No abstract

The level of anthropogenization of the natural processes and the geocomponents of the basin geosystems of small rivers in Western Podillya has been estimated and rated as ecologically dangerous from the viewpoint of sustainable and conflict free functioning. The scales of the transformation of the components of natural environment by economic activities since 1774 were revealed using the method of comparative-geographic analysis of cartographic sources. The scales of deforestation were determined, as well as the scales of the influences of drainage meliorations on wetlands, river floodplains and riverbed complexes. It has been established that such transformations of the state of the components of landscape systems have caused the manifestation of a set of unfavorable processes and phenomena (lowering of ground water level, promoting desiccation, soil erosion and deflation, soil dehumification, decreasing landscape and biological diversity, etc.). Calculated indices of the anthropogenic modification of natural components testify that the strongest adversary impacts on river systems and basin landscapes are caused by agriculture, deforestation, and drainage meliorations. Our analysis of the current state of reclaimed lands in the basins of the rivers Dzhuryn and Nichlava confirmed the conclusions of B. I Kozlovsky on the effects of drainage reclamation on groundwater in drained lands and of the formation within them and around drainage systems of negative hydrogeological zones of different widths. In the absence of precipitation for 30-45 consecutive days in summer there is a sharp decrease in groundwater levels, and overdrying of soils, which causes the manifestation and intensification of deflation, shallowing and even drying of the upper reaches of rivers and streams. At the final stage of the study, a system of measures aimed at ensuring the sustainability of river basin geosystems was substantiated. The introduction of an optimization model of land use in the basin geosystem is one of the priority tasks in the context of negative changes in the water regime of watercourses and the water balance of river basin systems. Optimization measures provide for the transformation of the part of degraded and unproductive lands towards the grasslands and the planting of gardens (slopes up to 7°) and afforestation (surface steepness over 7°) to improve the quality of environment and to form the environmentally secure land use system. Regional indices of anthropogenic transformation for the existing and proposed land structure as a normative regional indices of nature utilization optimality are calculated. Substantiation of schemes of basin nature protection networks was based on taking into account the role of protected areas in maintaining certain functional features at the sources, in the middle and lower parts of river basins. Based on the results of field surveys, it is proposed to create nine protected areas within the Dzhuryn Basin and eight protected areas within the Nichlava river basin, which will increase the share of protected areas of the Dzhuryn basin to 8% (compared to present 4.8%) and Nichlava to 19%. At the same time, it is proposed to change the structure of the nature reserve fund of the Nichlava river basin, taking into account the existing high share (77%) of general zoological reserves, inefficient from the standpoint of conservation of natural complexes, instead creating six landscape reserves on an area of about 800 hectares. The paper considers the possibility of further development of the tourist and recreational sphere in the near-Dnister sections of the river basins of Dzhuryn and Nichlava, and proposes the creation of Borshchiv Regional landscape park in the picturesque valley of the Nichlava River.

The results of complex studies of the basins of the small rivers Dzhuryn, Gnizna, Nichlava, from the point of view of the transformation of natural complexes, the introduction of optimal forms of nature use and effective systems of nature protection for the effective management of the process of ecological, social and economic development are highlighted. Land use optimization models of basin systems have been developed, and an integrated network of nature conservation areas and protected and recreational facilities has been substantiated. The conducted comparative analysis of hydro-ecological, nature protection and land use parameters made it possible to establish. The problems of nature management and nature protection in the river basin are closely related. Analysis of the structure of nature use, the ratio of ecologically safe and ecologically dangerous forms within the upper, middle and lower reaches of river valleys demonstrates the degree of balanced nature use and the effectiveness of nature protection regimes. The development of the materials of the monograph took place in the process of field research by the authors as part of data collection for writing candidate and master theses. In addition, the authors rely on their own publications in scientific periodicals and approbation of materials in reports at scientific forums on the problems of nature management and nature protection in the basins of the small rivers Dzhuryn, Nichlava, and Gnizna. Special attention is paid to small rivers, because they perform extremely important functions in the formation of the hydrological regime of surface waters, directly influencing the system of relations with the local population, being in natural resource relations with them. Small rivers are the only water arteries in settlements, performing economic, recreation and health, aesthetic, climate-regulatory functions. Their general condition is derived from the peculiarities of interaction of local communities with the natural environment, which is based on the principles of productive life of people in harmony with nature. Achieving harmonious relationships primarily depends on the level of ecological culture of citizens, their tolerant and responsible attitude towards nature. The small rivers of Western Podillia: Dzhuryn, Gnizna, Nichlava were considered in a comparative analysis with the aim of highlighting general and individual deviations of basic parameters from their normative values, substantiating measures for their optimization. The object of the research is the basins of small rivers of Western Podillia: Dzhuryn, Gnizna, Nichlava. The subject is a comparative analysis of hydrogeoecological and nature protection parameters of anthropogenic influence on their basins. The general similarity of the natural and climatic conditions of the territory, the proximity of the location does not guarantee the similarity of anthropogenic loads on river basins. The conducted comparative analysis of hydroecological and nature protection parameters of river basins demonstrated. low forest coverage of the territories, which will contribute to increased soil erosion, a specific water and wind regime, less intensive assimilation of greenhouse gases, etc. The indicators of the protection of river basins differ significantly, but all of them are significantly inferior to the optimal value within 10.5%. The indicators of plowing of river basins differ significantly. They are significantly higher than the normative ones by approximately 2 times. The negative consequences of excessive plowing are manifested in increased erosion processes, activation of surface runoff into the river washed humus horizon with mineral, organic fertilizers, toxic chemicals, which definitely manifests itself in the deterioration of water quality. The high built-up area of the Nichlava river basin has a negative impact on the growth of pollution by domestic sewage, solid household waste, the absence of water protection zones within the boundaries of settlements, etc. In general, we have reason to claim that the river landscapes are highly economically developed due to the dominance of anthropogenic lands, on almost 2/3 of the area. Accordingly, the indices of anthropogenic transformation of natural lands by economic activity are high. Key words: small river, Western Podillia, Gnizna, Dzhuryn, Nichlava.

