Structural and functional analysis of the network of protected areas of the Vinnytsia region as the basis of a regional ecological network

INTRODUCTION

Due to its advantageous geographical location, high soil fertility, and protection from sharp fluctuations in weather conditions, Ukraine is characterized by a high rate of biological diversity. In addition, its territory abounds in a rich variety of landscapes and natural habitats of species (Popovich, 2007). However, over the years of economic and technological pressure on these territories, a  decrease in the  quantity and quality of natural landscapes has been observed (Kucher et al., 2018). Degradation and destruction of the natural habitats of populations, as well as hunting and direct extermination of species cause irretrievable losses of a significant part of biodiversity of Ukraine, while another part is currently facing the  threat of extinction (Miller, 1994; Mudrak et al., 2018).

A trend towards a decrease in biodiversity is observed, both at the national and regional levels. The specificity of this phenomenon for the Vinnytsia region is the hyperfunction of agricultural activity, which leads to the degradation of the composition and structure of soils and, consequently, ecosystems. The  biodiversity of typical meadow and steppe ecosystems, pastures located in the valleys of water bodies outside the coastal protective bands, is threatened because of forest planting without appropriate justification (DAIDENR, 2018).

The structure of ecological network of the Vinnytsia region is based on protected areas and objects. The structural and functional analysis of the reserve network of Eastern Podillia consists in the analysis of the geographical position and functionality of its facilities and is aimed at the formation and optimization of a functional, representative ecological network capable of preserving the typical biodiversity of the region (Andrienko, 1998; Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2001; Mudrak, 2015).

Based on this, the aim of the research is to study the spatial structure of the ecological network for functional completeness and the effectiveness of ensuring the conservation of biodiversity. The object of the study is the network structure of protected areas of the  Vinnytsia region, as the basis of a regional ecological network. The subject of the research is territories and objects of the nature reserve fund of Vinnytsia region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials: structural elements of the  framework of a  regional ecological network (key territories, or natural nuclei; ecological corridors, buffer zones, and renaturalization zones). The data from the register of the Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) of the  Vinnytsia region, data from the  Vinnytsia regional department of agro-industrial development of ecology and natural resources, and guidelines for the  development of Regional Ecological Network (REN) schemes were used for the research (Popovich, 2007).

Research methods: structural and functional analysis of the network of the protected areas of the  Vinnytsia region was carried out with the help of the data collected from a literature review, landscape-ecological and general field studies (Ovchinnikova, 2018). The dynamics of the formation of the NRF network and the distribution of protected objects by administrative regions were studied with the help of statistical and comparative analysis of data. The data were collected by the Department of Agro-Industrial Development, Ecology and Natural Resources in the  Vinnytsia region (DAIDENDR) and NRF (Register of Objects of the Nature Reserve Fund). The influence of the structure and distribution of the NRF territories on the formation and viable ways of optimizing the REN of the  Vinnytsia region were studied using analytical, descriptive, and retrospective methods of analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The data collected by the Department of Agro-Industrial Development, Ecology and Natural Resources in Vinnytsia region shows that the modern NRF of Eastern Podillia (the last update of 3 March 2019) included 439 (virtually 425) objects and territories of protection. Their total area covers 66730.48 hectares, which is 2.52% of the total area of the Vinnytsia region (Table 1) (Ovchinnikova, 2019).

The basis of the  NRF is the  objects of protection of biotopes, species, and landscapes: one national nature park (NNP) (20203.4  ha)  –  35.53% of the  total area of the NRF; four – regional landscape parks (RLP) (18468.38  ha)  –  32.48%; 157 reserves (wildlife sanctuary) (25,204.18  ha)  –  44.32%; 194 natural monuments (1,071.32  ha)  –  1.88%; 29 protected areas (951.4  ha)  –  1.67%; one arboretum (10  ha)  –  0.018%; 39 park-monuments of landscape-gardening art (PMLG) (821.8  ha)  –  1.45%. Biosphere reserves (BR) and nature reserves (NR) are not registered.

Among the  nature reserves that are part of the  NRF of the  region, the  area is dominated by botanical ones (with a  total area of 13,190.05 ha); general ecological and landscape reserves have close values (4722 ha and 4583 ha, respectively), and hydrological and forest reserves (1442.06 ha) occupy a much smaller area and 368.7 ha, respectively) (Mudrak et al., 2015; Ovchinnikova, 2019).

Over the past 40 years, the reserve indicator has been increased from 0.17% to 2.52% (Table 1)

Table 1. The dynamics of the NRF of Eastern Podillia

The  indicator of the  level of conservation of the region does not reflect the real state of the  ecological network. Due to the  state cadastre of territories and objects of the NRF of Ukraine (2017), a significant proportion of this indicator is achieved due to individual protected areas (Table 2).

The  data collected by the  Department of Agro-Industrial Development, Ecology and Natural Resources in Vinnytsia region show that of the total number of territories and objects of the  NRF of the  region, 80.24% (341 objects) with an area of up to 50 hectares have the island character and do not fully ensure the conservation of biodiversity (Table 3) (Ovchinnikova, 2019).

