Ukraine has the largest area of arable land in Europe, which makes up 55% of the total surface of the country. Over 30% of total arable lands have been degraded. The availability of drinking water is 10 times lower compared to the average for European countries. In 2010, protected areas covered 3,27 million ha, or approximately 5,4% of surface of Ukraine. The native vegetation area is 0,35 hectare per citizen.
Protected areas have a high social importance in some regions as they provide job opportunities, recreational services, nature resource use (including timber, see also sector Current Budget, income of protected areas), and education in rural areas.
Ecosystem services have not yet been recognized by local communities and protected area managers despite the multiple ecosystem services they provide. Furthermore, the expansion of protected areas in Ukraine has undermined the capacity of the existing protected area system to properly manage newly established protected areas and integrate them into other sectors. Additionally, the change in land ownership over the last decade has introduced new challenges to existing protected areas, including integration of existing protected areas into other sectors and building public support for protected areas.

The protected areas network of Ukraine is well represented and covers the whole range of natural zones, types of habitats and ecosystems (see RAPPAM evaluation, WWF, 2008), Annex 6a. << Read less

To Establish an ecologically-representative, well-managed and financially sustainable network of protected areas.

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Although Ukraine covers less than 6% of the area of Europe, it contains approximately 35% of its biological diversity, which is aided by Ukraine’s placement at the crossroads of many natural ecosystems, and the migration paths of fauna and a vide array of flora.
In a comparatively small area, four natural ecosystems are present: forest, steppe-forest, steppe and seaside ecosystems.  Ukraine’s uniqueness is the presence of the steppe ecosystem which is one of a kind for Europe (National Environmental Policy of Ukraine: assessment and development strategy, 2008, Annex 2). 
A total of 38 protected areas have been designated over the past four years, including 32 National Nature Parks, 2 Nature Reserves and 4 Wildlife Reserves. In addition, 8 biosphere reserves and national parks have been enlarged covering nearly 669,000 ha. With these additions, Ukraine’s protected area network now covers 3.27 million ha, or approximately 5.4% of the country’s territory. Ukraine’s network of protected areas of national and local importance is predicted to increase by 300,000 hectares (0.5% of Ukraine’s area) between 2010 and 2012.
The protected areas network of Ukraine is well represented and covers the whole range of natural zones, types of habitats and ecosystems (see RAPPAM evaluation, WWF, 2008), Annex 6a. << Read less

Major revenue sources and approximate amounts:
1) Government budget. app. 10 million UAH/1 million € (2010), app. 20million UAH/2 million €, (2011), app. 20 million UAH/2 million € (2012).

“…State Budget of Ukraine supply protected areas with resources that cover 30% of the funding required…”

The largest portion of the State Budget is assigned for the cost of personnel. Protected areas ,which are under the Ministry of environmental protection, have had the following budgets: in 2005 the total budget was 15,7 mln UAH, of which the cost of personnel,(including taxes)was  14,5 mln UAH (92,5%), and in 2009 the total budget was  61,0 mln UAH of which the cost of  personnel was 60,1 mln UAH (98,6%).

2) Protected Area revenue.  Protected areas provide chargeable services (Order Cabinet of Ministries of Ukraine #1913 from 28.12.00 and  #827 from 02.06.03). During the last five years the income generated by protected areas under the Ministry of environmental protection of Ukraine increased from  4,0 mln UAH in 2005 to 8,6 mln UAH in 2009. The main source of income is timber: in 2008 the income provided by timber was 81,1% of the total income.

3) Income from recreation has been increasing in the past years. In 2005, recreational income comprised 8,47% of total PAs income/revenue from different services, in 2009, 13,6% (National Strategy for Strengthening Financial Sustainability of Protected Areas of Ukraine (UNDP, 2009), Annex 1 (in Ukrainian). << Read less

Goal 1.1: To establish and strengthen national and regional systems of protected areas integrated into a global network as a contribution to globally agreed goals
Goal 1.2: To integrate protected areas into broader land- and seascapes and sectors so as to maintain ecological structure and function
Goal 1.3: To establish and strengthen regional networks, transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) and collaboration between neighbouring protected areas across national boundaries
Goal 1.5: To prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of key threats to protected areas
Goal 2.1: To promote equity and benefit-sharing
Goal 2.2: To enhance and secure involvement of indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders
Goal 3.1: To provide an enabling policy, institutional and socio-economic environment for protected areas
Goal 3.2: To build capacity for the planning, establishment and management of protected areas
Goal 3.4: To ensure financial sustainability of protected areas and national and regional systems of protected areas
Goal 3.5: To strengthen communication, education and public awareness
Goal 4.1 - To develop and adopt minimum standards and best practices for national and regional protected area systems
Goal 4.3: To assess and monitor protected area status and trends
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