Kovalchuk S. Classification and monitoring of Wetlands of Economic Significance According to Abiotic and Biotic Signs (Shatsk National Nature Park as an example)

The thesis analyses theoretical works on wetlands of economic significance research. On the base of carried out research there were suggested methods of approach to the studies of the problem of classification, monitoring and estimation of the state of wetlands of economic significance as for the complex of abiotic and biotic identifying indices. Quantitative estimation of indices which characterize soil hydrological conditions and species structure of vegetative cover in wetlands was carried out. Soil conditions of wetlands were estimated as for the types of soils, acidity and the contents of heavy metals (copper, zink, lead and cadmium), hydrological ones were estimated according to average annual levels of soil waters and the quality of surface waters of water objects as for classes, categories, their natural state and stage of their purity. Botanical conditions of wetlands were estimated according to the dominants of vegetative cover and rare species of flora. On the base of these data on the territory of Shatsk National Nature Park there were discovered natural and artificial types of wetlands vegetation and there was worked out the system of their classification and monitoring. The system of wetlands envisages the formation, of subtypes, classes, subclasses and when it is needed, groups and subgroups. The system of monitoring includes blocks of observation of the state of wetlands, estimation of their actual state, prognostication of the state, evaluation of prognosticating state, management of the state and functioning. It is recommended to realize the system of monitoring of wetlands by the way of wetlands by the way of holding background (once in 5 years) and crisis monitoring (annually) on separate classes to control indices that exceed standards. There was established ecologically permissible spaciousness of Shatsk National Nature Park which makes 20733 persons a year, including the zone of controlled recreation – 18669 persons and 2064 persons in the zone of stationary one. To get acquainted with wetlands the schemes of ecological routes were worked out: a small circle and a big circle.