Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine determined 103 priority investment projects till 2023. Relevant resolution was approved by Ukrainian Government with a three-day amendment at the meeting on Wednesday – November, 18. “International Scientific Centre “Observatory” on Pip Ivan mountain – as a platform for development of the Carpathian region” is one of the investment projects that are planned to be implemented at the expense of the state budget and international technical assistance.
Partners of this project initiator – Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University – are the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk region, the Carpathian National Nature Reserve; Podkarpackie Voivodeship (Poland); Centre for East European Studies of the University of Warsaw (Poland); Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue Bieszczady Group (GOPR) (Poland).
It should be reminded that due to cooperation agreements, signed between the Precarpathian National University and DSESU in Ivano-Frankivsk region, it was decided to use part of the Observatory premises for high-mountain rescue service and later on to change it into the professional high-mountain rescue service (training centre and search and rescue station) that will be operating all year round. The Cooperation Agreement was extended till July 28, 2020. This part of works has already started and is being implemented under the Project “Adaptation of former observatory on the Pip Ivan mountain to the needs of alpine rescue service training centre“ (PIMReC) that is being implemented under financial assistance of the European Union within the cross-border cooperation Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2014-2020.
Starting from the commencement of the PIMReC Project there were elaborated cost estimate documents, part of the Observatory restoration works are being performed, it is foreseen to purchase of meteorological equipment to ensure safe tourism via the electronic services platform. It is also foreseen that the weather forecasts will be used for local airport and Ukrainian Airlines to plan their flights.
The “Observatory” is located within the Carpathian National Nature Reserve with within the University and Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine signed Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation. The aim of this document is to restore the Observatory by means of creating of the Carpathian Ecological Centre within it.
The Carpathian region is one of the most attractive geographical regions of the Central and East Europe, which has strategic value in the development of the territories of different states. And high-mountain location of the Observatory makes it a unique scientific centre in Europe. There are about 400 observatories in the world, in Ukraine there are 6 operating one, which is stated in the project description.