National nature parks of Ukraine are preservation territories that are part of the Nature-Preservation Fund of Ukraine. The total area protected by national parks is approximately 1111600ha, for an average of 22685ha but a median of only 14836ha at Zalissia. The largest national park is Podilski Tovtry in Khmelnytskyi Oblast: at 80178ha. The smallest park is Derman-Ostroh National Nature Park, at less than 5500ha.
This category of the Nature-Preservation Fund was mainly established after the fall of the Soviet Union. There were very few parks in Ukraine and most of them were in the West.
| Name | Photo | Location | Official website (Ukrainian) | Area (ha) | Year | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azov-Syvash | Kherson Oblast | Азово-Сиваський | 52154 | 1993 | Located on Byriuchyi Island in the northwestern Azov Sea. The park was created to protect the unique coastal environment of the northwestern Azov. It is particularly important as a stop on the flyway for migratory birds, with over a million birds visiting each year.[1] | ||
| 2 | Bile Ozero | Kyiv Oblast | Білоозерський | 7014 | 2009 | As of 2014, the park appeared to be closed to the public and the legal status unclear.[2] | ||
| 3 | Boikivshchyna | Lviv Oblast | Бойківщина | 12240 | 2019 | Located in the Carpathians, near the border with Slovakia. | ||
| 4 | Bug Gard | Mykolaiv Oblast | Бузький Гард | 6138 | 2009 | Covers an area along the Southern Bug River in south-central Ukraine. At this point, the Southern Bug River cuts through the southern edge of the Ukrainian Shield (a block of Archean basement rock).[3] | ||
| 5 | Carpathian | Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | Карпатський | 50303 | 1980 | Carpathian National Nature Park is the first national park of Ukraine and one of the biggest national parks of this country.[4] | ||
| 6 | Charming Harbor | Crimea | Чарівна гавань | 6270 | 2009 | Covers a coastal sector of the Tarkhankut Peninsula (itself a part of the Crimean peninsula) on the Black Sea. The park protects and exhibits steppe landscape as it descends to the seacoast in a semi-arid environment and with dramatic cliffs and rock formations.[5] | ||
| 7 | Cheremosh | Chernivtsi Oblast | Черемоський | 7118 | 2009 | A collection of three reserves in the northeastern section of the Carpathian Mountains, located in southwestern Ukraine. The park highlights the highly varied geology of the northeastern Carpathians, as well as the deep spruce forests of the region.[6] | ||
| 8 | Derman-Ostroh | Rivne Oblast | Дермансько-Острозький | 1648 | 2009 | Sits in a river valley that separates the southern edge of the Polesian Lowland, and the northern edge of the Podolian Upland in northwestern Ukraine. The terrain is a mixture of pine-oak forest and marshy river lowlands.[7] | ||
| 9 | Desna-Stara Huta | Sumy Oblast | Деснянсько-Старогутський | 16215 | 1999 | Covers a middle section of the Desna River in northeastern Ukraine, representing the variety of wetland and mixed forest landscapes of the eastern Polesia region. The park contains two sections, one on the floodplains of the Desna, the other in the southern region of the Bryansk forest on the Russian border.[8] | ||
| 10 | Dniester Canyon | Ternopil Oblast | Дністровський каньйон | 10830 | 2010 | Follows Dniester Canyon, the largest canyon in Ukraine, along the middle course of the Dniester River. It protects a relatively undeveloped portion of the Ukrainian forest-steppe landscape, about 75 km east of the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine. The canyon is known for its varied geological formations, including two of the longest caves in the world.[9] | ||
| 11 | Dvorichna | Kharkiv Oblast | Дворічанський | 3132 | 2009 | Set on the border of the steppe and forest-steppe on the banks of the river Oskil, the south-east part of Ukraine.[10] | ||
