Justification of scientific approaches to the management of the territories of national natural parks in modern conditions

Abstract

Creating nature reserves and objects is an effective way of preserving rare and endangered species of plants and animals and natural complexes that can serve as benchmarks of natural ecosystems for science and practice. Objects of the natural reserve fund, such as national natural parks and nature reserves, are essential elements of the ecological framework of the country, and the issue of effective management of such territories is relevant, especially given the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. The article aims to substantiate the optimal strategies and recommendations for the effective management of national natural parks in Ukraine to ensure their nature protection, research, and educational mission, as well as to promote the development of tourism and improve the population's quality of life. During the analysis of the management of the territories of national natural parks, it was established that it does not meet the requirements of modernity due to an inefficient system of state management, violations of environmental protection legislation, insufficient financing of measures to preserve the nature reserve fund, biological and landscape diversity, weak implementation of recreational potential. It was determined that the main problems are the need for actual management plans, land management projects regarding the organization, and establishing boundaries of the territories of the nature reserve fund for national natural parks that are practically underdeveloped. In connection with this, a large part of the parks needs to have established boundaries. In the structure of the area of the national natural parks of Ukraine, economic zones prevail (on average 60-90% of the park area), while the average value of the area of the protected zone, as a rule, does not exceed 20%. It was established that practical management activities depend significantly on the awareness of the importance of national natural parks for the country's nature protection system. Therefore, the reform of the management of nature protection territories implemented by the government of Ukraine to preserve landscape and biological diversity is timely. Based on this, during the research, it was established that the main aspects of effective management of the territories of national natural parks in modern conditions should be legal establishment of park status, development, and implementation of a management plan, drawing up a nature protection strategy with the identification of critical areas, recreation, and education, scientific research, provision financing, cooperation and communication, monitoring, and evaluation. The main goal of ensuring effective management of national natural parks is to preserve nature and ensure access for people with minimal impact on nature. Such management should be implemented through developing and implementing strategies and development plans that consider the preservation of natural resources and the needs of society in recreation, public opinion, protection from natural and anthropogenic threats, and international standards. Keywords: nature reserve fund; land protection, national natural parks, sustainable development, natural resources, management activities.