PRIORITY DIRECTIONS FOR LONG-TERM PLANNING OF NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SUBURBAN AREA OF MINSK

Abstract

An assessment of the actual organization of natural ecosystems in the suburban area of Minsk is given. Forests predominate among them. The distribution of forests shows an inverse dependence on the distance to the city. The forest cover is minimal in the 20-kilometer zone closest to the city, the fragmentation of forests, on the contrary, is the highest. This belt also accounts for the placement of most reservoirs for water management and recreational purposes. They are built on small rivers and have low resistance to external influences and high dependence on the ecological state of the catchment basins. Perspective threats to natural ecosystems caused by an increase in anthropogenic loads on them due to the formation of the Minsk urban agglomeration, as well as climate change, have been identified. They will increase the risks of developing these ecosystems, air and water pollution, forest death, natural fires, anthropogenic eutrophication of water
 bodies, etc. Priority directions for planning natural ecosystems, adequate to the long-term threats and environmental and resource needs of the city, are proposed. They include, firstly, the formation of a natural framework on their basis, the cores of
 which should be not only local specially protected natural areas, but also the main water bodies with adjacent forests, and
 secondly, the rationale for planning measures in relation to individual types natural ecosystems for various parts of the suburban area. For the part closest to the city, their preservation, ensuring interconnection and purposeful transformation are of
 priority importance, for the remote part – compliance with environmentally acceptable modes of use.