Zakarpattya, Ukraine
Territory: Mountainous
Inhabitants: 1.26 M
Area: 12.800 sqkm
Main occupations: Food processing, woodworking, furniture, transport, nature-based tourism, cross-border trade
Protected areas: several nature parks and nature reserves
We are the team of NGO FORZA, Agency for Sustainable Development of the Carpathian Region and we are keen to make a change in the livelihood and natural resource management at local level.
Our regional objectives revolve around capacity building of local actors and effective community involvement to the decisions related to natural resource use. We are based in Zakarpattia, Ukraine, a region of unparalleled beauty and rich cultural diversity, boasting pristine forests that cover a significant portion of its landscape. These dense woodlands are not merely a source of timber but also the backbone of the region's ecological stability. The region's economic structure is intricately linked to its natural resources. Boasting over 50% forest cover, agriculture and industry contribute almost equally to the gross added value. Social and digital innovations hence can be centered on sustainable forest management, promoting eco-tourism, and harnessing the potential of these ecosystems for local economic development.
Our ambition
We aim to find solutions which will assist in advancing the sustainability and development of our region. This includes the creation of more income generating opportunities for people who stay in the region, create incentives to attract and strengthen the region through new talent and build capacities to enhance social services and livelihoods.
Rural inhabitants already demand better social services, more effective public transportation and mobility opportunities, energy efficiency at household level, digital tools for education and lifelong learning, online employment opportunities, digitalisation of traditional and typical activities such as agricultural practices, crafts, tourism services planning and performance.
This makes us unique
Our traditions, nature and culture are what make us unique. Our region has a complicated historical background, which comprises of rapidly changing governing rules and a mixture of cultures and traditions. A geopolitical situation at the intersection of states and cultures is the profound feature of this region. Multiculturalism has always been a part of this area. Adjustment to new governing rules has become a mentality, which needs to be taken into account.
Another distinctive feature of the region is its mountainous landscape, which means there are a lot of forest resources (51% of landcover) and respective industries, traditional small-scale agriculture, such as seasonal high-altitude sheep and cow grazing, dairy processing, wild herbs, berries and mushroom collection and processing, traditional crafts. The typical situation related to livelihood improvement of local people is seasonal job migration to other regions of the Ukraine and abroad, and also permanent migration from rural to urban areas.