The event, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the "Yelanetskyi Steppe" Nature Reserve, brought together representatives of state authorities, the scientific community, conservation institutions, and educational and cultural establishments from various regions of Ukraine.
Conference participants gathered to discuss pressing issues regarding the preservation of Ukrainian steppes, the development of nature conservation, and the operation of protected areas during a full-scale war.
The conference was attended by Heorhii Reshetilov, Acting Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration; Eduard Arustamian, Director of the Department of the Nature Reserve Fund, Protected Areas, and Biodiversity of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine; Oleksandra Yefymenko, Head of the Ecology and Natural Resources Department of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration; Alla Riazhskykh, Deputy of the Mykolaiv Regional Council and Head of the Standing Committee on Ecology, Environmental Protection, Rational Use of Natural Resources, Tourism, and Recreation; as well as directors and scientists from nature reserves, representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, higher education institutions, environmental organizations, and cultural workers.
Opening the conference, Eduard Arustamian emphasized that the Ukrainian steppe is one of Europe's most valuable yet vulnerable ecosystems. Over the past century, a significant part of steppe areas has been lost, making every preserved area exceptionally important for maintaining biodiversity, advancing science, and ensuring ecological resilience for future generations.
Heorhii Reshetilov, Acting Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, welcomed the participants, thanking the nature reserve team for their years of dedication and emphasizing the importance of preserving natural heritage even in wartime. "30 years is a testament to stability and dedication to one's mission. I thank the reserve's staff for their daily work in preserving the unique nature of the Mykolaiv region. It is crucial that even during the war, you continue to evolve, implement important projects, and strengthen conservation efforts," noted Heorhii Reshetilov.
During the conference, participants discussed the preservation and restoration of steppe ecosystems, research into the biodiversity of protected areas, the development of environmental educational activities, and prospects for the further development of nature conservation. Special attention was given to the challenges faced by conservation institutions amid full-scale war and the need to reinforce the material and technical infrastructure of reserves.
Created on July 17, 1996, the "Yelanetskyi Steppe" Nature Reserve is the first and only steppe reserve in Right-Bank Ukraine. Its territory spans over three thousand hectares of virgin steppe, protecting unique forb-fescue-feather grass complexes along with rare and endemic species of flora and fauna. The reserve holds European significance as a Emerald Network site.
Over three decades of activity, the team has succeeded not only in preserving unique natural complexes but also in expanding the reserve's territory, completing land titling, executing numerous conservation projects, and significantly advancing scientific and environmental educational initiatives.
A special atmosphere was created by the book and illustration exhibition "Symphony of Colors of Native Nature," prepared by the Center for Environmental Information and Culture of Branch Library No. 2 of the Marko Kropyvnytskyi Central Library, and an installation featuring steppe plants presented by the "Yelanetskyi Steppe" Nature Reserve.
Based on the conference proceedings, a collection of papers will be published in both digital and print formats, serving as a valuable information resource for scientists, ecologists, and educators, and enriching library collections.
