Kleban Byk volunteer workcamp

Kleban Byk regional landscape park,

8-21.08.2005

The project took place at the territory of Regional Landscape Park Kleban Byk, Konstantinovka region, in the south-east of Ukraine. Kleban Byk means “hollow on the water”. The territory of the park is remarkable for its landscape and interesting geological structure (it includes chalk rocks, petrified trees). Fauna of the park includes 200 bird species, many reptiles and mammals; 600 plants are registered, many of them are included in the Red List. The Park was created five years ago, and is now at the stage of development.

Work consisted of several components:

-          Digging and equipping trenches for research of rodents (3 monitoring lines were equipped, two of them for long-term permanent research)

-          3 lines of catchers for insects were installed

-          8 sites for permanent long-term monitoring were marked and marking signs installed, another 15 were marked and marking signs were prepared for the park staff to install

-          Eco-path was created with 5 information signs. The first one (double size) was installed at the beginning of the path at the first monitoring site. It includes map of the park with routes of eco-paths marked, observation sites and places for camping, park administrative facilities indicated; described what is allowed and what is not allowed to do at the territory of the park. The other four signs include 1 – information about the history of local area; 2 – information about geological structures; 3 – data about fauna and species included in the red list; 4 – data about the flora and red list species. The four signs are installed at the monitoring sites along the route of eco-path

-          Scientific group has collected samples of insects, plants, analysis of plants’ systems and their state was conducted; number of species of fauna was identified; students were trained to conduct scientific research.

Group dynamics and communication: the whole group consisted of two: workcamp group and scientific group, due to different projects (workcamp was more practically oriented, and scientific group was collecting flora and fauna samples for cadastre; the workcamp group was supporting the other with some practical physical work needed for research). Workcamp group consisted of 6 international volunteers (from Italy, Belgium, Moldova, Poland and United Kingdom), members of SVIT and two campleaders. Scientific group consisted of two leaders – professors, student of Lugansk university who was coordinating work, and four students of agricultural college from Konstantinovka.

Social and free time program: included daily trips to Donetsk and excursion around the city, to Artemovsk with excursion to the salt mines, to Svyatogorsk with excursion to the monastery, caves, monument to Artem. At the territory of the park, there were possibilities to have excursions and hikes, swimming in the lake, excursions on the lake with the boat. During the first week-end the workcamp was visited by group of volunteers from Artemovsk “City of plastic bottles” and activists of NGO Creative Union “Slavich”, environmental puppet theater were organized.

Accommodation and food: the project was organized in field conditions in the forest, about 8 km. from the town of Konstantinovka. All participants were staying in the tents; some volunteers have brought their own tents. There was a special tent for storing food and working materials, tables and benches were made, toilet and shower were available, permanent ‘Russian’ stove was built for cooking. Participants were cooking for themselves. Because the group was quite big, shopping had to be done every day; a car was available for this. Drinking water had to be brought from the town as well. Electricity was available at the camp.

Contacts with local population: several activities with local community were organized. Among them

-          scientific lectures for schoolchildren, teachers of natural sciences (totally 7 lectures for about 100 participants from 10 schools of Konstantinovka and neighboring villages)

-          round table meetings with local authorities, administration of the park, NGOs (totally two meetings with about 40 participants)

-          meetings with park staff on every day base

-          10 students and schoolchildren have participated to the scientific part of the workcamp

-          3 local NGOs were assisting with preparation and realization of the project (“Corod Masterov”, Creative Union “Slavich” and ECC “Bakhmat”)

-          information about the workcamp and project was publicized on local TV and in the newspapers

Information materials about the workcamp, NGOs involved in its realization was distributed among local schools and authorities. At the later stage, when scientific data are processed and published, materials will be distributed among them as well.

Study element: volunteers have participated to two round table meetings (one at the beginning of the camp, the second at the end). The first meeting took place in the ecological inspection in Konstantinovka, it included presentation of the project, of the park, brief introduction to its flora and fauna, tasks of the workcamp. Representatives of local schools, NGOs and media attended the meeting, local authorities.

The second round table meeting included presentation of the park, information about the project, about the organizations involved, presentation of international volunteer workcamps; followed by discussion with the participants on the workcamp and its components, results of scientific research, local environment and problems with environmental protection, possible solutions, ideas for development of local area together with park resources, cooperation of local authorities, park administration and NGOs. Participants of the second round table included park administration, representatives of local village authorities, media, local schools, district authorities, NGOs and volunteers. At the end of the seminar a resolution was adopted, which includes following proposals:

-          to publicize in the Internet information about the park

-          organize sport fishing

-          possibilities for bird watching

-          a workcamp to organize bird watching system, and scientific research of birds

-          equip sites for camping of tourists

-          organize trash collection and removal system

-          train local residents to be guides in the park for visitors and schoolchildren

-          increase park staff

-          involve local children in cleanup activities – both practical work and raising awareness

-          involve local schools in scientific research and monitoring

The project was realized with financial support of Milieukontakt Oost-Europa by Green World Lugansk.