| 12 | Dzharylhach | Kherson Oblast | Джарилгацький | 10000 | 2009 | Covers Dzharylhach Island and the adjacent Karkinit Bay in the northern reaches of the Black Sea. Famous for clean sandy beaches and mineral springs in its many small lakes, Dzharylhach is the largest island in the Black Sea. Portions of the park have been protected nature reserves for almost 100 years.[11] | ||
| 13 | Grand Meadow | Zaporizhzhia Oblast | Великий Луг | 16756 | 2006 | Covers historic steppe terrain in southeast Ukraine. It is on the south bank of the Dnieper River's Kakhovka Reservoir, which was created by the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station. The meadows and reed beds on the shore support one of the largest transmigration spots for birds in Eastern Europe.[12] | ||
| 14 | Halych | Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | Галицький | 14685 | 2004 | Highlights forest, steppe, meadow and wetlands of the borderlands between the Ukrainian Carpathians and the southwestern part of the East European Plain.[13] | ||
| 15 | Hetman | Sumy Oblast | Гетьманський | 23360 | 2009 | The park begins at the border with Russia as the Vorskla River runs west and south, and follows the river for all 122 km of its length through Sumy Oblast. There are some short breaks between sectors for roads or built-up villages. There terrain is mostly flat, with some hills and ravines.[14] | ||
| 16 | Holosiiv | Kyiv | Голосіївський | 4525 | 2007 | A protected remnant of forest surrounded by the urban area of the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. It is located on the Kyiv Hills, in the Dniester-Dnieper forest-steppe province, North-Dnieper lowland and steppe zone of Left-Bank Dnieper province. | ||
| 17 | Holy Mountains | Donetsk Oblast | Святі Гори | 40609 | 1997 | Located along the chalk cliffs and river terraces of the Donets River in Eastern Ukraine. The park's boundaries are a patchwork of forested areas stretching along the banks of the Donets. The Holy Mountains of Ukraine contain many archaeological, natural, historical, and recreational sites.[15] | ||
| 18 | Homilsha Woods | Kharkiv Oblast | Гомільшанські ліси | 14315 | 2004 | Covers established forests in the Donets River valley. The site has been a protected area for a very long time, beginning with Peter the Great designating local territory as a 'protected ship grove' for wood to build ships. The site also has high ecological value as forest-steppe land.[16] | ||
| 19 | Hutsulshchyna | Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | Гуцульщина | 32271 | 2002 | Located in the Western Ukraine's Carpathian Mountains. | ||
| 20 | Ichnia | Chernihiv Oblast | Ічнянський | 9666 | 2004 | Covers forest-steppe terrain in the Udai River basin, about 120 km northeast of Kyiv.[17] | ||
| 21 | Ivory Coast of Sviatoslav | Mykolaiv Oblast | Білобережжя Святослава | 35223 | 2009 | Ivory Coast of Sviatoslav Park is situated on the north coast of the Black Sea is southern Ukraine. It covers portions of Dnieper–Bug estuary, the Kinburn Peninsula just south of the estuary, and Yahorlyk Bay a shallow bay of the Black Sea itself. Adjacent to the site along the coast is the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve.[18] | ||
| 22 | Kamianska Sich | Kherson Oblast | Кам'янська Січ | 12261 | 2019 | Located on the right bank of the southern part of Kakhovka Reservoir. | ||
| 23 | Karmeliukove Podillia | Vinnytsia Oblast | Кармелюкове Поділля | 16518 | 2009 | Located in southwest Ukraine on the forested southern slopes of the Ukrainian Shield.[19] | ||
| 24 | Kholodnyi Yar | Cherkasy Oblast | Холодний яр | 6833 | 2022 | Located in southeastern Cherkasy Oblast. The Maksym Zalizniak oak tree is located on the territory of the park. | ||
