Urban Protected Areas: Real Protection or Formal Creation

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify the expediency and validity of creating a certain category of Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) in the specific conditions of the urban environment in accordance with the functions and criteria established by the current legislation of Ukraine on the example of Partyzans’ka Slava Regional Landscape Park (RLP) in Kyiv. To achieve this goal, the peculiarities of urban protected areas creation in accordance with the criteria and tasks established are considered. Materials and methods. The following research algorithm is applied to determine the conformity of the Partyzans’ka slava RLP (henceforth: Park) territory to the requirements, according to legislative and regulatory documents. A Digital Elevation Model had been developed and after its filtering, a hypsometric map was constructed. Based on the obtained relief morphometric parameters, collected information, analysis of satellite images and field studies, using the GIS software packages, a landscape structure map of the RLP territory was been created. Main research results. A significant inconsistency of the RLP functioning with the existing requirements and its actual transformation into an ordinary shopping and entertainment complex is revealed. The fulfilment of the main functions of the Park for 25 years from the moment of granting the status of a nature conservation institution of local importance is analysed. Unsatisfactory implementation of the legal objectives of RLP creation, including huge disproportions in the allocation of functional zones is established. Unreasonable Park zoning leads, among other things, to illegal construction, land grabbing and deforestation throughout its territory. In addition, the actual absence of a reserved functional zone in no way contributes to the Park’s fulfilment of its tasks as an institution of the NRF of Ukraine. For a quarter of a century, no special administration has been established in the Park. That means that the RLP does not have a statutory management body. As a result of a governing body absence, Project for its territory organization is not updated and approved in the Park. The species diversity of flora and fauna of the Park turned out to be quite poor. Also, none of the typical and rare plant groups included in the Green Book of Ukraine has been discovered on the Park territory. Due to insufficient provision of the conditions for the population organized rest, uncontrolled recreation violated the integrity of the soil and vegetation, and the whole territory of the RLP is heavily littered. Based on the revealed problems of the RLP functioning, a weak perception of the Park status by the society is substantiated, which contributes to the further degradation of natural complexes and makes it inappropriate to keep its territory as a nature protected institution of the NRF of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the study is to carry out landscape analysis and to create a map of the Park territory landscape structure for the first time. The analysis of this map allows refuting the idea of high landscape value within the Park. Practical value. Considering that none of the legal functions of the RLP has been performed for a long time, it is proposed to improve the management quality of this protected area by integrating it into the urban infrastructure. It is justified to review the Park’s conservation status and its transfer from the category of NRF institution to a regular urban culture and recreation park with increased access for visitors in order to ensure their daily contact with nature. At the same time, valuable natural objects, in particular centenary trees, must be preserved and protected. According to the concept of nature and the city organic unity, such a park will contribute to the creation of an urbanized space that is comfortable for residents and safe for the environment.