Natural resources

The most advanced form of nature conservation is the creation of protected areas and objects. They provide favourable conditions for the protection of the gene pool of flora and fauna species and natural ecosystems. Another important function of protected areas is their use for recreation and health improvement.

Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia regions.

The Gorgany Nature Reserve (https://gorgany-zapovidnyk.in.ua) is a nature reserve created to preserve the mountainous landscapes of the central part of the Ukrainian Carpathians in their natural state, conduct scientific research and environmental education. The reserve is located in the most inaccessible highland and rocky part of the Gorgany Mountains – the Dovbushanski Gorgany. Its peaks and upper parts of the slopes are covered with rocky placers formed by the Yamnenska sandstone. Such placers are locally called “gorgany”. The reserve has a dense river network. About 30 mountain rivers originate here, which are tributaries of the Bystrytsia Nadvirna River. The uniqueness of the Reserve’s vegetation cover lies in the fact that it has been preserved in a natural, almost untouched state on most of its territory, and the peculiarity and diversity of landscape conditions have contributed to the formation of a rich species composition of plants, including a significant number of rare, relict and endemic ones. In the upper part of the spruce forests, the European cedar pine, a relic of the Early Holocene, is widespread. The Reserve’s flora includes 451 species of vascular plants and 235 species of mosses. The fauna of vertebrates in the reserve includes 149 species. The red deer, roe deer, wild boar, hare, and common squirrel are common in the reserve.

Carpathian National Nature Park (https://karpatskyi-park.in.ua) – the park was established to preserve the mountain, valley and riverine natural complexes typical of Chornohora and Gorgany, valuable historical, architectural and ethnographic monuments, to conduct scientific research in the field of environmental protection, to create conditions for recreation and health improvement, to promote environmental knowledge and environmental education. The park is located in the upper part of the Prut River basin and in the middle part of the Black Cheremosh River basin. The majority of the territory is covered with beech, spruce, fir and mixed forests, with occasional birch and pine forests. The park has 48 tourist routes, a network of stationary recreational facilities, ecological and scientific routes, a well-developed rural green tourism infrastructure, and a number of stationary recreation facilities (sanatoriums, health resorts, health camps, etc.).

The Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park (https://hutsulshchyna-park.in.ua) is a national park designed to preserve, restore and rationally use genetic resources of flora and fauna, unique natural complexes and ethno-cultural environment of the Pokuttia-Bukovyna Carpathians. One of the greatest assets of the Hutsulshchyna National Park is its forests. In its lowland part, deciduous forests prevail, mostly oak. In addition to oaks, beech and hornbeam grow in the lower tree layer, and ash, birch, and elm in more humid habitats. More than 1000 species of higher plants grow on the territory of the park, including many rare, endangered and endemic ones. The fauna of the park is also diverse. It includes brown bear, Carpathian deer and other species. The park has a well-developed tourist and recreational infrastructure, with many recreation centres, resorts and sanatoriums. The park is lined with ecological educational trails, and equestrian tourism, rural green tourism, ethnotourism, and ski tourism are intensively developing.

Galician National Nature Park (https://wownature.in.ua/halytskyy-natsionalnyy-pryrodnyy-park, https://www.halychpark.if.ua) – the park was created to preserve, restore and rationally use typical and unique forest and forest-steppe natural complexes of the Precarpathian region. The park’s territory is located along the Dniester River and the lower reaches of its tributaries – the Limnytsia, Lukva, and Hnyla Lypa Rivers. The park territory includes forest tracts, wetlands, areas with valuable communities of meadow-steppe vegetation, and geological formations. The territory is home to about 5,000 species of animals and 700 species of higher vascular plants. The Galician National Nature Park is rich in priceless historical and cultural monuments and has a high recreational potential, with all the prerequisites for the development of water tourism on the Dniester and Limnytsia rivers.

Synyohora National Nature Park (https://synyogora-park.in.ua) – the park was created to preserve, restore and rationally use typical and unique natural complexes of the Carpathian region, which are of important environmental, scientific, aesthetic, recreational and healthcare importance.

Verkhovynskyi National Nature Park (https://verkhovynskyi-park.in.ua) – the park was created to study natural processes, ensure constant monitoring of ecosystem changes, and develop scientific foundations for the protection, reproduction and use of natural resources and particularly valuable objects. The park covers the southern and central parts of the Chyvchyn Mountains. This is the only area in the Ukrainian Carpathians where the oldest metamorphic formations are exposed, covered by the Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary cover. Due to the considerable remoteness from settlements and difficult accessibility, the highland wildlife islands of the Ukrainian Carpathians and examples of traditional mountain economy culture, which are the national wealth of Ukraine, have survived in their original state, and many natural complexes and objects of special environmental, health, historical, cultural, scientific, educational and aesthetic value have been preserved. Here you can see brown bear, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, wolf, forest cat, fox, marten, otter, spotted salamander, golden eagle, grouse, and black grouse in the wild.

