Conservation under wartime reality

Doing so in wartime brings an additional layer of difficulty—and also of meaning. Despite the conflict and a long list of extra obstacles, the planned conservation measures are largely progressing according to schedule. Ukraine is trying to live and work as fully as possible. Not only conservation professionals, but also ordinary people feel the loss of nature more sharply now, as they face daily loss in their own lives and witness the devastating impact of military aggression.

Challenges at every step

The project area, within the Pripyat-Stokhid National Nature Park, lies far from the front line. Yet challenges confront the USPB team at every step. The most acute is a shortage of manpower. The male population has been significantly reduced, and under martial law, movement and recruitment of specialists are limited. The scientific community has also thinned: many experts have left their professional work to defend the country. Logistical constraints and energy insecurity add further pressure—yet the project continues.

The first results: a baseline, and a warning

The first year of work has already produced essential results. In June and July 2025, the USPB team carried out initial Aquatic Warbler monitoring in Birky swamp using internationally standardised methods. The counts of singing males provided the first clear picture of the breeding population under current conditions. The numbers were low: 16 singing males in the first survey (early June) and 42 in the second (early July). The total breeding population in the project area is therefore estimated at 52 singing males.

The reasons are clear—and urgent. Suitable nesting sites have been shrinking as shrubs and reeds spread, and a severe fire in May, caused by arson, damaged the habitat even further. Yet the picture is not only negative: monitoring of other bird species and insects indicates that the food base remains sufficiently diverse. And there was a real boost in 2025 as professional volunteers joined the fieldwork and formed a stable team for annual monitoring—strengthening the project’s capacity exactly when it is most needed.

A “road map” for restoration—and work already underway

A major step forward was the creation of a detailed GIS vegetation map of Birky swamp, which now guides restoration on the ground. It helps pinpoint the remaining high-quality sedge habitat and the areas overtaken by shrubs and dense reed. Breeding habitat still exists, but it is limited: by 2025, only about 300 hectares of pure sedges remained, alongside roughly 580 hectares of shrub cover and 800 hectares of sedge–reed vegetation. These findings shaped a targeted plan to remove excess vegetation and restore the sedge wetland mosaic—and in autumn, that plan moved into action. Shrub removal and reed cutting began across 1,500 hectares (about 88% of the area). The project equipped the National Nature Park with essential tools, including a wood chipper, chainsaws, and protective gear, and the first 20 hectares have already been fully cleared. Yes—you read that correctly. Every metre was cleared by hand, because the machinery simply wasn’t available.

Water, people, and a long-term future

Restoring wetness is the next turning point. Technical documentation is ready, and engineering works are planned for the winter of 2026 to rebuild the hydrological regime the swamp needs. The team hopes this will quickly translate into better nesting conditions and higher bird numbers. At the same time, 2026 is designed to bring local people more directly into the story—through practical benefits and pride of place. Plans include launching a business that turns collected biomass into fuel briquettes, linking habitat management with local energy needs. Birdwatching towers, information boards, and even thematically painted bus stops will help shape a visible identity for the “land of the Aquatic Warbler,” alongside school lessons, eco-clubs, and excursions. USPB also aims to strengthen a wider professional network around the project—uniting NGOs, scientists, and environmental activists to share experience and work toward a common goal, supported by international expertise.

A symbol of vulnerability—and resilience

“The Aquatic Warbler is a symbol of our shared vulnerability, but also of resilience. Even in wartime, we cannot allow the extinction of a species that has entrusted its survival to our care.” – says Volodymyr Zinchuk, director of USPB.