Visit of U. S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft to NULES of Ukraine

 On April 21-22, the delegation of senior representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, headed by Dale Bozvors, visited NULES of Ukraine. The members of the delegation also were the Head of the Russia, Europe and Near East Programme, Valdis Mezanis, and technicians Bella Gordon and Sheila Slemp. The visit was a part of long-term cooperation between the Institute of Forestry and Park Gardening and the U.S. Forest Service aimed at protection of forests from fires and transition to sustainable forest management in Ukraine.

The participants of the visit took part in the symbolic planting of trees in the university park. This act was intended to attract attention of Ukrainian society to environmental safety and preservation of natural resources. The participants were joined by the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, John Francis Tefft, and Embassy representatives – the Attaché for Agriculture, Randall Hager and his assistant, representative of media, education and culture department, Misha Martorana.

The U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, John Tefft, together with the Head of NULES of Ukraine, Academician, Dmytro O. Melnychuk discussed the prospects of cooperation between the university and education and research institutions of the United States. The Ambassador expressed his support for foundation of two modern Ukrainian scientific, educational, research and innovation centres in collaboration with leading universities in the United States. It should be mentioned that this initiative was recently supported by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykola Ya. Azarov. On the same day the delegation and representatives of the U.S. Embassy and the Institute of Forestry and Park Gardening participated in the planting of forest plantations in the Vyshche-Dubechanske Forestry State Enterprise.