Table 2. Distribution of protected objects by administrative regions of Eastern Podillia (as of 3 May 2019)

Table 3. Functional and spatial analysis of the NRF of Eastern Podillia by area (as of 3 May 2019)

NNP – national nature parks, RLP – regional landscape park, NM – natural monuments, PA – protected areas, PMLGA – park-monuments of landscape-gardening art.

Among 27 administrative districts, the level of conservation of the  territory (the  share of the NRF of the total area of the district) is:

a) critical – up to 1% (12 districts, 44.4% of the total);

b) very poor – from 1.01% to 2% (seven districts, 25.9% of the total);

c) bad – from 2.01% to 3% (three districts, 11.1% of the total);

d) very low – from 3.01% to 4% (two districts, 7.4% of the total);

e) low  –  from 4.01% to 5% (one district, 3.7% of the total);

f) satisfactory – from 5.01% to 8% (one district 3.7% of the total);

g) good – over 8.01% (one district, 3.7% of the total).

Distribution by the  number of protected sites (DAIDENDR, 2019; Ovchinnikova, 2019):

a) up to ten protected sites (eight districts, 29.6% of the total);

b) 10–15 protected sites (12 districts, 44.4% of the total);

c) 16–20 protected sites (one district, 3.7% of the total);

d) 21–25 protected sites (one district, 3.7% of the total);

e) 26–30 protected sites (two districts, 7.4% of the total);

f) 31–35 protected sites (two districts, 7.4% of the total);

g) 35 and more protected sites (one district, 3.7% of the total).

Distribution of NRF objects by area (Ovchinnikova, 2019; NRF, 2019):

a) up to 1 ha – 149 protected sites (36.8% of the total);

b) 1–5 ha – 64 objects (15.8%);

c) 5.1–10 ha – 35 objects (8.6%);

d) 10.1–25 ha – 47 objects (11.6%);

e) 25.1–50 ha – 38 objects (9.4%);

f) 50.1–100.0 ha – 26 objects (6.4%);

g) 100.1–250.0 ha – 22 objects (5.4%);

j) 250.1–500.0 ha – nine objects (2.2%);

k) 500.1–1000.0 ha – five objects (1.2%);

m) 1000.1–2500.0 ha – three objects (0.7%);

m) 2500.1–5000.0 ha – four facilities (0.9%);

o) 5000.1–10000.0 ha – one object (0.24%);

p) 10000.1–25000.0 – one object (0.24% of the total).

The  results of the  World Watch Institute (Washington) indicate that to maintain the  proper functioning of ecosystems and landscape complexes, the  area of “wild”, undamaged sites within region should be at least 10–12% of the total area, and the optimal area of protected sites 20%, while the  reserve indicator for Vinnytsia region is 2.5% (Ovchinnikova, 2019).

There are no protected objects of multifunctional significance with a strict nature reserve regime in the territory of the Vinnytsia region. The share of protected sites of a multifunctional purpose (NNP, RLP) is insufficient to ensure the  conservation of species diversity. There is a  small proportion of protected sites with an area of over 500 ha (14 sites – 3.4% of the total), which would serve as a biocentre of a regional ecological network.

The structure of the regional ecological network contains a large number of small protected objects (333) with an area of up to 50 ha – 82.4% of the total. They have a localized island character and cannot fully ensure the conservation of genetic and landscape diversity.

Furthermore, there are significant imbalances in the functional structure, quantity, area of the nature reserves and territories of the administrative areas. The largest number of nature reserves and territories are localized in Vinnytsia (45), Mogilev-Podolsky (33), Teplitsky (31), Trostyanetsky (30) districts, and the smallest in Kalinovsky – 5 (0.04% of the reserve), Oratovsky 6 (0.3%), and Lipovetsky 6 (0.02%).

CONCLUSIONS

At the current stage of development, the ecological network of the  Vinnytsia region has an insufficient level of conservation to ensure normal functioning of ecosystems and landscape complexes. The  majority of the  27 administrative-territorial districts have a critical, very poor or poor, level of preservation. Most of the  NRF objects are insular and therefore they are unable to perform the function of bio-centres protecting unique species and habitats from anthropogenic interference.

Analysis of the spatial and functional structure of the  region’s ecological network showed the  need for its revision and creation of new zoological and landscape reserves in order to increase the level of conservation and improve the functional efficiency of the network (the ability to preserve genetic and landscape diversity). While forming the ecological network of Vinnytsia region, it is necessary to pay more attention to providing multifunctionality to its elements and avoiding the creation of island objects.

References

Tetiana Kucher, Yulia Ovchinnikova

VINICOS REGIONO (UKRAINA) SAUGOMŲ TERITORIJŲ TINKLO STRUKTŪRINĖ IR FUNKCINĖ ANALIZĖ KAIP REGIONINIO EKOLOGINIO TINKLO PAGRINDAS