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Kamianska Sich National Park is a steppe, more than 50 kilometers of the Dnipro riverfront, and a place of protection for more than 90 species of rare animals. The park’s special feature is its historical monuments. The territory includes late Scythian settlements with mounds, and in the 18th century, there was a Cossack Sich.
As of February 2022, the park had two cars, a boat, a rubber boat, an electric motor, batteries, a thermal imager, a quadcopter, and office furniture. The park was empty again after the Russians’ visit, with only one printer left, which was taken away.
Until the territory of the park was mined, scientists conducted phenological monitoring. The park’s employees also extinguished fires on their own. Fires destroyed the following rare species: Scythian drakes (633 specimens); rough feather grass (402 specimens); hairy feather grass (832 specimens); Lessing’s feather grass (2384 specimens); Ukrainian feather grass (456 specimens).
The park’s director was held captive for several weeks, but thanks to his determination and the help of local residents, he managed to escape. For eight+ months, the park suffered from the Russian occupation, and now it is under shelling from the left bank of the Dnipro.
After the explosion of the Kakhovka Reservoir dam, the Pakr wetlands shrank by 8 meters. Other nearby Ramsar wetlands have also shrunk significantly. As many as 54 species of fish will disappear from the archipelago, and 156 species of birds living on the islands and floodplains of the archipelago will be negatively affected. Up to 30,000 waterfowl are observed on the territory during the autumn migration.
Now the territory has been completely de-occupied, but employees do not have access to part of the park because of shelling and mining. The park’s specialists need our help to resume research activities. Please share the SCGIS GoFundMe campaign: https://gofund.me/95ae5403