NATURAL RESERVE FUND OF ZHYTOMYR REGION
Authors:   Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, Ukraine, Melnyk-Shamrai Viktoriia , Shamrai Volodymyr ,   Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, Ukraine
Published: November 2023

The priority area of activity of a developed country is the rational use, protection and reproduction of landscapes and biological diversity. The best and most effective form of biodiversity protection is the creation and development of territories and objects of the nature reserve fund (NRF). Protected areas have scientific, aesthetic, recreational, educational and educational value, and were created with the aim of preserving plant and animal diversity and natural landscapes. These territories create the necessary conditions for reducing the negative impact of economic activity on biological objects, contribute to the maintenance of natural mechanisms of interaction between biological species and their habitat. Taking into account the current trends in the deterioration of the ecological situation in our country and the world, the importance of nature conservation areas is constantly increasing. The purpose of this work is to study the modern distribution of NRF objects and territories in the united territorial communities of Zhytomyr region. The object of research is the nature reserve fund of the Zhytomyr region. The subject of the research is the distribution of NRF objects in united territorial community (UTC) of different districts of Zhytomyr region. Research methodology is based on generally accepted methods of analysis and comparison of materials that are reflected in the environmental passports of the Zhytomyr region. Results. As a result of the analysis of the nature reserve fund, it was established that in the Zhytomyr region, the number of objects and territories of NRF is 268, and the rate of protection is 4.77%. Zhytomyr region is represented by 6 categories of NRF: natural reserves, sanctuaries, natural monuments, botanical garden, dendrological parks and parks-monuments of horticultural art. The most common are nature reserves, their number is 196 objects. Forest reserves are the most common, and ornithological and geological reserves are the least common. The most valuable NRF objects in Zhytomyr Region are "Drevlyansky Nature Reserve" and "Polissia Nature Reserve". There are 43 natural monuments in Zhytomyr region, the share of botanical natural monuments is 55.8%. Artificially created objects in the Zhytomyr region include one botanical garden, three dendrological parks and twenty-three parks-monuments of horticultural art. The distribution of natural reserves and territories within the administrative districts of Zhytomyr region is uneven. Administrative districts of Zhytomyr region can be placed in a ranked order according to the decreasing number of nature conservation areas: Korosten > Zhytomyr > Zvyagel > Berdychiv. The analysis of the obtained results shows that within the administrative districts of the Zhytomyr region, each UTC has its own specifics of distribution both by the categories of NRF and by the number of objects. Practical implications. The results of the research can be used to study the patterns of development and find ways to protect, reproduce and create new objects and territories of NRF in the region. Value/originality. The value of the obtained results lies in the fact that the modern distribution of NRF objects and territories in the Zhytomyr region as a whole and separately within the united territorial communities of various districts of the Zhytomyr region has been analyzed.