The Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine for 2035 sets the framework for developing and implementing Ukraine’s policy on biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use. It takes into account the Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by the Law of Ukraine No. 257/94-ВР of 29 November 1994 (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/257/94-%D0%B2%D1%80), and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by Decision 15/4 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on 19 December 2022, as the strategic plan for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols for 2022–2030. The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework sets out four global conceptual goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented global targets to drive urgent action. Progress towards these 23 targets is expected to provide the basis for achieving the global conceptual goals by 2050.

Implementation of this Strategy will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine for the period up to 2030, established by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 722 of 30 September 2019 “On the Sustainable Development Goals of Ukraine for the Period up to 2030”.

The Strategy is aligned with Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/984_001-09#n9); Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/987_004-92#n10); Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869; and European Commission Communication COM(2020) 380 final of 20 May 2020 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, “EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Bringing nature back into our lives”.

The Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine and the Operational Action Plan for Its Implementation were developed with the support of the UNDP-GEF project “Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS)”.

The Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine was developed for 2035. The Operational Action Plan for Its Implementation was developed for 2026–2028. This plan contains measures to be implemented over a three-year period to carry out the first stage of the Strategy. Two additional plans are envisaged for subsequent periods, taking into account the implementation of the previous plan and allowing for adaptation to socio-economic and environmental conditions. The Government has instructed the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture (currently the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine) to submit to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, by 1 December 2028, a draft Operational Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine for 2035 in 2029–2031 and, by 1 December 2031, a draft Operational Action Plan for its implementation in 2032–2035.

Prior to 2026, Ukraine had no Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity. In 2025–2026, the Strategy and the Operational Action Plan for its implementation were developed with the support of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project in Ukraine and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the project “Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support”. The project brought together a team of 20 experts representing a range of scientific and nature conservation institutions and bringing extensive expertise in biodiversity conservation.

Seven members of the expert team were affiliated with institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: the I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology (PhD in Biology V. Kostiushyn, PhD in Biology M. Rusyn, PhD in Biology O. Marushchak), the Institute for Evolutionary Ecology (PhD in Biology L. Zub, PhD in Biology M. Kozyr), the Institute of Marine Biology (DSc in Biology V. O. Demchenko), and the Institute of Geography (DSc in Geography Ye. Maruniak). The project was coordinated by V. Kostiushyn.

The structure and content of the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy had to meet both the requirements of Ukrainian national legislation and the framework established by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Montreal, Canada, on 7–19 December 2022 (https://www.cbd.int/gbf). 

Once the structure of the Strategy had been agreed, the experts began its preparation in a series of stages. The first stage involved analysing and consolidating available information on the current state of biodiversity conservation in Ukraine in relation to each of the Strategy’s strategic goals. The next stage focused on defining the Strategy’s main objectives and preparing a draft Operational Action Plan of Measures for 2026–2028. For almost three months, from late 2025 to early 2026, the drafts were discussed within the project’s expert working group, with representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine also taking part in the discussions. Once the drafts of the Strategy and Operational Action Plan had been completed, they underwent legal review and editing by the project’s legal expert. Because the Strategy was developed in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the Ministry subsequently established an official Interagency Working Group. The Group brought together representatives of various government institutions and authorities, as well as national-level non-governmental organisations. The draft documents were considered at eight meetings of the Interagency Working Group.

The comments and proposals received during these meetings were used to prepare revised drafts of the Strategy and the Operational Action Plan. Following their approval by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the documents were formally circulated, in accordance with the established procedure, to other ministries, scientific institutions and other relevant organisations. They were also published on the Ministry’s website for final review and consultation.

A further set of comments and proposals was received during what was effectively the third round of consultations. These were discussed and agreed during several online meetings, including with representatives of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. Overall, the Strategy and the Operational Action Plan were agreed with more than 60 institutions and central and local government authorities and were also subject to public consultation.

In accordance with the requirements of national legislation, the Strategy underwent a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) procedure.

Following completion of the consultation and approval process, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine submitted the Strategy and the Operational Action Plan to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. On 10 June 2026, the Government of Ukraine adopted the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy of Ukraine for the Period for 2035 and the Operational Action Plan of Measures for its Implementation for 2026–2028  https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/708-2026-%D1%80#Text .