DAAD East-West-Dialogue Programme 2017

The sustainable development of the region can be strongly influenced by social as well as by political conflicts, transformation processes and risks. But sustainably used ecosystems provide important services to the well-being of the local population and hence increase the resilience of the region; thus contributing to the prevention of conflicts.

The project is composed of three activities:

1. Study trip with students, lecturers and researchers from Ukraine, Romania, Republic of Moldova and Germany to the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve in the border region of Ukraine and Romania,

2. Interdisciplinary conference in Germany about “Transboundary cooperation for ecosystem-based sustainable development” and

3. Integrated study visits of a Master- and PhD-student from Ukrainian National Forestry University to an English 3-weeks block module at HNEE.

During the study trip from May 26^th to June 4^th the group visited the city of Lviv and the Ukrainian National Forestry University. A day trip to Rostochya Biosphere Reserve enriched the experience of Western Ukraine, close to the Polish border. Amongst others, this Biosphere Reserve protects old-growth Beech forests at the edge of the distribution range - which in summer 2017 has been inscribed in the serial UNESCO World heritage property dedicated to the old-growth beech forests of Europe. Furthermore in the middle, excluded from the Biosphere Reserve territory, it contains a big and still active military area. The Biosphere Reserve is planned to be enlarged as a transboundary Biosphere Reserve to the Polish side.

The group travelled to the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and visited the Primeval Beech Forests of Uholka, the border to Romania along the Tisza river, as well as the Drahobrad ski resort. The group had the chance to discuss the role of transboundary cooperation for ecosystem-based development with different stakeholders (representatives of the Biosphere Reserve, representatives of villages responsible for land-use regulations, majors and private local people). During various hiking trips, the group enjoyed the fruitful exchange between the participants of the different countries and the rich culture of the Ukrainian Carpathians 

The integrated study trips were implemented in April/ May 2017, whilst two students from the Ukrainian National Forestry University participated in the English 3-weeks block module “Project-based Conservation and Land-use Management” of the study programme “International Forest Ecosystem Management” at HNEE and developed together with their working groups project proposals related to transboundary cooperation and ecosystem management.