Reliable transport is crucial for protected areas to execute their main tasks. That’s why Frankfurt Zoological Society initiated the creation of a unique car workshop, which helps to repair and maintain vehicles for national nature parks and reserves.
For rangers, covering hundreds of kilometres in extreme terrain is part of their daily operations. Off-road conditions, rain-damaged tracks, and steep slopes can quickly render vehicles unusable. To address this challenge, a specialised automotive workshop has been set up to provide regular maintenance and repairs, from brake replacement to engine and gearbox restoration. Since launching in 2023, the workshop has repaired over 380 vehicles, greatly enhancing the mobility and efficiency of ranger teams.
In addition to the fixed facility, a mobile repair unit operates across the protected areas. Mechanics travel directly to national parks with all the necessary equipment, enabling on-site diagnostics and repairs. While the service was originally created for thirteen protected areas in the Carpathians, it has since expanded to support parks in Polissia, where technicians also repair motorboats used in wetland environments.
This concept was inspired by long-standing practices at Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, where the Frankfurt Zoological Society has been working since the 1950s. Building on this experience helped to streamline the development of a similar support system in Ukraine.
This initiative has been made possible with the support of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). Consequently, national parks are now better equipped to reduce transport costs, enhance patrolling efficiency, and improve the quality of scientific field research.