The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (https://kbz.in.ua) is one of the largest nature conservation sites in Ukraine. It covers an area of 66417.4 hectares. The highest peak in Ukraine (Mount Hoverla, 2061 m), the legendary Blyznytsi, alpine lakes, the geographical centre of Europe, the Narcissus Valley, world-famous beech forests included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the largest karst cave in the Ukrainian Carpathians, Druzhba, are just part of its territory. The entire landscape and biological diversity of the Ukrainian Carpathians is represented here – from the foothills to subalpine and alpine meadows (180 – 2061 m above sea level). The reserve is located within Rakhiv, Tyachiv, Khust and Berehove districts of Zakarpattia region and consists of 8 territorially isolated massifs: Svydovets, Chornohora, Kuziy-Tribushansky, Marmarosh, Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhansky, Narcissus Valley, as well as two botanical reserves of national importance – Chorna Hora and Yuliyivska Hora. The territory is divided into four functional zones: protected, buffer, anthropogenic landscapes and regulated nature reserve.

To learn more about other natural heritage sites along the Carpathian Cultural Route, please visit the Ivano-Frankivsk Region Tourist website at the following link: https://iftourism.com/places/tag/natural-heritage?page=1 

Maramures County.

In Maramures County, according to the classification adopted in Romania, we find all classes and types of protected areas.

Scientific reserves – Maramures County has 3 territories: Pietrosul Rodnei; the mineral reserve in Chiuzbaia and Petra Ri. Scientific reserves are nature protection areas that aim to protect and preserve the natural environment of land and/or water, everything of scientific interest – representatives of flora and fauna, geological processes, speleological resources, paleontological finds, soil, etc.

National parks – The Rodna Mountains National Park covers an area of 47,227 hectares. Part of the national park, the Pietrosul Rodnei Biosphere Reserve (since 1979) owes its importance and significance to the geology and geomorphology of these mountains, as well as the presence of many species of flora and fauna, endemics and relics of the Ice Age. The main purpose for which the park was created is to preserve the environment, wild flora and fauna, and biodiversity. Endemic wild plants such as chamois and marmots are the main protected species that flourish here in the centre of a beautiful alpine landscape surrounded by glacial lakes. National parks are protected areas whose purpose is to protect and preserve national representatives of a biogeographical area, including natural species of particular importance in terms of physical geography, flora, fauna, hydrosphere, geology, paleontology, caving, soil science or other characteristics that are conducive to scientific, educational, recreational and tourist visits.

Natural parks – The Maramures Mountains Nature Park, a combined area of 148850 hectares, including 10 special nature conservation areas. Natural parks are protected areas whose purpose is to protect and preserve a landscape ensemble in which the interaction of human activity and nature over time has created a distinct area of significant landscape and/or cultural value, often with high biodiversity.

 Natural monuments – Maramures County has 18 natural monuments: Creasta Cocoșului (Rooster Ridge), Iezerul Mare (Big Iezer), Rozeta de piatra de la Ilba (Stone Rosette from  Ilba), Lacul Albastru – Baia Sprie (Blue Lake), Turbăria Iezerul Mare – Muntele Gutâi (peat of the Big Iezer), Cheile Tătarului (Tătarului Gorge), Peștera de la Vălenii Şomcutei (Vălenii Şomcutei Cave), Peștera cu Oase (Cave with a Neanderthal Skull), Stâncariile Sâlhoi Zâmbroslavle (Selhoi Zembroslavle Rocks), Mlaștina Vlăsinescu (Vlăsinescu Swamp), Lacul Dumitru (Dumitra Lake), Cheile Babei (Old Lady’s Gorge), Pestera Boiu Mare (Boiu Mare Cave), Coloanele de la Limpedea (Columns from Limpedea), Pestera din dealul Solovan (Solovan Hill Cave), Mlastina Taul Negru (Black Swamp Lake), Pestera Ponorul Jitelor (Ponorul Jitelor Cave) and Ponorulci Pestera Izei (Ponor and Iza Cave). Natural monuments are protected areas aimed at protecting and preserving natural objects with their values and ecological and scientific significance, specific landscapes represented by plants and rare, endemic and endangered animal species, centuries-old trees, floral associations and fauna, geological phenomena, caves, geological phenomena, gorges, springs, waterfalls and other phenomena or geological formations, minerals and other natural phenomena of unique natural significance and rarity.Nature reserves – There are 12 nature reserves in Maramures County: Pădurea Crăiasa (Crăiasa Forest), Padurea Bavna (Bavna Forest), Rezervatia Arcer-Ţibleș (Arcer-Ţibleș Reserve), Cornu Nedeii Ciungii Bălăsinii , Teiul Morărenilor (Morărenilor Lake), Mlaștina Poiana Brazilor (Poiana Brazilor Swamp), Pădurea de Larice de la Coștiui (Coștiui Larch Forest), Arboretul de Castan Comestibil de la Baia Mare (chestnut reserve in Baia Mare), Defileul Lăpușului (Lapusului River gorge), Padurea Comăia (Comăia Forest), Farcău Vinderelu Mihăilecu, Poiana cu narcise Tomnatec Sehleanu ( harvesting daffodil in Tomnatec Sehleanu). Nature reserves are those protected areas aimed at protecting and preserving the natural environment and important species of flora and fauna, forests, hydrosphere, geological processes, speleological resources, paleontological finds, and soil science.