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    PROJECT
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    PROJECT
  1. Topics
  2. Biodiversity
  • Biodiversity
  • Kafa Biodiversity Project
  • SYMBIOTIC
  • Church towers for bats
  • Madagascar
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Church towers for bats

Ukrainian youth education project for species conservation

Brown long-eared bat - photo: Dietmar Nill

Brown long-eared bat - photo: Dietmar Nill

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, prejudices and stereotypes against bats have increased in many places. Especially in remote and rural regions such as in parts of Transcarpathia, the nocturnal hunters do have a rather bad image and are being combated by the local human population, which sometimes wipes out entire bat colonies. Together with IERS and the VGP Foundation, NABU is campaigning for the protection of the small animals through information and environmental education. Since bats seek shelter in church towers and attics of public buildings during the day, these retreats are being expanded and equipped with bat boxes as part of the project. In this way, the habitat of the animals is preserved.


What happens with the NABU projects in Ukraine and Russia

Since our foundation, NABU has been working internationally - we are crisis-tested. We want to try to keep up our nature conservation projects in Ukraine and Russia as much as possible. We are convinced: This war can only be permanently resolved through exchange and dialogue. The war in Ukraine must end immediately - for the sake of humanity and nature.

Learn more about the NABU position

Environmental education for young conservationists

environmental education action, girl builds bat box

Environmental education action - photo: Ivan Tymofeiev

One central aspect of the project consists of environmental education workshops for young people in the Carpathian communities. The young conservationists learn about bats and their role in the sensitive ecosystems through playful education. With their newly acquired knowledge, they can become ambassadors for species protection and biodiversity in their communities and help to reduce the prejudices that still exist against bats.


Our project activities

  • Examination of church towers and attics of public buildings for their species composition.
  • 80 eco-educational activities for children and young people.
  • Theatre performance in kindergartens and schools.
  • Trainings at the Zoo Museum of the Uzhhorod National University.
  • "Night of the Bats" in the Carpathian National Parks.
  • Creative contest for children.
  • Print material on bat conservation measures.
  • Workbook “Living space of church towers”.
  • Nature cabinet in the volunteer centre "Everyone can help".
  • Production and installation of bat boxes and nest constructions for birds.

24.9 MB - Workbook for children to download in Ukrainian
 

Project title
Biodiversity Conservation in Church Towers

Country/Region
Ukraine, Carpathians

Period
March 2023 to February 2024

Partners
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies

Sponsored by / Supported by
The project is supported by the VGP Foundation and the NABU International Foundation

With this project we are contributing to the following SDGs
SDG 4, SDG 11, SDG 15, SDG 16 and SDG 17.

MORE ABOUT THE SUBJECT

Ukrainian pupils at Synevyr nature reserve during an environmental education workshop held by NABU - photo: Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies (IERS)
Education

The preservation of habitats and biodiversity can only succeed if people are educated about its importance. Therefore, NABU engages in educational activities worldwide. Our goals are to inform, create acceptance, and sensitize for nature conservation matters. more →

Fog over the variegated landscape of "Zacharovanyj Kraj" National Park - Foto: USPB
Protecting the 'Enchanted Valley' bog

In the Ukraine, NABU can rely on active animal support to protect important peatlands – in the 'Enchanted Land' National Park, beavers and their dams assist with the rewetting of precious peatlands, thereby fostering climate and species protection. more →

Painting and handicrafts create distraction: environmental education in times of war. - photo: IERS
Help for people in Ukraine

Transcarpathia in Western Ukraine is considered the safest region in the country: More refugees arrive every day, many of them children. We are collecting donations for our Ukrainian partner IERS, which provides humanitarian aid on site since the beginning of the war. more →

Contact

Ivan Tymofeiev - photo: NABU / sevens+maltry
Ivan Tymofeiev
Project Coordinator Central Asia and Eastern Europe Programme Ivan.Tymofeiev@nabu.de

Visit the IERS project website

More project information

PROJECT PARTNER

IERS Logo - graphic: IERS
Logo VGP Foundation - graphic: VGP

Questions about bats?

Großes Mausohr wirft Schatten - Foto: Christian Stein

Fledermaus-Hotline

Sie benötigen Informationen zu Fledermäusen? Dann nutzen Sie unsere Antworten zu häufig gestellten Fragen (FAQ) oder rufen Sie uns an.

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Nature conservation worldwide

Overview of our focus regions - photo: Adobe Stock / vegofox

Focus Regions

Nature conservation does not stop at national borders. NABU is active in these regions: Europe, Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia and Caucasus.

more

Where we work

  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Caucasus
Where we work: Europe, Africa, Asia, Caucasus
Where we work: Europe, Africa, Asia, Caucasus Where we work

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