s cleanest streams and drinking water supplies
• Unique natural, historical and cultural heritage
• Heaven for wildlife and ecological networks within Europe
SD principles in historical traditions of Carpathians
• Ethnic diversity corresponding to landscape diversity (7 major ethnic groups and more than six principal religious groups);
• Sustainable mountain shepherding;
• Good forest management practices (till XIX cent.);
• Caring about wildlife and farm animals as seen in traditions, mythology;
• Nature-related arts and crafts –environmentally friendly philosophy and life cycle.
SD principles in Hutsul culture
Where: Southeastern Carpathians (Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsy regions, Rakhiv district of Zakarpattia region)
What:
– Construction: disconnectedness of farmsteads, unique close-circuit household complexes; low waste production;
– Traditional animal breeds;
– Folk arts/ crafts: carving, pyrography and encrustation, pottery, decorative weaving, carpet weaving etc.;
– Respect to nature in traditions and habits;
– Nature is personified, has deep impact on mythology.
Regional Challenges
• Rural mountain areas are facing new threats posed by globalization processes
• Negative demographic trends (aging population, low birth rates, abandonment of mountain regions – alarming migration rates)
• Low level of local and foreign investment and technological upgrade
• Low competitiveness of local produce
• Lower income in agriculture in comparison with the rest of the country
• High unemployment rates
• Problem of younger generations loosing the skills in traditional agriculture, crafts and other specialties
• Threat of spreading of the big companies (logging, tourism) having no traditional relation to the land
• Unsustainable water and forest management practices
Carpathian Convention
Unique agreement addressing exclusively mountain ecosystems
• Signed May 2003
• Entry into force – 1 January 2006
• Ratification by the Parliaments of all the Carpathian countries
• COP1 – 11-13 December 2006, Kyiv, Ukraine
• Carpathian Project promoted by the programme EU INTERREG IIIB CADSES
• Partnerships: MoUs with the Alpine Convention, the Ramsar Convention and Central European Initiative (CEI), cooperative agreement with EURAC
Carpathian Convention
Carpathian Convention provides:
• trans-national framework for cooperation and multi-sectoral policy coordination, including sustainable agriculture, rural development and forestry
• platform for joint strategies and policies for sustainable development
• forum for dialogue and permanent communication between all stakeholders involved
Heifer-Ukraine’s projects in Carpathians
1. Support of rural communities projects – mainly dairy cattle husbandry (9 projects)
Number of heifers –
Purchased: 283
Passed-on: 229
Projects on dairy cattle breeding in Carpathian mountain areas
Heifer Ukraine’s Initiatives in
Rural Green Tourism
• Revival of endangered breeds of farm animals in Hutsul Region (2002 – 2008. Budget: $139,810 )
• Agroecological Initiative: Revival of Hutsul Horse Breed in Carpathians (2003 – 2008. Budget: $25,000 )
• HPI / Carpathian Project 1 (2005 – 2009. Budget: $149,900 )
RESULTS:
• Within the framework of these projects, 49 mares and 3 breeding stallions of Hutsul breed, 20 saddles, 3 coaches, 53 heifers, 155 ewes, 120 bee packages as well as other equipment, seeds, ornamental saplings were provided for rural families.
• Totally, 74 horses are provided, incl. pass-ons (about 15% of world population according to FAO)
• All project participants are trained in veterinary management, marketing etc.
• Additionally, 18 heifers, 19 mares and 53 ewes were passed on as the gift to other families by project participants.
• During year 2006, income from “Green tourism” activity in these projects reached $2,700.
• 2 ASCS are created and effectively operate.
Eurasia Foundation project
“Demonstration Model of Sustainable Development in Ukrainian Carpathians”
Budget: $70,465 (Heifer-Ukraine: $43,050, Eurasia Foundation: $27,415)
• Accommodation
Outputs of implemented project, which lasted only for 1 year (2004-2005):
Beginning End Difference
Operating agrohouseholds 38 59 21
Received visitors, inds. 1220 2250 1030
Households’ owners received additional income of $2,277 from providing accommodation for tourists.
• Horse routes (horseback riding, trip by coach)
– 10 horse routes have been developed, manual on horse tourism “To Carpathians riding the horse” has been issued (500 copies)
– Income from tourism – $9,208 (2005)
Heifer Ukraine’s Initiatives in Rural Green Tourism (Carpathian project 2)
5 projects, incl.:
• Helping rural families in the Bukovyna region (2007 – 2012. Budget: $196,566)
• Carpathian Project – Helping rural families in Turka raion, Lviv oblast (2007 – 2012. Budget: $121,540)
• Promoting rural tourism development for people residing in the area of “Skolivski Beskydy” National park (2007 – 2012. Budget: $77,408)
Outcomes: Rural families will receive 20 mares and 2 breeding stallions of Hutsul breed, 20 saddles, 1 cart, 60 heifers, 100 ewes and 7 rams, 50 bee packages, other equipment, seeds, ornamental saplings. All project participants undergo trainings in veterinary care, tourism marketing etc.
EU INTERREG IIIB CADSES Carpathian Project – “Protection and sustainable development
of the Carpathians in a transnational framework”
Carpathian project (2006-2008)
Carpathian project: Skills development
Trainings:
– For tourism industry stakeholders – in Greece (20 people);
– For members of households providing hospitality services;
Topics of trainings and consultations:
Rural tourism development; Arranging the rural tourist household;
Horse tourism; Sustainable use of natural recourses for rural tourism development; Community social development; Fundraising and applying for grants.
– For local authorities and NGOs – in Yaremche, 2008 “Development of rural tourism”, “Marketing in rural tourism”
– For prospective inspectors of the Rural Green Tourism Network who are expected to certify private households providing hospitality services
Carpathian Project
Partners of INTERREG IIIB CADSES Carpathian Project
Austria
• UNEP Vienna ISCC
• WWF DCP
• Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European Studies
Our partners in Carpathian region, Ukraine
Regional governmental institutions, public administrations
• Oblast (regional) state administrations in Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk,
• Administrations of protected areas: National Nature Parks “Hutsulschyna”; “Skolivski Beskydy” Regional Landscape Park
Other work of Heifer-Ukraine contributing to sustainable use of natural resources
• Trainings on Agroecology
• Working together with the community of Trostianets village in Odesa region to improve the sanitary and environmental state of the local pond
• Vermiculture/ biogas/ compost components of current projects
Planned Projects of Heifer-Ukraine in Carpathians
• Flood Rehabilitation project;
• Payment of environmental services and other positive externalities (PESOPE) project under SARD-M cooperation;
• European Mountain ABC Alpine experience-Balkan future-Carpathian opportunity project