The geographic position, the climate and physiographical setting enhance the richness of flora and fauna of Ukraine, which comprises more than 70,000 species. According to preliminary estimates, ca. 1/3 of species (especially among insects and fungi) still remains undescribed. However, the intensive human influence on biodiversity of Ukraine is apparent. Formation of the present species composition and biodiversity patterns in Ukraine started from the mid-Paleogene and in main features reached its modern state by the mid-Holocene, i.e., 5,000 years ago .
The most floristically rich regions of Ukraine are the Crimean and Carpathian Mountains (2,220 and 2,012 species of vascular plants respectively). The Crimean Mountains are especially rich in endemic taxa (240 to 300 endemics, according to different estimations).
Natural or semi-natural vegetation covers about 29% of Ukraine’s territory and is represented mostly by forests (14.3%), meadows (9.7%), mires (2%), steppes and saline habitats (3%). Almost 1/4 of the species of Ukrainian flora are concentrated in forests (in particular, 15.5% in the broadleaved forests), and ca. 20% – in steppes. Useful plants are also well represented and include medicinal (more than 1000 species), vitamin-producing (200), oil-producing (300), melliferous (more than 1000), tannin- and natural dye-producing (up to 100 species) plants. These taxa are of special interest for economic botany. There are more than 100 species of trees in Ukraine.
Forty-five thousand species of animals inhabit the territory of Ukraine, including the water areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The vertebrates include fish (together with subspecies they number about 170 species), amphibians (17 species), reptiles (21 species), birds (about 400 species), and mammals (about 108 species).
The rest of the species are invertebrates (including 35,000 species of insects). A certain number of species of the animals of Ukraine are endemic and subendemic. The hydrofauna of the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and estuary cenoses includes 32 animalspecies of pontocaspian complex. For Ukraine 12 species of invertebrates are endemic. The peculiar centres of endemism in Ukraine are Carpathian and the Crimea.
Conservation and protected territories
As of 1 January 1999 the Nature Reserve Lands of Ukraine include 6,728 territories and objects of 2,354,200 hectares, which amounts to 3.9% of the area of Ukraine.
For the last 6 years (as compared to 1992) the area of nature reserves has increased by 1,037,400 hectares (78.8%).
The number of objects of the Nature Reserve Lands increased significantly in 1998. Six Decrees adopted by the President of Ukraine announced the establishment of new and expansion of existing territories and objects of national significance. Two nature reserves, the Kazantipskyi (450.1 hectares) and Opukskyi (1,592.3 hectares) in the Autonomous Republic of the Crimea, the Danube biosphere reserve (464,022.9 hectares, based on the Nature Reserve “Dunaiski plavni”) in Odesa Region, and Yavoriv national natural park (7,078.6 hectares) in Lviv Region were established; the territory of the Black Sea biosphere reserve was expanded; and a number of sanctuaries and nature relics were announced as protected. A network of nature reserves was announced. In total the Nature Reserve Lands have increased by 108 territories and objects with a total area of 145,220 hectares during 1998.
A list of valuable nature territories with a total area of 6,388,700 hectares which are reserved for the creation of new and expansion of existing nature reserves and sanctuaries of general national importance during 1998-2005 was approved by a Decree of the President of Ukraine of 24 April 1998.
Transboundary protected areas have been established. The creation of interstate protected areas has become a part of Ukraine’s international activities. The regional landscape parks “Stuzhitsia” (Zakarpatti Region) and “Nadsyanskyi” (Lviv Region), which became a part of the trilateral Polish-Slovakian-Ukrainian biosphere reserve “Skhidni Karpaty” have been included into the international network of biosphere reserves.
Preservation of wetlands, mires and water bodies.
Water bodies and remnants of bogs and mires require special conservational attention. Moreover, Ukraine has already joined the Ramsar Convention (1996) and recognizes the country’s responsibility for conservation of 22 water and wetland areas of international importance (total area 688,000 ha) in accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On measures for strengthening protection of wetland and mire areas of international importance” (1995). Ukraine intends to increase the areas of protected wetlands, mire and aquatic ecosystems.
Information containing descriptions of 22 wetland areas of international significance have been prepared and transferred to the Bureau of the Ramsar Convention. Recognition of the international importance of these areas have been confirmed by issuing special certificates. Thus the procedure of Ukraine joining the legal field of the Ramsar convention has been completed.
Conservation of species.
The measures for protection of species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine are actively implemented. Ukraine also participates in the implementation of the European action plans aimed at protection of 12 of 23 endangered species of birds, according to the provisions of the Bern Convention.
Sectors involved in the use of nature
Use and restoration of forest resources.
