Spinova Y. Sozological assessment of the ecological network’s biotopes on the example of the “Kreidova flora” Ukrainian steppe nature reserve branch

The dissertation is regarding the classification, assessment of sozological value and risks of biotope loss of the branch of the Ukrainian Steppe Nature Reserve "Kreidova flora", which is a unique territory of the Nature Reserve Fund. It is located in the administrative district of Donetsk region, which has the highest conservation 24 rate in the region and belongs to the Raigorodska regional key territory and the Sіversko-Donetsk meridional ecological corridor of the national level. The steppe zone of Ukraine in general, and the territory of Donetsk region in particular, is characterized by excessive agricultural development and excessive anthropogenic load. This is the reason for the high fragmentation of natural ecosystems, so it is here that the conservation of biodiversity through eco-networks is both a crucial and a complex task. The results of the nature reserve fund analysis and assessment of the adequacy of the ecological network of Donetsk region confirm the high degree of biodiversity and richness of natural conditions, high level of endemism and rarity of flora and unreasonably low percentage of protected areas – 3.8% compared to 7.3% average in Ukraine. The development of effective methods for the conservation of biological and landscape diversity with eco-networks, as well as management plans for protected areas is impossible without an inventory and assessment of the ecosystems state. That is why comprehensive studies of habitats and spatial distribution of natural ecosystems, which would allow effective methods and measures for their conservation, are extremely relevant. Analysis of the state of ecological networks from the local to the European level in Ukraine showed that the main problems of their formation and management are: lack of data on species and habitats; disproportionate distribution of protected areas; high level of fragmentation of territories; uncontrolled impact of climate change, as well as ignorance of communities about protected areas.