O. Dedov

Vinnitsia State Pedagogical University named afte Mikhailo Kotsyubinskiy,

Ukraine

Podillia flora as an important resource for ecotourism development

The physiographic features, climate, soil and history of natural development in Podillia Region (present day territory of three regions of Ukraine: Ternopil regin (Western Podillia), Khmelnitsk region (Central Podillia) and Vinnitsia region (Eastern Podillia), were the reasons for formation of the unique and rich in species vegetation cover. Due to the location in broad-leaved, mixed woods zones and steppe (European broad-leaved and Euroasian steppe geobotanical zones) the representatives of taiga, broad-leaved forests, steppes and mediterraneans can be found in this region. In addition to this, the territory, not covered by the glacier during the last climatic cooling, was a kind of refuge for plants and due to this the relict and the endemic types of plants were saved and grow there even nowadays. However, the anthropogenic effect on the surrounding (mostly negative) has led to degradation of vegetative groups, decrease in species variety, and as a result turned the question of their protection and preservation to a very important one. On the current Podillia territory a number of species listed in Red Book of Ukraine, appendixes to Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, appendixes to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES) and endangered-species list of particular regions were taken under protection [2, 3, 4](table 1.).

As a result 1500 objects of natural-reserved fund were created on the territory of the region, the total area of which is nearly 494832, 7 ha (8,1 % of the total region’s area) and, in fact, it’s larger than on the whole territory of Ukraine (5,1%). Among them we can single out 5 national nature parks (“Krеmеnеts mountains”, “Dnistrovskyi canyon”, “Podilski Tovtry”, “Karmaluik’s Podilia” and

Table 1.

Number of species under protection in Podillia region

	Western Podillia	Central Podillia	Eastern Podillia
Total number of species on Podillia territory	1110	1700	1210
Percentage to total number of plants in Ukraine	2,2	3,4	2,4
Flora species, listed in Red Book of Ukraine	118	116	122
Flora species, listed in appendix to Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats	12	7	48
Flora species listed in appendix in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna – CITES	33	3	65

“Small Polissya“), 6 landscape parks, 420 zakazniks, 870 natural monuments, 5 botanic gardens and other conservation arias. Three national nature parks “Uhher Pobuzhya” “Podilske Pobuzhya” and “Podilsko-Dnistrovskyi” are to be setup.

However, as a result of imperfect nature conservation laws, poor governance and lack of state funding they cannot be used to the fullest extent. In terms of unstable economic and financial situation development of ecotourism turned out to be a rational and potation way out.

Ecotourism is a relatively new phenomenon in tourism industry. The author of this specific way of tourism, a Mexican ecologist and tourism expert Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, defines ecotourism as: “travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestation (both past and present) found in these areas”[1, р.14].

The introduction of protected areas of Podillia as a base of ecotourism will lead to more optimized relations between nature and society and preservation of flora species. In addition to that, the development of green, extreme and speleological tourisms will be the impulse for infrastructure development, increasing demand for specialists in this sphere and regional budget recharge. Experience of many foreign countries can be prove this. In Podillia region, a region with a great natural base, it should be applied.

Literarture:

1. Ceballos – Lascurian, Hector. The future of ecotourism. Mexico Journal: 1987, January 17. pp. 13-14.

2. Доповідь про стан навколишнього природного середовища у Вінницькій області (2012 рік) . – Вінниця : Державне управління охорони навколишнього природного середовища у Вінницькій області, 2013.– С. 79.

3. Регіональна доповідь про стан навколишнього середовища в Тернопільській області. – Тернопіль: Департамент екології та природних ресурсів ОДА, 2013. – С.49.

4. Стан навколишнього середовища Хмельницької області у 2012 році. Хмельницький: Департамент екології та природних ресурсів ОДА, 2013. – С. 41-48.