At the end of February, another crucial step was taken to deepen the collaboration between Rewilding Ukraine and the Borodino territorial community in preserving and ecologically restoring the Budzhak steppes, with the Tarutino steppe landscape reserve at its core. Two training seminars on rewilding for local residents were conducted in the Borodino community.
The first seminar, held on February 27 in the Borodino settlement council, brought together its deputies, experts, and village heads of the community. Following speeches by village head Ivan Küsse, Rewilding Ukraine rewilding officer Oleg Dyakov, and invited speaker, head of the Public Union “Ukrainian Council for Hunting and Wildlife Conservation,” and writer Adrian Prokopenko, a lively discussion ensued about the significance of preserving and restoring the steppes and rewilding activities. Over five years of such collaborative efforts between the rewilding team and local partners, significant positive results were observed for the region’s nature and the sustainable development of the Borodino territorial community.
Ivan Küsse remarked, “The community’s development vision is to transform it into a European model community, where issues concerning a healthy environment, preservation of natural and cultural heritage, and nature-oriented solutions for community development and residents’ well-being are among the key priorities.”
The second seminar, held on February 28 at the center of ethnographic rural green tourism “Frumushyka-Nova,” involved the hunting community of the Borodino community. They can serve as crucial partners in preserving and restoring the animal world of the Budzhak steppes. Despite initial appearances of antagonism between conservationists and hunters, direct communication and candid discussions reaffirmed the possibility of finding common ground, with each playing a significant role in creating, preserving, and supporting stable populations of steppe animals. Thanks to the efforts of the Rewilding Ukraine team and partners, species like kulan, European fallow deer, steppe marmot, European hamster, and others are making a successful comeback to the region.
A shared concern among all seminar participants and other residents of the region was the catastrophic reduction of water resources and the noticeable deterioration of small rivers and springs. This is attributed not only to climate change and increased aridity but also to extensive plowing of small river valleys. Therefore, improving the situation largely hinges on complying with water protection legislation and raising awareness among local farmers. Consequently, the next seminar, planned by the Rewilding Ukraine team in the community, will focus on this audience.
Feedback is crucial for establishing an open dialogue with the residents of the Borodino community. Hence, an essential part of both seminars was conducting a survey among participants as part of a sociological study led by Hanna Yatvetska, Associate Professor of the Department of Journalism, Social Communications, and IT Law at the State University of Intellectual Technologies and Communications, and a Candidate of Sociological Sciences. The questionnaire marks the initial stage of the research, with results to be discussed later on.