Use of forest resources in Ukraine is classified into the so-called general and special use. The general use includes free access of citizens to forests, free of charge use of recreational resources, non-commercial collecting flowers, berries, fruits, mushrooms, etc.
The special use is performed by specialized forest-using bodies and includes all aspects of commercial use of forests, including timber and non-timber resources.
Restoration of forests in Ukraine is performed mostly by creating forest plantations. One half of Ukrainian forests are artificial; the percentage of artificial forests and forest plantations is especially high in the steppe zone (more than 60% of all forests in the region).
At the present stage of development of the Ukrainian society, the forestry practice is shifting from “resource-oriented” towards “biosphere-oriented” approaches.Forest ecosystems are regarded primarily as important components of the biosphere, which are crucial for stabilization and restoration of the natural equilibrium. A permanent solution lies in the sustainable use of forest resources, intensification of forest renovation, and efficient protection of forests. This will require the following measures: expanding forested areas by means of gradual estrangement (reservation) of agricultural lands of low productivity with their subsequent afforestation (in areas where forests grew initially) or formation of meadows (in regions where forests were absent in the past); rational, or even restricted, use of timber and wood in the consumption sphere (to be achieved partly via optimization of the structure of forestry sector).
Medicinal herbs .
Ukraine is very rich in natural resources of valuable plant species, including medicinal herbs. However, the resource potential of numerous valuable species is limited, so identification of potential resources of valuable species and development of principles for their sustainable use are of national significance.
Exhaustion of natural phytoresources of many valuable species growing in Ukraine may be explained by a lack of adequate coordination between the main ministries and other central government bodies responsible for the resources in question, procurement organizations and the pharmacological industry.
The proposals for establishing reservates and preserves with special regimes of use of medicinal plants are being developed. Regimes of such reservates will require limited use of plant resources, as well as research and practical measures aimed at renovation of populations of medicinal plants and establishment of semi-wild plantations. It is especially important for taxa listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, such as Adonis vernalis L., Astragalus dasyanthus Pall., Galanthus nivalis L., species of the genus Pulsatilla Mill., etc., which are very important to the pharmaceutical industry.
Game hunting and measures for protection and restoration of game animals.
Analysis of data on populational dynamics of main game animals during 1991–1998 gives evidence on some stabilization of number of deer and of the largest in the world free-living population of European bison; populations of foxes and hares are growing. As compared to previous years, populations and numbers of game kills of elks and wild hogs declined).
Ukraine traditionally performs a complex of biotechnical measures for stabilization and recovery of populations of game animals (breeding in captivity with subsequent release in new and scarcely populated regions; re-introduction and acclimatization). For example, 75 ungulates and 858 fur-bearing animals, as well as 12,000 game birds (including 7,000 pheasants) were released in 1995. Unfortunately, illegal hunting and fishing (poaching) continues to increase due to such evident reasons as the worsening financial and economical situation of game land users, unsatisfactory material and technical support for nature conservation bodies, and the declining quality of living of an overwhelming majority of the country’s population.
Agriculture.
Agricultural land occupies 72% of the country’s territory, out of which 69% is arable land, including 54.4% of tillage, 0.4% of virgin land, 1.6% of perennial plantations, 3.8% of hayfields and 9.1% of pasturelands.
In comparison with 1997, the area of the arable land decreased by 27,800 hectares, with the area of tillage being reduced by 223,400 hectares, the area of perennial plants by 37,500 hectares, and that of hayfields by 11,500 hectares.
A sizable area – 159,000 hectares is occupied by radioactively contaminated arable lands, which are not used for agricultural production, plus 161,400 hectares of deteriorated land.
In 1998 the process of the land privatization was continued. As of 1 January 1999 the state possessed 48.8% of the total land, collective agricultural enterprises owned 46.0%, and private owners possessed 5.2% of all land.
Fisheries, conservation and restoration of fish resources.
According to the fisheries statistics, a trend towards decline of catches of fish and other marine and freshwater living organisms was observed in 1991–1998. It is caused mainly by degradation of habitats due to pollution of coastal aquatories, decline of water quality and critical levels of freshwater flow to the Black and Azov Seas. Alien marine animals also cause serious problems and threaten native species and ecosystems.
Today the state of the fish industry is first of all determined by the difficult economic situation, which becomes even more complex because of considerable ecological (anthropological) consequences.
One of the main causes of detriment to stocks of natural water resources is a considerable worsening of the water quality.
The quality of water in the main waterway Dnieper with its cascade of reservoirs has deteriorated sharply (coloration, iron and manganese content increased, oxygen content decreased), and specialists forecast that the ecological complications will persist or become worse in the years ahead.