Geological heritage as an integral part of the Nature Reserve Lands of Kharkiv oblast

Abstract

The paper looks at the structural tectonic location of Kharkiv oblast, its geological and geomorphological structure, which form the underlying features of nature’s variety and beauty, the development of the Nature Reserve Lands (NRL) of the region, the rich potential of the region’s natural complexes and objects, which have conservation, scientific, aesthetic, recreational and other values. It is shown that Kharkiv oblast, despite having a smaller area under the NRL than most other oblasts of Ukraine, has in fact great prospects for expansion in this respect, and also for improving the structure of the qualitative and quantitative distribution of Nature Reserve Lands objects. We analyzed the results of implementing the programme of forming an ecological network for the oblast and we emphasize the integral connection of biological and geological diversity. The protection of both the biological and geological elements is the path to stable development. We determined the historical preconditions for the necessity of preserving both inanimate nature and wildlife, beginning with the establishment in 1910 of the Khortytske Society for Nature Protection, the first such organization in Russia, to Ukraine’s joining the European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage (ProGEO) in 1997. We evaluated the existing potential of the objects of geological heritage, had they been included in the NRL, the level of protection would have been extended and improved. For the first time, we provide a listing of the geological monuments of Kharkiv oblast, taking maximum account of the results of a revision of research, which was conducted in 2003-2004; and further monitoring and research, which was conducted in different years by scientists of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University for compiling a list of the geological heritage of the region. We identified the objects of geological heritage which have lost their significance as valuable objects of geological heritage due to natural and technological factors and thus should be excluded from the register. We determined the most valuable geosites, worthy of being included in the General European Register of Geological Heritage according to the criteria developed for the international project GEOSITES.Key words: geosite, geodiversity, ecological network, monitoring, geology