NGO ForestCom invites volunteers: why environmental protection is important now

During the war, most volunteers are engaged in humanitarian activities or help the military. However, environmental volunteering hasn't lost its actuality either, because it is the best way to feel yourself useful, reduce stress and help animals and the environment. Taras Kharachko, head of the "Forest Restoration Center", expert in eco-education and coordinator of the volunteer community of the NGO "ForestCom", told why environmental volunteering is especially important during the war, and what can be done to help nature.

- In recent years, Ukrainians have understood who volunteers are and what important things they do and decide. And what is environmental volunteering and why is it needed?

- Useful things can be done both for people and for nature, and not only by cleaning up garbage, - says Taras Kharachko, - Life can be saturated not only with everyday hustle and bustle, but also with the singing of birds, the sound of the wind, the breathing of the forest and the murmur of streams. Everyone chooses what suits him. And the choice of environmental volunteering is one of the best, because it combines the useful with the pleasant. In the developed countries of the world, when considering the documents of young people about admission to the university, they often pay attention to where and how much they have volunteered.

This is necessary in order to live in a healthy society, which cares not only about its own well-being, but is also ready to help others."

Now we see great examples of a healthy society in many countries of the world, where ordinary people save the lives of tens of thousands of Ukrainians through their unity, mercy, compassion and ability to volunteer. Everyone can choose the volunteering that he likes.

- Why is environmental volunteering important during the war, because now free hands are needed to help the victims?

- "Nature-oriented volunteering allows you to restore your strength and stabilize your psycho-emotional state. This is the so-called forest therapy, which people need during the war and not only.

Many of us are very exhausted during our daily work, emotionally burned out and physically tired. Therefore, we believe that there is absolutely no strength for volunteering. Often it is, but environmental volunteering can restore lost strength, energy, inspiration and drive. Able to inhale fresh energy and restore strength. By helping nature and people, we help ourselves and the next generations of Ukrainians. Each of us can make the world a better place by our own example."

There are many unique natural places in Ukraine and the world that are under protection and need protection. Often, the staff of nature reserves or national parks, which serves them, is not enough to carry out the plans, and here volunteers come to the rescue. Imagine a trip to unknown mountains, where, in addition to being in wonderful places in the fresh air, thick with moisture and oxygen, meeting new people, you will have to work on renewing the marking of the excursion route or arranging forest houses for tourists. You can make and hang birdhouses on trees in the forest or trim bushes in the arboretum. There is always a lot of work and every time they are different, just like every evening in a circle of like-minded people by a burning fire.

Currently, NGO ForestCom is recruiting volunteers for its team. We suggest choosing one of the areas of activity that suits you best. You can also join the humanitarian direction to help military and forced migrants. In order to join, you need to fill out a small Google form on the organization's website.