Cheremosky National Natural Park in mountainous Putyla raion was the first to open in the mid December 2008. “This park covers the area of 7,000 hectares will be of great importance for preserving the biological diversity of the Carpathians’ center and the unique local geological deposits,” said Volodymyr Solodky, deputy head of Environmental Protection Department in Chernivtsi oblast.
“Considering the fact that the park’s territory borders on the national parks of Ivano-Frankivsk and Romania, the creation of Cheremosky Park can mark the beginning of work to create an international biosphere reserve in the Carpathians. These intentions are officially documented in agreements on cooperation in the sphere of environmental protection between Ukraine and Romania. However, before the creation of Cheremosky Park there were no bordering preserves’ territories between these two countries.”
A month after Cheremosky park opened, another national natural park was created on the territory of Chernivtsi oblast under the president’s decree — Khotynsky Park with the area of 9,446.1 hectares. It was created to preserve valuable natural, historical, and cultural complexes and objects in the Dniester’s basin, one of which is the fortress complex in Khotyn — one of Ukraine’s seven historical wonders.