WATERSHED CONDITION CLASSIFICATION – TRANSFER OF USFS EXPERIENCE TO UKRAINE

GOAL OF THE PROJECT is to improve the forest management methods in the Ukrainian Carpathians in line with international standards and trends, including watershed-based management of natural resources.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. increase the awareness of the forest managers and practical foresters on the watershed condition classification as a basis for management decisions regarding the watershed health  and monitoring of the management decisions/actions;
  2. improve the understanding of forester planners of the importance of watershed management approach  in the Carpathian region of Ukraine using the Selected “Best Management practices of USFS”;
  3. provide the forest management planners and practitioners with Recommendations on Watershed Condition Classification for Ukrainian Carpathians based on the  USFS WCC;
  4. build and strengthen the capacities of forest scientist, practitioners and stakeholders in application of Watershed Condition Classification for Ukrainian Carpathians;
  5. initiate and promote inter-sectoral and inter-agency dialogue between the forest and water management bodies in harmonizing the Watershed Condition Classification for Ukrainian Carpathians with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive for Ukraine.

Implemented with the financial support of United States Forest Service

PLANNED ACTIVITIES
- Awareness-raising workshops for forestry professionals from the regions of Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Zakarpattia
- Selection, translation and dissemination among the forest planners, workshop participants and stakeholders the Selected Best Management practices for Water Quality Management out of the National Core BMP Technical Guide (Volume 1), in electronic format – circulating through email, placing on the FORZA website
- Development of Recommendations on Watershed Condition Classification for Ukrainian Carpathians based on the  USFS WCC
- Round Table on Recommendations for Ukraine on Watershed Condition Classification
- Individual meetings and consultations with the representatives of State Forest Resources Agency, Forest Management Planning Unit “Ukrderzhlisprojekt”, State Agency of Water Resources and Ministry of Environment to  initiate and promote inter-sectoral and inter-agency dialogue between the forest and water management bodies in harmonizing the Watershed Condition Classification for Ukrainian Carpathians with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive for Ukraine