Geographical representativeness of the network of reserves and national natural parks of Ukraine
Authors: Hetman Volodymyr , Popovych Serhii 
Published: September 2024

Problem formulation. Assessment of the representation of landscapes in the modern network of Nature Reserve Fund is based on natural and biosphere reserves, national nature parks, which has the status of the highest category in accordance with regional physical and geographical areas - natural areas (subzones), provinces (country), landscape divisions. The constant monitoring analysis of the state of representativeness of the nature reserve fund on the basis of geographical criteria is considered relevant and at the same time difficult.

The purpose. The aim of the research was to assess the degree of representativeness of the modern network of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks in accordance with the system of physical and geographical zoning of Ukraine.

Methodology and materials. The methodological basis for the presented analysis can be considered zoning of the earth's surface by components of the natural environment. Accordingly, for comparative analysis used as the main method of identification and accounting of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks within the physical-geographical areas, zones and mountainous countries of their location. For the above-mentioned physical and geographical ranks were calculated indicators of nature reserves.

Results. These physical and geographical ranks are not equally provided by the studied objects. Most biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks are located in the steppe zone (24) and the Ukrainian Carpathians (15). Slightly more than a third (36%) of the physical-geographical provinces are provided with biosphere reserves and reserves. A much higher (80%) degree of representativeness of branches of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks has developed at the level of physical and geographical areas. Categorically the most developed and territorially dense regional networks of objects are observed in the Ukrainian Carpathians and Polissya province. Accordingly, most of the biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks have the following physical and geographical areas of these two natural regions: the Outer Carpathians (8 sites), Polonynsko-Chornohirska (7 sites) and Volyn Polissya (7 sites). The highest reserve index (10,4 %), which is formed by biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks, was found for the zone of deciduous forests.

Scientific novelty. According to the composition of the physical-geographical provinces, for the first time a complete geographical network of biosphere reserves in Ukraine has been proposed, which should be formed by at least 14 objects. The current level of provision of physical and geographical areas with branches of biosphere and nature reserves, national nature parks is analyzed. In the zonal dimension, the indicators of nature reserves formed by these categories of the nature reserve fund are determined.

Practical meaning. The article provides the functional analysis of the regional distribution of the territory of the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine for the optimal conservation and protection of protected landscape diversity.