The crucial role of wild animals in wetland ecosystems and the services they provide

We are pleased to start the year with some encouraging news: species and habitats listed in the Resolutions of the Bern Convention may soon benefit from enhanced protection in Ukraine. This progress is linked to improvements in the management of Ukraine’s Emerald Network, and Rewilding Ukraine is proud to play an active role in this important initiative.

Recently, with the efforts of Rewilding Ukraine, 20 European fallow deer and 5 red deer were released into the Tarutino steppe in the Odessa region.

The Rewilding Ukraine team are engaged in long-term efforts to create a wilder and healthier Tarutino Steppe. The ongoing reintroduction of European hamsters will help to restore local food webs, enhance biodiversity, and boost nature-based tourism.

Two groups of steppe marmots have just been released on Ukraine’s Tarutino Steppe, which is part of the extended Danube Delta rewilding landscape. Boosting the thriving population of marmots already here, the 18 animals will help to create a healthier, more functional steppe environment.

The Rewilding Ukraine team have been carrying out efforts to restore the Tarutino Steppe since 2019. A social study carried out recently by the team found widespread support for rewilding among the residents of Borodino, a community which owns the steppe. The results of the study will help to guide future engagement as rewilding scales up.

Thanks to the efforts of the Rewilding Ukraine team, 6 female water buffalo have recently settled on Ermakiv Island in the Danube Delta to enrich the gene pool of the local buffalo herd.

Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war in Ukraine and associated restrictions, our team, in collaboration with partners, persevered in the mission to restore and rewild the magnificent Danube Delta region throughout 2023. From wetland restoration to wildlife comeback and nature education, the year was punctuated by numerous rewilding successes.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 28, kicked off a few days ago. The need to slash anthropogenic carbon emissions is urgent, yet delegates should also bear in mind that nature can and must play an essential role in fixing our climate.

The Rewilding Ukraine team are engaged in long-term efforts to create a wilder and healthier Tarutino Steppe. The ongoing reintroduction of European hamsters will help to restore local food webs, enhance biodiversity, and boost nature-based tourism.