MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF GEOHERITAGE AT MEDOBORY NATURE RESERVE

Abstract

The article deals with the management plan for the geoheritage sites as a component of the “Management Plan for the Medobory Nature Reserve and the Protection of its Natural Sites”. Critical analysis of the need for a comprehensive study of components of inanimate nature, in particular, geological-geomorphological structure of the protected areas with distinct geographic heritage, in the basic national documents “Management Plan for the Nature Reserve and the Protection of its Natural Sites” and “Chronicle of Nature of the Areas and Sites of the Nature Reserve Fund of Ukraine”. In particular, the experience of scientific support for Polish plans for the national parks involves special documentation focusing on the geological environment. It substantiates the algorithm for the study of geoheritage at the Medobory Nature Reserve: from the inventory of the geological-geomorphological component of the territory to the measures for geoeducational support and geoheritage promotion. It analyzes peculiarities of the geological-geomorphological structure of the Medobory Nature Reserve, which represents the fossil barrier reef of the Badenian-Sarmatian age. The basic lithologic-stratigraphic and geomorphological scientific-educational values of the territory of the reserve were emphasized. The proposed management plan for the conservation and promotion of the Medobory Nature Reserve's geoheritage presupposes appropriate strategic objectives for a ten-year period and operational activities for a five-year period. The key strategic objectives and the corresponding measures to preserve and promote the geoheritage of the Medobory Nature Reserve are as follows: conservation of the geoheritage sites and geo-archaeological heritage sites with the inventory of valuable outcrops and reefogenic formations, inventory of parent and mantle rocks to develop the consolidated stratigraphic section; development of a permanent infrastructure for geoeducational activities with measures aimed at creating educational exhibition in the administrative building of the reserve; development of geotourist trails with information-educational support of existing ecoeducational trails and development of new scientific and geoeducational trails. It is important to elaborate the project for creating the National Geopark “Fossil Barrier Reef of Podillya” at the Medobory Nature Reserve and the Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park. Its main functions will include conservation of the Tovtry Ridge as a unique geological-geomorphological phenomenon, combined with the organization of elements of geoeducation and geotourism as a component of the sustainable development of the region. Key words: reserve, geoheritage, geological and geomorphological structure, management plan, strategic objectives, operational activities, promotion, Medobory, fossil barrier reef.