The research centre was founded in 2019 by Yevhenii Dovhaliuk in the small village of Chervone Zarichchia on the shore of Supii-2 pond. From a survey of the surrounding area emerged the Centre for the Study and Preservation of Nature, Culture and Architecture “Lake Supii”, whose main areas of activity are announced in its name. Its interests also include creating high-quality media content about Ukraine’s wildlife, educational programmes for young people, volunteering and tourism development. In 2020 the NGO “Save and Explore” was founded.
Birdwatching, or observing birds in their natural habitat, is one of the centre’s main areas of activity. Chervone Zarichchia is perfectly suited to the amateur ornithology that Yevhenii Dovhaliuk develops. Nearby is the Usivskyi-2 hydrological nature reserve of national significance, which is a refuge for a large number of wetland bird species, including those listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
The floating islands of Lake Supii are also unique; they began to appear in the 18th century after Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host Kyrylo Rozumovskyi built dams on the river of the same name. As a result, floodplain meadows were flooded, and pieces of peat bog rose to the surface and became overgrown with vegetation. These islets, mostly small in size, are hard for predators to reach, and so they have become a true refuge for birds.
Yevhenii Dovhaliuk’s team has managed to inventory more than 196 bird species on its plot, including 12 Red Book species not previously recorded here, and 1,200 species of flora and fauna in total. The researchers publish the results of the inventory as separate photo books.
Volunteering is an active part of the Centre’s work. A Volunteer House has been set up to receive guests. Volunteer helpers not only from Ukraine but also from other countries take part in studies of the natural, cultural and architectural monuments in which the region is very rich. Videos of the filmed sites can be viewed on the “Lake Supii” website.
The “Supii on the Road” project explores the infrastructure capabilities of Ukraine’s national parks, promoting holidays in Ukraine.
Talking with students and pupils about tourism, ecology, sustainable development, and about the centre’s own nature inventory project and getting young people involved in it is important to the centre.
The work of the “Lake Supii” Centre was honoured with a Special Award from the All-Ukrainian animal protection organisation UAnimals and the inter-factional association of People’s Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “Humane Country” in 2025, for the ability to see and systematically convey to others the value of local natural treasures.
In June 2025 Yevhenii Dovhaliuk received the status of “Friend of Plast” from the National Scout Organisation Plast for systematic cooperation with and support of the scout movement in Ukraine.
Yevhenii Dovhaliuk takes part in many initiatives for tourism development in the Yahotyn community, and is the author of the tourist logo of the Yahotyn region, having won a special competition announced by the Yahotyn City Council.