| 25 | Khotyn | Chernivtsi Oblast | Хотинський | 9400 | 2010 | Covers a segment of the Dniester River Canyon and the Dniester River Reservoir. It is located in the west of the country on the border with Romania. The famous Khotyn Fortress is located within the territory.[20] | ||
| 26 | Kremenets Mountains | Ternopil Oblast | Кременецькі гори | 6951 | 2009 | A cluster of mountains and ridges in the Holohoro-Kremenetskyi range of the Podolian Upland in west central Ukraine.[21] | ||
| 27 | Kreminna Woods | Luhansk Oblast | Кремінські ліси | 7269 | 2019 | Located on the basin of Donets River, near the city of Kreminna. | ||
| 28 | Kuialnyk | Odesa Oblast | Куяльницький | 10800 | 2022 | Located in and near the Kuialnyk Estuary. | ||
| 29 | Lower Dnieper | Kherson Oblast | Нижньодніпровський | 80177 | 2015 | Consists of the islands in the Dnieper River delta. The entire park was flooded on June 7-8, 2023, due to the Kakhovka dam collapse.[22] | ||
| 30 | Lower Dniester | Odesa Oblast | Нижньодністровський | 21311 | 2008 | A large portion of the Dniester River Estuary where it enters the Black Sea in southwestern Ukraine. The floodplains and waterways are important to nesting and wintering waterfowl. They are also important for spawning fish: over 70 species of fish in 20 groups are recorded in the park.[23] | ||
| 31 | Lower Polissia | Khmelnytskyi Oblast | Мале Полісся | 9515 | 2013 | A section of the Polissia region, the park includes several lakes and wetland areas as well as parts of river valleys Horyn, Viliia, Hnylyi Rih.[24] | ||
| 32 | Lower Sula | Poltava Oblast | Нижньосульський | 16879 | 2010 | Covers the lower reaches of the Sula River as it enters the Kremenchuk Reservoir, 120 km southeast of Kyiv. The extensive marshes, swamps, and other wetlands of the area are important habitats for fish, waterfowl, and floodplain plants.[25] | ||
| 33 | Meotyda | Donetsk Oblast | Меотида | 20720 | 2009 | A stretch of coastline, and interior estuaries and coastal lands, on the northern edge of the Sea of Azov in Ukraine. The administration of the park itself has been disrupted by hostilities in the area. Previously, the protected regions of the park supported important populations of migratory waterfowl and over 100 species of nesting birds. | ||
| 34 | Mezyn | Chernihiv Oblast | Мезинський | 31035 | 2006 | Forest and floodplain terraces of the Desna River in the northern part of the country. The park was created to balance the protection of sensitive ecological and archaeological sites, recreation, and rural agriculture.[26] | ||
| 35 | Nobel | Rivne Oblast | Нобельський | 25318 | 2019 | Located in northwestern Rivne Oblast. | ||
| 36 | Northern Podillia | Lviv Oblast | Північне Поділля | 15588 | 2010 | Covers a variety of individual protected sites in the northwest Podolian Upland of Ukraine. The park provides protection to, and recreation in, representative ecological and cultural sites of the area, including Hornbean-Beech forested uplands, swamp-marsh floodplains, geologically significant karst features, and historical sites that include three castles and a number of WW1 and WW2 sites.[27] | ||
| 37 | Oleshky Sands | Kherson Oblast | Олешківські піски | 8020 | 2010 | The largest desert in Ukraine, located close to the Dnieper River delta. | ||
| 38 | Podilski Tovtry | Khmelnytskyi Oblast | Подільські Товтри | 80178 | 2015 | Representative of the natural landscape of the Podillia region.[28] | ||
| 39 | Pryazovskyi | Zaporizhzhia Oblast | Приазовський | 78127 | 2010 | The second largest national park of Ukraine, covering the estuaries, coastal plains seaside landforms around the Molochna River estuary the Utlyuksky estuary, on the northwest coast of the Sea of Azov.[29] | ||
