WWF (The World Wide Fund for Nature) is one of the most important nature conservation organizations in the world, with a history of over 60 years and a presence in more than 100 countries across 6 continents. WWF is actively involved in conserving the planet, in the ecological restoration of the natural environment, and in building a future in which people live and thrive in harmony with nature. WWF’s mission is implemented through policy and nature conservation programs, by strengthening public capacity to act on environmental issues, and through advocacy actions with companies to reduce their carbon footprint.

WWF-Romania (The World Wide Fund for Nature) is part of the WWF network and the regional WWF-CEE network. For two decades, WWF-Romania has been working to stop the degradation of nature and to protect biodiversity. The organization’s priority conservation regions are located in Maramureș, Transylvania, the Southwestern Carpathians, the Apuseni Mountains, and the Danube floodplain and Delta. WWF-Romania is the leading conservation organization in Romania, highly experienced in communicating effectively the importance of biodiversity conservation.

WWF Romania – Filiala Maramures Association, part of WWF RO started activities in Maramures in 2003 targeting identification, management of ecological corridors, wildlife monitoring, sustainable forest management, community development, advocacy for adequate environmental legislation.

RakhivEcoTour is an NGO that was established in 2010 to support ecological stability and cross-border cooperation in the Carpathian region of Ukraine and Romania, and the Ukrainian Carpathians in general.

The organization promotes sustainable development, ecotourism, environmental education, scientific research, and wildlife monitoring. The team members of the NGO RET have a profound experience in protected area management; they have prepared justification dossiers for a series of territory expansion for PAs in the region.

RakhivEcoTour has long-standing partnerships with WWF-Ukraine and WWF-Romania, as well as with protected area administrations, ecological NGOs, local authorities, and educational institutions across the region. Its team includes experts in conservation, research, tourism, and project management.

Over the years, the organization has gained solid experience through involvement in numerous national and international initiatives focused on protected area planning, species conservation, and transboundary ecotourism.

Aevis n.o. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect wildlife, preserve natural and cultural values, and support local communities and regional development in the Poloniny region in Slovakia. Aevis provides services of general interest in the following areas: protection of the environment by restoring wildlife and preserving natural values; support of regional development, local communities, and the preservation of cultural values, primarily through nature tourism; promotion of cooperation between public and private sector entities and education through guided excursions in the wilderness and education, especially in the field of wildlife protection, preservation of natural and cultural values, and nature tourism.

Aevis focuses on ensuring the functional protection of existing protected areas and the systematic expansion of non-intervention areas. Its long-term goal is to improve or create suitable conditions for the return of European wildlife. Aevis is also committed to the implementation and development of nature tourism in Slovakia, which supports the preservation of large protected areas of wildlife.

The County Association of Hunters and Sport Fishers of Maramureș (AJVPS Maramureș) is a non-political, non-profit legal entity governed by private law, with its own distinct and indivisible assets. Its core mission is the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable natural resource management, the maintenance of ecological balance, and the protection of game and fish species, along with their natural habitats.

The association is structured into five regional clubs—Baia Mare, Borșa, Vișeu, Sighet, and Târgu Lăpuș—ensuring balanced coverage across the entire county. It oversees a significant number of hunting and fishing grounds, for which it holds direct responsibility for sustainable management.

In recent years, AJVPS Maramureș has implemented several important EU-funded projects, including a €100,000 initiative through the Natura 2000 Local Action Group focused on the protection and conservation of game heritage and aquatic resources. Another cross-border project worth €157,737 supported efforts to improve human–nature coexistence and provided the association with modern equipment.

The association works actively with the Maramureș County Gendarmerie, the County Police Inspectorate, and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Agency (ANPA). Together, they have carried out over 50 anti-poaching operations and 192 inspections on aquatic habitats, contributing to the enforcement of environmental laws and the protection of natural resources.

Verkhovynskyi National Nature Park is located in one of the most remote and least accessible part of the Ukrainian Carpathians, where natural landscapes have remained largely untouched for millions of years. It is the only area in the region where ancient metamorphic rock formations emerge at the surface, overlain by Paleozoic and Mesozoic layers. The slopes are scattered with Jurassic limestone outcrops, forming dramatic and unique scenery. The park also preserves valuable virgin forests, subalpine meadows, and the sources of the White and Black Cheremosh rivers.

Beyond its natural importance, Verkhovynskyi is a living center of Hutsul culture. Local traditions such as Easter egg painting, weaving, wood carving, and musical instrument making are still widely practiced. Visitors can meet artisans, take part in workshops, and experience the region’s cultural richness firsthand—including during the vibrant winter Christmas celebrations. 

Verkhovynskyi National Nature Park offers a rare combination of geological heritage, pristine nature, and deeply rooted mountain traditions, making it a unique destination for conservation, cultural tourism, and environmental education.