Ukraine’s Massive Nature Project Helps Veterans and Restores Land
A large-scale rewilding initiative in Ukraine is aiding both the recovery of war-affected ecosystems and the emotional wellbeing of veterans. Deep connections between Ukrainians and their land, long reflected in literature and folklore, have strengthened since the Russian invasion of 2022.
Nature as a Source of Resilience
Forests, rivers, and meadows are viewed as sacred spaces that nurture emotional stability and offer a sense of renewal. Amid the ongoing war, many Ukrainians have found healing through their reconnection with these natural landscapes.
Ukraine’s Rewilding Efforts
Ukraine now leads in European-scale nature restoration, planning two national parks: Budzhak Steppes National Natural Park in the southern Odessa region and the Great Carpathians National Park in the southwest.
The Rewilding Ukraine project has begun to restore around 13,500 hectares of wetlands and steppe — nearly twice the size of Manhattan. In comparison, England’s Knepp Castle estate covers about 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares), showing the vast scale of Ukraine’s work.
Reviving Wildlife
More than 240 animals of various species have been reintroduced, including kulan (wild donkeys), steppe marmots, eagle owls, fallow deer, and native hamsters. Two breeding platforms have also been built to support the population of Dalmatian pelicans.
“As Ukrainians have dealt with the constant stress of war, nature has been a place to reconnect.”
Summary
Ukraine’s rewilding projects unite ecological restoration with emotional recovery, proving that reviving nature can also help heal people.