Smetana S.M.

Econetworks have become one of the main policies for nature preservation for the past two decades. Different programs of Pan-European Network have been proven to be successful (ECONET, PEEN, EMERALD). Scientists from Europe and the whole world developed methodological part of nature core, ecocorridors, buffer zones and sustainable territories development. Ukraine has accepted the tendency, created and set to use two main laws, and a few govermental programs.

Formation of National Econetwork of Ukraine met a few serious obstacles as land territories required for the ecological network (EN) belong to private owners, lack of original nature territories, undeveloped criteria of sites selection etc. Industrial regions are not an exception. E.g. we use Kryviy Rih Region, which occupies an area over 1150 km2, including 350 km2 under the mining. Mining development changed substantially the natural relief. The chain of quarries and dumps stretches along the iron-ore deposit on its east side. 11 large quarries of mining companies occupy 50 km2. The area of each is about 4-8 km2, and the depth is 320-340 m. Besides, there are over 100 smaller quarries. They occupy over 30 km2. The area of each is 0,1 - 0,6 km2, and the depth is 150 m.

The natural features of Ukraine territory and its economic background in many cases and in a great degree complicate ecological network formation in industrial regions. One of the main features is a low general forest cover of Kryvbass territory - 4,5 %, that accounts for the extraordinary value of all the artificial and natural forests within the region. Another problem there are a lot of agricultural lands, the agricultural use of steppe territories comes to 90 %. Other characteristics of the region: high concentration of industrial objects followed by a high concentration of population, considerable biodiversity fragmentation with a developed infrastructure. Postindustrial landscapes are often left without any remediation done. All the above mentioned features almost destroy the idea of Econetwork formation within the industrial region.

We found the way to increase biodiversity protection territories, utilise industrial, agricultural and communal organic wastes, and decrease environmental impact of industrial areas at the same time. Our first thesis: industrial and postindustrial landscapes are the source of reliefe diversity and therefore the basis for landscape variability for the steppe plain territories. Today mining landscapes need to be recultivated after the extraction (relief must be smoothed, slopes covered with terraces, all surfaces covered with clay or organic soil). It happens in 15-20 years after the distraction of the surfaces. Such a long period lets vegetation cover be formed – various relief forms (quarries, open mines, falls, waste banks, tailing ponds etc.) created a great amount of microhabitats, which are used by biota. Tree plantations become the object of CO2 absorption. So, first conclusion – no smoothing of postindustrial relief landscapes and distraction of already formed simple communities.

Scientists of Institute of Nature Management Problems and Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine proved the possibility of postindustrial landscapes use for the needs of nature preservation and econetwork formation uniting all of them in ecocorridors. As examples we created landscape reservations “Bogdanovskiy” and “Vershina” in 1998, “Vizirka” in 2001, two more are being formed now. Creation of landscapes reservations on mining territories has certain advantages: community gets access to the “green” recreation territories, industry pays not fees for use to the government, but uses money for site designning and support, scientists may do the research as well as biota may use hard access territories for living and migrations, educators get territories for ecological, environmental, geological, biological field trips etc.

Post mining landscape reservior creation is possible due to creation of ecosystem development activisation methods. Four main methods were proposed by the scientists of the Institute. We applied layers of industrial, communal and agricultural organic wastes on the surfaces of plain, teraces and slope territories and compared plants development on different sites. Another tool we used was seeds selection and their use together with organic substances distribution. Selection of suitable vegetation seeds was performed during more than 10 years. Third method – condenced water use. Most of the areas are composed of non-toxic quartzite stones, schists, shale stones, clayish material, sandstones, limestones etc. All the diversity of surface rock material let us set 4 areas, where vegetation gained additional condenced water through warming and colling effect of rock material. The last method we used – landscape planning through relief diversity increasement. We developed a few ecological classifications of industrial landscapes, which let us select landscape features most suitable for great biodiversity development and on the other hand determine which plants and animals could be introduced into the habitat.

The result of our project must be Ingulets Ecocorridor (situated along the river Ingulets which run from North to South in central and south part of Ukraine) with the length more than 200 km and must consist of more than 20 postindustrial landscapes such as quarries, waste banks, open mines and landfalls. It is a supporting corridor for the main – Dnipro River National Ecocorridor. First of all it becomes the salvation of recycling plants organic waste utilization. Even though the wastes often contain heavy metals – they are dissolved in water and mixed with plant seeds. Afterwards devastated lands are covered with dissolved wastes in amount which do not exceed Clark number of heavy metals for the region. Such a territory (more than 4 000 hectares) will have exceptional opportunities for recreational and green tourism. For example during one hour in summer one site (“Vizirka reservation”) is visited by 100-160 people. Universities (Kryvyi Rih Technical and Pedagogic) organize field trips and field internships for future ecologists, botanists, zoologists, teachers etc.

Therefore ecocorridors in industrial regions may be created via use of postindustrial landscapes. Improvement of environmental situation, educational opportunities, recreational and tourism potential opens new objectives for industrial regions sustainable development.