Ukraine Nature Conservation Society

The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Society ( UkrTOP - Ukrayinske tovarystvo okhorony pryrody ) is a public environmental organization. In 1967, the Ukrainian government has set up under the pressure of UkrTOP the State Committee for Nature Conservation as a central government organization. Since 1991, the State Committee for Nature Protection has the status of a ministry. UkrTOP promoted public awareness of recycling, environmental education and training about the nature of schools, communities, public authorities, at their offices in all regions of Ukraine and in most counties and in cities like Kiev and Sevastopol.

History

The UkrTOP was founded on 28 June 1946. Nikita Khrushchev had given permission to open a branch of UkrTOP. This was a response to the numerous complaints by Ukrainian scientists and conservationists. Until the mid- 1960s the UkrTOP was the only environmental voice for various policy decisions. At that time the UkrTOP demanded an introduction of the ecological- economic approach to economic planning and informed the Ministry of the Environment as part of the Ukrainian government. For the Ukrainian scholars it was the absence of democratic structures in the country to defend then difficult environmental concerns. However, the State Committee for Nature Protection was founded in 1967 under the pressure of UkrTOP in the Ukrainian government. The committee had a central government agency in the government. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was founded only three years later. Since 1991, the State Committee for Nature Protection has the status of a ministry. Mykhailo Voinstvenskiy was from 1963 to 1982 the chairman of the UkrTOP. The priority of the UkrTOP was the environmental education of Ukrainian students and pensioners during the stagnation and restructuring. In 1991, was elevated to the Ministry of Environment with the independence of Ukraine the status of the State Committee for Nature Conservation. According to the Constitution of the UkrTOP UkrTOP Congress a Ukrainian Council and its Executive Committee was formed. The majority of the members were volunteers. At this time the UkrTOP examined the social control of pollution to attain and led the fight for the environment civil rights. Since 2002, the former Environment Minister Vasyl Shevchuk is the Chairman of the Presidium of the Ukrainian UkrTOP Council.

Structure

UkrTOP is a social organization. The Congress is their supreme authority. 23 regional (including Kiev and Sevastopol ) organizations UkrTOP subject to the Ukrainian Council. These regional organizations include 354 counties, 70 city branches, 23,000 primary organizations ( schools and universities, etc.), more than 10,000 business members ( sponsors and co-host of environmental events) and over two million individual members.

Activities

Dialogue with government and politicians

The UkrTOP contributes to public and parliamentary scrutiny of the environmental protection, taking part in the parliamentary environmental hearings in the Verkhovna Rada and promotes the implementation of the Aarhus Convention and the Law of Ukraine "On eco-audit ". The UkrTOP encourages the Ukrainian companies to implement the following agenda: - The system of environmental and social risk management, particularly in the context of the Equator Principles - Different Business Models - The promotion of sustainability through energy and resource efficiency through sustainable land use and conservation of biodiversity - the business partners, who manage their environmental and social risks well - Care to its employees and local communities.

Sections UkrTOP

The organizational system of UkrTOP includes ten national and regional thematic sections 140. These deal with the following problems: environmental security, environmental protection, restoration of flora and fauna, minerals, water resources, atmosphere, soil, fish stocks, forests, nature reserves, the development and support of Yunnatsky Movement and the knowledge about the natural bases. As achievements of these sections are: the influence by means of recommendations and development of relevant legal documents on environmental protection and rational use of natural resources; the spread of environmental awareness among students; the preparation and execution of the methodological support of the regional and local centers of UkrTOP.

Regions

The UkrTOP members participate in various international and national environmental actions. These include the Earth Day, the World Wetlands Day, "Pure Ukraine - Pure Land " as well as regional environmental actions such as " source " or " Christmas tree ". Important UkrTOP activities are the regional community service days and a variety of regional and local environmental actions that deal with afforestation, planting in towns, public welfare, the improvement of bank protection strips along rivers and lakes, the clean up in polluted areas.

Educational activities

The Ukrainian Council operates together with regional organizations UkrTOP education and public relations. These activities are an important part of the work of UkrTOP. They include various educational and awareness campaigns through public lectures, excursions on weekends, film screenings, exhibitions, open debates and seminars. The UkrTOP makes their concerns through brochures, local newspapers, publications, particularly by the scientific journal " Mother Nature ", popular.

Partners and similar organizations

Europe

  • Austria Austria: Naturschutzbund Austria
  • Danemark Denmark: Danish Society for Nature Conservation
  • France France: France nature environnement
  • Germany Germany: Society for Nature Conservation Germany
  • Italy Italy: Pro Natura
  • Netherlands Netherlands: Milieudefensie
  • Norway Norway: Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
  • Russia Russia: All Russian Nature Protection Society
  • Sweden Sweden: Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom: Environmental Protection UK, British Ecological Society

Australasia

America

  • Canada Canada: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Nature Canada
  • Mexico Mexico: Pronatura
  • United States United States: Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy
  • Ethiopia Ethiopia: Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society
  • Israel Israel: Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
  • Kenya: Green Belt Movement
  • Nigeria Nigeria: Nigerian Conservation Foundation
  • South Africa South Africa: Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
  • United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates: Emirates Environmental Group

Asia

  • People's Republic of China People's Republic of China: China Wildlife Conservation Association
  • India India: Wildlife Trust of India
  • Japan Japan: Nature Conservation Society of Japan
  • Flag of South Korea South Korea: Korean Society of Nature Conservation, Korean Association for Conservation of Nature, National Trust Nature, The Ecological Society of Korea
  • Nepal Nepal National Trust for Nature Conservation
  • Vietnam: Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment
United States Environmental Protection Agency TNC
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