The objective of the article is to study the essential geoecological problems of Ukrainian associated territorial communities. The necessity of implementation of effective environmental management, through introduction of an official responsible for improvement, ecology and sustainable development of the associated territorial communities in the administrative apparatus of communities is substantiated.The decentralization reform created a considerable potential for development of the local communities. The transmission of significant financial resources and powers provided the preconditions for the formation of competent associated communities. It was discovered during the study that despite of significant advantages of new administrative units, managerial approaches to the use and preservation of natural resources had not changed. Administration of forest, water, mineral and land resources is further carried out from the center. Practically no one cares about the main ecological problems, communities are drowning in wastes, using water polluted municipal waste with agrochemicals, and the last hectares of forests are being cut down and used as energy resources. In context of sustainable development, the priority issues to be solved for 38% of the communities in Ternopil region are the issues of an ecological nature the issues of an economic nature are priority for 34% of communities and the issue of the social nature – of 28% of comminities. In Ternopil region, as in one of the leaders in decentralization reform, 78% of community leaders consider high-quality water supply to be much more important than availability of cooperative or lighting of the streets. The most actual in regional communities are issues concerning sorting and utilization of wastes, lack of treatment facilities and an outdated drainage system.The article proposes amendments to the Article 19 of the Law of Ukraine «On Environmental Protection», regarding the extension of powers of village, settlement, city councils as well as associated territorial communities in the field of Environmental protection. The necessity of introduction the position of ecologist responsible for improvement, ecology and sustainable development of the community is substantiated. His duties are the following: monitoring of components of the environment; struggle with the illegal landfills, regulation of processes of economical nature management; optimization of land use; control of rational water use, preparation of a submission for the creation of new protected objects of local importance; creation of recreational and green zones.

The approaches to the formation of econet relations in Ukraine in the context of the Pan-European strategy for the preservation of biotic and landscape diversity are considered. The basic contradictions in the system of econet relations are highlighted. The essence of the eco-network approach is highlighted on the basis of the materials of the national and regional econet. The polystructurality of econet is noted, their environmental, nature-supporting, and recreational subsystems are analyzed. The identification of the basic elements of the econet should take place against the background of landscape zoning schemes of the territory, so that the natural systems of each landscape region are represented by at least one key territory. Created systems of computer-cartographic models of the Podillya econet and its components; algorithms for multivariate analysis of the NRO and the design of environmental systems of the Podillia region, in which the spatial boundaries of 41 key territories are justified, which will represent the biotic and landscape diversity of 33 landscape areas, areas of connecting territories and their buffer zones. 24 key areas represent landscapes of the zone of deciduous forests; 15 - landscapes of the forest-steppe zone and 2 key territories are confined to the zone of mixed forests. The peculiarities of the eco-network include its complexity and polystructurality with basic nature conservation, nature support and recreational subsystems with a differentiated regime of nature management of the main elements. In accordance with the principle of landscape polystructurality, within the territory, it is possible to distinguish landscape territorial structures (LTS) of various types, depending on the structure-forming relations, taken as the basis of this integration. From an environmental point of view, the biocentric-network landscape structure forms the relationship between the areas of natural vegetation (biocenter) and their anthropogenized environment. At the same time, the territorial confinement of biocenters, their compliance with the optimal sizes, functional features, the nature and directions of interrelationships to ensure sustainable functioning were analyzed. A complex combination of different-ranked network elements forms spatial polyfunctional storage systems for biotic and landscape diversity. Within the framework of these systems, several types of eco-transforming nodes (EFN) are distinguished: (EFNnl) at the national level, (EFNrl) at the regional level, (EFNll) at the local level. The created schematic map of the biocentric network LTS demonstrates that its elements do not completely cover the territory of the landscape, but form the natural frame of the territory, significantly reduces the probability of population degradation, and reduces the dependence on sharp edaphic changes in individual biocenters. This framework is the basis of the environmental protection and nature-supporting system of the region. Key words: eco-network approach, Podillia region, regional eco-network, biocentric-network structure, environmental system.