Biosphere Reserve is a valuable natural area that has received UNESCO certificate. According to this decision, the cultural and natural heritage is protected on the territory. The Desnyansky Biosphere Reserve located in the northeast part of Ukraine in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions along the Desna River.

The most of the area of the territory of the Desnyansky Biosphere Reserve is distributed among small land users with purpose for agriculture, mostly hay mowing and grazing, but many plots are currently not used in any way and remain in their natural state. Average square of this plots varies from 0.3 to 7 ha. The main threat for this nature territory is intensification of agriculture, especially plowing of new lands for the cultivation of agricultural crops. The second threat, which is common also all over Ukraine, is practice of making the changes in the intended purpose of cadastral units from agricultural to private housing and industy.

We see the possibility for a long-term nature conservation of this territory through the raising of awareness of the local people and understanding by them the natural value of their home region, and we think that the best way to raise this awareness through conducting educational activities with local schoolchildren.

For this purpose, we plan to conduct a series of practical seminars with local schoolchildren devoted to the study of nature, the publication of a booklet and two editions that will help to disseminate knowledge about the rare plants and habitats, valuable areas on this territory.

Important part of the project is the research of rare plants and habitats distribution. We plan to explore a large part of the territory for the availability and distribution of the rare species of plants and habitats that are listed in the Red book of Ukraine and the Resolution №6 and №4 of Bern Convention. The data collected during the project will be used to protect valuable ares by preparing the scientific justifications for creation of new local protected areas in accordance with the national legislation. All received information about rare plant distribution, we will try to use for affecting on the practise of planning cuttings in the forest. In the long-term perspective the data will be used for preparing an effective management plan for managing the Desnyansky Biosphere Reserve as a site of the Emerald network.

Study of rare plant distribution partly will take place with the engagement of active people during the traditional bike ride on the territory of the Desnyansky Biosphere Reserve.