Rationale for the creation of the National natural park «Central Podillya»
Authors: Mudrak О. , Mudrak G. , Serebryakov V. , Shcherbliuk A. , Klochaniuk V. 
Published: September 2021

Based on comprehensive environmental monitoring, geobotanical, zoogeographical, landscape-ecological, hydro-ecological, forest-typological, agroecological principles and approaches and own field research it is proposed to create a national nature park (NNP) «Central Podillya» within Vinnytsia region. A promising NNP is planned to be created on the territory of Vinnytsia and Khmilnytsky administrative districts of Vinnytsia region as a habitat and migration routes of bison (Bison bonasus) and preservation of unique biotic and landscape diversity. The projected area of NPP «Central Podillya» is 53 820 hectares. The need to create a park due to the presence of natural (forest, wetland, peat-swamp, floodplain, meadow, forest-steppe, meadow-steppe, steppe, weed-field) complexes with associations of plant groups, where more than 40 species of plants and lives more than 50 species of animals listed in the RBU, as well as the presence of a significant number of objects that have historical, cultural, recreational, health (medical) value. The general ecological and geographical characteristics of the park from the standpoint of physical-geographical and geobotanical zoning are given. There are 34 objects of the nature reserve fund (NRF), which will be a part of the perspective park. Functional zoning of the territory of the projected NNP «Central Podillya» was carried out taking into account representative and rare ecosystems, where its 4 zones (protected, regulated recreation, stationary recreation, economic) were allocated. The structural elements of the ecological network of the perspective park are singled out. The necessity of protection, preservation and reproduction of biotic and landscape diversity and historical and cultural heritage of the studied territory through the greening of economic activity, education and culture of the local population is substantiated. It was found that the creation of NPP «Central Podillya» through the Presidential Decree and the optimization of protected areas, which account for 2.27% of the total area of Vinnytsia region, the implementation of regional ecological and Emerald networks is an extremely important, important and absolutely necessary for effective adjustment of the strategy of balanced development of territorial communities. Creation of NPP «Central Podillya» will increase the percentage of protected areas to 4.5% of the total area of Vinnytsia region. According to this indicator Vinnytsia region is in one of the last places in Ukraine. According to the Institute of World Resources (Washington), for the effective functioning of the territory, the area of its reserves should be at least 10–12%. Preparation of scientific substantiation and project of creation of NPP «Central Podillya» within Vinnytsia region is a pilot project that requires official detailing, delimitation, land management, coordination with land users on which the park will be located, creation of park directorate, introduction of technologies aimed at preservation and restoration of biogeocenotic cover, reproduction of broken types of connections, preservation of settlements, optimization of land use, balanced development of territorial communities that will be a part of the NNP.