LANDSCAPES OF THE DZHURYN AND HNIZNA SMALL RIVER BASINS IN THE CONTEXT OF ANTHROPOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS
Authors: Tsaryk Lyubomyr , Tsaryk Volodymyr 
Published: December 2024

The scientific approach to the analysis of anthropogenic changes and transformations of landscape systems of small river basins of Western Podillia (on the example of the Dzhuryn and Hnizna rivers) is updated. The basins of these rivers are characterized by peculiar physical and geographical parameters, and they belong to the category of small rivers. The paper highlights the factors of landscape anthropization, outlines changes in landscape formation processes and landscape components. The general features of landscape anthropization include excessive plowing of river basins at the level of 74.5 and 70.6 %. That is, the leading factor in landscape change and transformation is agriculture. With regard to the modification of landscape formation processes by economic activity, changes in the heat balance of plowed soils, their water regime, biogenic turnover and abiogenic migration of substances are noted. The consequences of these changes and their impact on the current state of landscape systems are considered. The degree of anthropogenic transformation of river basin landscapes was assessed using the methodology by K. Hofmann - P. Shchyshchenko. The coefficient of anthropogenic transformation in both basins is in the range of 5.45-5.52, which indicates an average level of alteration and transformation of river basin landscapes. The manifestations of a number of geoecological processes dangerous for landscape systems were noted and a map of their spatial manifestation in the Dzhuryn River basin was created. The typology and analysis of the landscapes of basin systems are carried out. The dominant landscapes in the basins are arable, the share of which ranges from 74.5-70.6%. In terms of the depth of changes and the degree of modification, urban landscapes are distinguished, with a share of less than 6%. Natural landscapes (forest, meadow and pasture, wetland) modified by human activity account for just over 20%, which is significantly lower than scientifically based environmental standards. Measures to optimize the landscape structure and renaturalize landscapes modified by economic activity include the removal of low-productive and highly erodible land from the arable wedge and their transfer to the category of land subject to renaturalization. Some of these lands with a slope of more than 5 0 are proposed for reforestation, while others with a slope of less than 5 0 are recommended for grassland, pastures, and planting gardens. It is proposed to increase the share of natural and renaturalized landscapes in river basins to 40%, which is below scientifically sound standards but almost twice as high as the current proportions. Among the proposed environmental protection measures, the authors have made suggestions and presented projects of landscape reserves: Bazarsky and Over the Dzhuryn River (in the middle reaches of the Dzhuryn River), as well as Verkohniznynsky and Princely Forest in the Hnizna River basin, which will increase the share of land in the river basin covered by protected areas.
Key words: landscapes, river basins, anthropogenic transformations, renaturalization and environmental protection measures