| 40 | Prypiat-Stokhid | Volyn Oblast | Прип'ять-Стохід | 39316 | 2007 | Created in 2007 to protect and unify a series of natural complexes of the Pripyat River and Stokhid River valleys in northwestern Ukraine. The park provides protection, research areas, and recreation related to the meadows and wetlands of the Polissia region.[30] | ||
| 41 | Rivne Oblast | Пуща Радзівіла | 24265 | 2022 | Covers the basin of Stvyha River. | |||
| 42 | Pyriatyn | Poltava Oblast | Пирятинський | 12028 | 2009 | Covers a portion of the Udai River valley in the north central part of the country. It provides nature conservation and recreation on the terraces and floodplains of the river.[31] | ||
| 43 | Royal Beskids | Lviv Oblast | Королівські Бескиди | 8997 | 2020 | Covers the left-bank portion of the Dniester River basin from Staryi Sambir to Strilky, and also the basins of rivers Yablunka, Linynka, and Tysovychka. | ||
| 44 | Shatsk | Volyn Oblast | Шацький | 32515 | 1983 | Established in 1983 to preserve, reconstitute and to use effectively Volyn Polissia natural complexes and objects of special environmental, recreational, educational and aesthetic value. | ||
| 45 | Skole Beskids | Lviv Oblast | Сколівські Бескиди | 35684 | 1999 | Covers the Skole Beskids Range of the Carpathian Mountains on the western edge of Ukraine. It was created in 1999 to protect the beech and beech-fir forests of Carpathians, and to provide for environmental, ecological, aesthetic, educational and recreational uses.[32] | ||
| 46 | Sloboda | Kharkiv Oblast | Слобожанський | 5244 | 2009 | Covers a forest-steppe region at the confluence of the Merla and Merchik Rivers in the East Poltava Highlands of eastern Ukraine. The park features an extensive complex of marshes, swamps, and other wetlands.[33] | ||
| 47 | Synevyr | Zakarpattia Oblast | Синевир | 40400 | 1989 | Located in Zakarpattia Oblast, in the southwest of the country.[34] | ||
| 48 | Syniohora | Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | Синьогора | 10866 | 2009 | Transition to full National Park status was uncertain as of 2017, with portions of the park are closed to the public.[35] | ||
| 49 | Tsumanska Pushcha | Volyn Oblast | Цуманська пуща | 33475 | 2010 | Located in southeastern Volyn Oblast. | ||
| 50 | Tuzly Lagoons | Odesa Oblast | Тузловські лимани | 10866 | 2009 | Includes the group of Tuzly Lagoons: which consist of parts of the larger lagoons Shahany, Alibey, Burnas; and the small lagoons Solone Ozero, Khadzhyder, Karachaus, Budury, Martaza, Mahala, Malyi Sasyk, and Dzhantshei.[36] | ||
| 51 | Uzh | Zakarpattia Oblast | Ужанський | 39159 | 1999 | Also part of the East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The park was created to protect pristine beech forest of the Carpathians. | ||
| 52 | Verkhovyna | Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast | Верховинський | 12023 | 2010 | Covers the highest reaches of the Cheremosh River, in the Carpathian Mountains.[37] | ||
| 53 | Vyzhnytsia | Chernivtsi Oblast | Вижницький | 7928 | 1995 | Located in the Ukrainian Carpathians, Vyzhnytsia Park represents a lowland part of the Carpathians with a fairly mild climate. The area is forested in beech and fir trees. | ||
| 54 | Yavoriv | Lviv Oblast | Яворівський | 7079 | 1998 | A narrow range of hills 75km (47miles) long, which rises sharply to the north of the Lesser Polissya. | ||
| 55 | Zacharovanyi Krai | Zakarpattia Oblast | Зачарований край | 6101 | 2009 | Located in Khust Raion in Ukrainian Carpathians. | ||
| 56 | Zalissia | Kyiv Oblast | Залісся | 14836 | 2009 | Covers a large forest on the left bank of the Desna River about 20 km northeast of Kyiv. As of 2017, the area is open for limited public access, but is primarily administered as a protected area for the "reception and stay of senior officials", other state uses, and the protection of plant and animal life.[38] |
