1st Ecological Forum “Clean city. Clean river. Clean planet” has recently closed. The event was held on November 19-20, 2009 in the premises of Oles Honchar Kherson regional universal scientific library. It attracted many famous scientists, educated specialists, journalists, businessmen, authorities and public representatives. More than 160 participants and just as many visitors witnessed their anxiety about the ecological situation in Ukraine in general and in Kherson region in particular.

The Forum was organized by the Kherson Chamber of Commerce and Industry and became strongly supported by State Ecological Inspection of Ukraine, State Department of Environmental Protection in Kherson Region, Kherson City Executive Committee and Kherson Regional State Administration.

H.E. Mr. Olav Berstad, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to Ukraine and H.E. Mr. Andras Barsony, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary to Ukraine became the important guest of the event. Norway and Hungary are today among the most ecologically sound countries in the world. That is why the idea of domestication their ecological problems solution experience is quite actual for our country.

During the recent years the necessity of attraction the wide public and the professionals’ attention towards the problem of unsound ecological situation, being obvious to some extent in all European countries, including Ukraine, is quite evident. The obligations to be compliant with the international ecological standards, accepted by Ukraine, as well as active economic development during the recent years are becoming the guarantee for expenses, aimed at environmental protection sector, increasing. In this connection specialized events allowing wide opportunities for ecological problems solution are becoming more and more actual.

In this connection the Forum was aimed at holding the plenary sessions for ecological problematic, as well as at organization of the active work in measures of academic and research workshops within the sessions. “Environmental Problems of the Dnieper River Basin”, “Clean Dnieper – Reserved Dnieper”, “Ecology of the Urban Way of Living”, “Ecology in the International Practice”, “Energy Saving Technologies and Alternative Renewable Sources of Energy” and other equally important issues were discussed in measures of the event.

Though acquaintance with ecological problems is an important step towards their solving, that is still not enough. We focus on practical results. In this connection, the Resolution of the Forum was developed, herewith every citizen of our city and every participant of the Forum was proposed to make voluntary contribution to environmental improvement, ecological education etc.

Besides it was decided that holding the Ecological Forum in Kherson is to become traditional and next, 2nd edition is now planned for November 18-19, 2010.