Hrynasiuk A. Attractiveness of Landscapes of Volyn Region

The thesis outlines the place and role of landscapes’ aesthetic characteristics evaluation in complex characteristic of the territory’s recreational potential; it surveys the historical development of landscape aesthetics as a scientific focus area of geography; and provides insight into the major ideas of landscape aesthetics. Theoretical and methodological approaches for the evaluation of the attractiveness of landscapes are systematized. The introduced algorithm of studying and evaluating of the attractiveness of landscapes allows improving and adapting the methodologies for the evaluation of the attractiveness of landscapes according to the peculiarities of Volyn region nature. A combination of objective and subjective approaches is most effective in assessing the landscapes of the Volyn region in order to provide greater reliability of the evaluation results. In this research the major subjective accent is made on the evaluation of landscapes based on the factorial and component structure. This has allowed outlining the components that form landscape environment of the territory under study, as well as it has made it possible to evaluate these components according to certain criteria of attractiveness. Topographic features, irregularities of water bodies, flora and fauna, human activity, historical identity and authenticity, objects and territories under the protection, and relevance of the territory for regeneration are also taken into account. The main point of the methodology for assessing the attractiveness of landscapes in terms of quality is the survey of respondents using questionnaires to document their reaction to the landscape. The analysis of the techniques used in assessing the attractiveness of landscapes has shown that the methodology for assessing the attractiveness of landscapes according to the factorial and component structure is more analytical and objective. It provides not only the assessment of the attractiveness of the landscape, but also details the reasons for such an assessment. The methodology for assessing the quality of the landscapes provides less useful information, but instead it can be used when working with photos, as well as for correction of the results obtained after the assessment of landscapes according to the factorial and component structure. A detailed study of the landscape complexes of Volyn region made it possible to distinguish three types of landscape complexes in Volyn region, including landscape complexes of 12 kinds, which differ in aesthetic-landscape features. As a result of the dissertation research, maps of landscape zonation and aesthetic potential of the territory of Volyn region are created. The methods of protection and preservation of attractive landscapes are proposed, a pattern of recreational and household zonation is made, and practical recommendations for the optimization of tourist and recreational natural resource management in Volyn region are introduced based on the results of the carried out evaluation of landscape attractiveness.