| Name | Photo | Location | Official website(Ukrainian) | Area (ha) | Year proposed | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berezan | Mykolaiv Oblast | Березанський | 2023 | Covers the Berezan Estuary, Beikul Estuary, and the valleys of Berezan and Sasyk rivers.[39] | ||
| 2 | Berezhany Opillia | Ternopil Oblast | Бережанське Опілля | 11800 | 2021 | [40] | |
| 3 | Chaikovychi | Lviv Oblast | Чайковицький | up to 10000 | 2013 | Covers the wetlands near the right bank of Dniester River to the south of Chaikovychi village.[41] | |
| 4 | Black Forest-Dmytrivka | Kirovohrad Oblast | Чорнолісько-Дмитрівський | 48000 | 2009 | Covers the Black Forest (Chornyi Lis), Dmytrivka-Chuta Forest, and a part of Inhulets River valley.[42] | |
| 5 | Darnytsia | Kyiv | Дарницький | Covers multiple forested areas in eastern Kyiv.[43] | |||
| 6 | Divychky | Kyiv Oblast | Дівички | 16648 | 2012 | Covers a forest-steppe and swamp region on the left bank of the Dnieper, to the southwest of Pereiaslav.[44] | |
| 7 | Dnieper Islands | Kyiv | Дніпровські Острови | 8444.62 | 2004 | Covers most of Kyiv's islands and some peninsulas on the Dnieper and a part of Horbachykha.[45] | |
| 8 | Dnieper-Teteriv | Kyiv Oblast | Дніпровсько-Тетерівський | 30402.3 | 2008 | Covers the Teteriv Estuary and the forested area nearby.[46] | |
| 9 | Hirskyi Tikych | Cherkasy Oblast | Гірський Тікич | 4908 | 2017 | Covers the entire Hitskyi Tikych River valley and some surrounding areas, including Buky Canyon and 11 sites of Cucuteni–Trypillia culture (such as Talianky and Maidanetske).[47] | |
| 10 | Hromokliia | Mykolaiv Oblast | Громоклійський | 2023 | Covers the steppe landscape of Hromokliia River basin and parts of the right bank of Inhul River | ||
| 11 | Kremenchuk Reedbeds | Kirovohrad Oblast, Poltava Oblast | Кременчуцькі Плавні | around 10000 | 2008 | Covers islands and parts of the Dnieper River near Kremenchuk.[48] The park will include areas that belong to Kremenchuk Reedbeds and Biletskivski Reedbeds regional landscape parks in Poltava Oblast, as well as some regions of Kirovohrad Oblast. | |
| 12 | Lower Vorskla | Poltava Oblast | Нижньоворсклянський | 23200 | 2006 | Covers the Vorskla River estuary and nearby areas that currently belong to Lower Vorskla Regional Landscape Park. | |
| 13 | Nadbuzhzhia in the name of Eminent Liubomyr Huzar | Lviv Oblast | Надбужжя ім. Блаженнішого Любомира Гузара | 3294 | 2018 | Covers floodplains of Western Bug and other rivers around Sokal.[49] | |
| 14 | Opillia | Lviv Oblast | Опілля | 16790.6 | 2023 | Covers forests and other territories around Dniester River in Lviv and Stryi raions.[50] | |
| 15 | Podesinnia | Chernihiv Oblast, Kyiv Oblast | Подесіння | 2008 | Covers most of the Desna River valley in Chernihiv and Kyiv oblasts. | ||
| 16 | Pryirpinnia and Chernechyi Forest | Kyiv Oblast | Приірпіння та Чернечий ліс | 17932.4 | 2018 | Covers forests near Irpin River to the southwest of Kyiv and the Chernechyi Forest.[51] | |
| 17 | Saksahan Sich | Dnipropetrovsk Oblast | Саксаганська січ | 7957 | 2016 | Covers the Saksahan River basin.[52] | |
| 18 | Sviatoshyn-Pushcha-Vodytsia | Kyiv | Святошинсько-Пуща-Водицький | Covers protected areas in the Sviatoshyn-Bilychi forest massif in Kyiv, including the Golden Forest preserve and some areas that currently belong to Holosiiv National Park.[53] | |||
| 19 | Upper Pobuzhzhia | Khmelnytskyi Oblast | Верхнє Побужжя | 108000 | 2013 | Covers the upper Southern Bug basin.As of 2015, the park was projected to be created by 2021. As of January 2024, the park has not been created. | |
| 20 | Western Pobuzhzhia | Volyn Oblast | Західне Побужжя | 17423.4 | 2018 | Covers floodplains of Western Bug and Luha rivers within southwestern Volyn Oblast. | |
| 21 | Zhdymyr | Ждимир | 21600 | Covers Polonyna Borzhava in the Carpathians.[54] | |||