Ecology, coenotic heterogeneity of the forest beech formation in Ukraine and the protection of pristine ecosystems

Abstract

In Ukraine, in the humid climate of the Carpathians, there are optimal environmental conditions for the growth of beech forests, while in the Podillia region - on the Eastern European border of the range in a drier climate - they are distributed only locally. An ecological assessment is given of the physiographic regions of the Carpathians, Roztochya, Opillia, Podillia, in which monodominant and mixed beech forests are common, as well as their phytocoenotic diversity was determined. A list of natural beech forest tracts in the Carpathians is given, which is included in the UNESCO List of World Natural Heritage. Scientifically-natural and eco-model silvicultural significance of beech- and other pristine ecosystems is substantiated. It is noted that virgin phytocoenoses have a model value for substantiating the system of forest cultivation that are close in their coenotic structure to natural ecosystems and selection system of forest use. Such a system eliminates the contradictions between the ecological requirements for maintaining forest sustainability and the economic needs of using forest resources. It is emphasized that pristine ecosystems are marked by biological diversity. From their localities, migration of native species of flora and fauna into transformed adjacent forests and meadows is possible, which will help to improve their coenotic stability. In pristine phytocenoses a wealth of information is accumulated about the spontaneous development of forests, their natural age and coenotic structure. Therefore, forests are essential for the study of forest-forming processes and the functioning of ecologically stable ecosystems. In the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, in the National Natural Parks “Zacharovanyi krai” ("Enchanted land") and "Uzhansky" all the phytocenotic diversity of mono-dominant and poly-dominant beech forests of Western Europe is presented. They are of great importance for substantiating the ecological basis for regeneration of beech forests and for forest management on a natural basis. It is necessary to pay due attention to their preservation, research and implementation of the results to improve the ecological condition of the forests of the beech formation. On the territory of the Ugolsko-Shyrokoluzhansky protected massif of the Carpathian biosphere reserve and the Uzhansky NNP, relict spruce -, sessile oak-, birch phytocoenoses, important for the study of vegetation development in the post Glacial period, have been preserved from the Early and Late Holocene. Beech- and other forests of the ecosystems are essential to support the sustainable development of forests on a natural basis and the improvement of their multi-functional value.

Keywords

• nature conservation
• phytocoenotic diversity
• virgin forest
• conditionally virgin forest
• climax ecosystem