Optimization of the network of territories of the nature reserve fund is currently an important condition for Ukraine’s fulfillment of its international obligations on environmental protection. The increase in the area of protected areas can be done by adding new areas with high environmental value to existing NPF facilities. An important place is occupied by the first national nature park - Carpathian, which quite fully represents the biological and landscape diversity of the Eastern Carpathians. The Carpathian National Nature Park was established in 1980 on 50,321.5 hectares of land. The first project to create the Park covered the entire basin of the upper Prut River, but during the Soviet period, the authorities preferred forestries that were actively exploiting the forest. Currently, the lower parts of the mountain slopes in the Prut basin are protected as part of the nature reserve, and the upper parts of the slopes are still being felled by Delyatyn and Vorokhta forestries. This division of the territory leads to a number of environmental problems: deciduous forests are cut down, wood is skidded along the riverbeds, and natural biodiversity is reduced. Taking into account the importance of the basin approach to the functioning of the Carpathian National Nature Park, we consider it expedient to expand the territory of the Park at the expense of the lands of Vorokhta and Delyatyn State Forestry - with an area of 25,301 hectares (48.9% of the park area). The territory planned for joining the Carpathian NNP is located within the upper and middle parts of the slopes of the Upper Prut Valley. Absolute heights range from 900 m to 1585.9 m (Mount Kostrytsia). The project area is characterized by a variety of geological structure (siltstones, argillites, sandstones, flysch, sandy limestones, limestones, marls, clays), complex landforms (peneplenized surfaces, nival and relic glacial landforms, steep, gravitational slopes of different gravitational slopes biocoenotic cover, represented by deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests. The area proposed for expansion is located in a mountainous area, which determines the hydrological regime of the river, the structure of river valleys and the specifics of other hydrological characteristics. The largest water arteries of Delyatyn and Vorokhta state forestries were studied in this territory: Prutets Chemyhivsky, Prutets Yablunetsky, Pigi, Kamyanka, Boyarsky, Zhonka, part of the basin of which is currently the territory of the Carpathian NNP, but mainly the upper tributary areas are located on the territory of state forestries. As a result of field research and additional survey of already selected nature reserves within the Delyatyn and Vorokhta state forestries, we were able to identify ecologically / biologically valuable areas that could serve as protected nuclei in the newly annexed to the Carpathian NNP. In general, a number of valuable natural objects important for the preservation of the Ukrainian Carpathians were identified on the project territory (Ozernyanske, Kremintsivske, Polyanytske, Mykulychynske, Dorivske, Polyanytske forestry): 8 natural settlements (habitats) from Annex I of the Bern Convention, 7 natural settlements (habitats) from the Annex to the Habitats Directive, 5 groups of syntaxons, which include 10 rare associations included in the Green Book of Ukraine, 24 species of plants from the Red Book of Ukraine (2009), 11 regionally rare plant species of Ivano-Frankivsk region, 31 species of vertebrates , listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 1203.7 hectares of plantations with characteristic features of virgin and ancient forests, 37 objects of the nature reserve fund, of which 7 belong to the national. Currently, the modeling of the basin structure of the landscape using GIS technologies, which includes: a) construction in ArcGIS digital terrain model (DEM) based on digitized topographic maps; b) determination with the help of ArcHydro runoff directions, allocation of boundaries of micro-catchments and basins of Prut tributaries; c) determination of watercourses and assignment of order to the links of the erosion grid according to the scheme of V. Filosofov - A. Straller. In our opinion, the introduction of a basin-landscape approach to the territorial planning of the Carpathian NNP will create a real mechanism for sustainable development of natural and anthropogenic systems. The use of this mechanism will make it possible to eliminate many contradictions that arise in both the environmental and socio-economic spheres of the Yaremche region.

The Geological and Geographical Department of the Natural Museum of the Yuriy Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University preserves reference minerals and rocks. It is one of the oldest university museums in Ukraine. Educational, scientific and research work using exposition and stock collections are the key aspects of the museum’s activity. The mineralogical and petrographic collection consists of about 13,000 exhibits. Each mineral and rock are represented by several samples from different deposits and regions to provide in-depth study and development of mineralogical and petrographic knowledge. During the practical course, students learn to combine theoretical and practical knowledge, to distinguish and work with the main real samples of rocks and, to classify minerals according to their physical properties; to distinguish rocks by structural and textural features, and to determine the conditions of their formation. Systematized collections of minerals and rock samples, kept in showcases and funds as well as relevant exhibits of the educational collection, are used in the educational courses in the Geological and Geographical department of the Museum. Basic tools such as glass, porcelain, reference minerals, 10% hydrochloric acid solution, magnifying glass, mining compass, matches etc. for diagnosing samples are provided. Special attention should be paid to safety measures when students work with samples, as well as additional tools for diagnostics. The safety issues refer careful handling of hydrochloric acid solution, cutting and pricking objects. Educational diagnostics of minerals starts with determining the most characteristic optical properties, as they can be established immediately. At the next stage, the mineral hardness according to the Mohs scale standards or by additional improvised tools is determined. The next stage involves determining the nature of the fracture and cleavage. Then carbonates are checked for the reaction of the sample with a solution of hydrochloric acid. Finally, based on the established signs and with the help of determinants, the conclusion about the mineral name and its reference to a certain class is made by students. The answer can be supplemented with information about the origin and forms of mineral occurrence in nature and the field of use. The examination and diagnostics of rocks is carried out according to the certan plan. First, the appearance of the rock sample is carefully examined with the naked eye and with the help of a magnifying glass. The colour, structural and textural features are determined. Acidity or basicity is established for igneous rocks. In the case of sedimentary rocks, the reaction to the action of hydrochloric acid, the size and nature of inclusions, the nature of cement are inspected. All the determined signs and properties of the samples are recorded in the laboratory work journals. With the help of identifiers, the name of the rock is established and the description is supplemented with the engineering and geological characteristics and fields of use. Based on the examination of the exhibition samples and the funds of the Geological and Geographical Department of the Natural Museum, students get fundamental knowledge about the geography and distribution of world minerals, rocks, and mineral resources. They acquire the skills of independent work with museum collections. The skills can be successfully applied in the scientific and applied institutions in the field, oil production enterprises, geological exploration organizations, etc.