The phenomenon of the 100-year Professor Stepan Stoyko – a famous Ukrainian environmental preservationist

Abstract

An article describes the multifaceted practice of the professor, doctor of biological sciences Stepan Stoyko who celebrated 100 years on the 14th of March 2020. Professor continues his work on Ukrainian environmental, ethnographic, cultural and historical heritage preservation. The scientific work of Professor Stepan Stoyko covers many areas: the preservation of biodiversity, ecosystems, culture, and historical heritage, forest ecology, floristics, the biology of wood species, forest terminology, conservation of virgin forests, the history of science, geosozology, harmonisation of the relationship between society and nature, rationalisation of the nature management. This research became the basement for a list of active measures in the field of rationalisation of the renovation and conservation of the natural resources in the Carpathian Mountains. Professor Stoyko became a famous pedagogue in Ukraine and beyond borders. Stepan Mykhailovych is fluent in seven foreign languages. Under the professor's supervision, 13 postgraduates prepared and defended their dissertations in biology, geography, forest crops. Three of them became doctors of science. In 70-s years of the XX century professor Stoyko, for the first time, among universities in the Western region of Ukraine, began to teach an academic course “Nature preservation” for students of geography faculty at Ivan Franko Lviv National University. Stepan Stoyko has played an important role in the preservation of the unique ecosystems of the Western region of Ukraine. Professor Stoyko personally was engaged in the justification of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Nature Reserve of “Roztochchia”, Carpathians National Park, Shatsk National Park, Uzhanskyi National Park, Synevyr National Park, Yavorivskyi National Park, National Park of “Skolivski Beskydy”, regional landscape parks of “Nadsianskyi” and “Ravske Roztochchia” and many smaller natural reserves. Thanks to the efforts of the Professor the transborder biosphere reserves of “Eastern Carpathians”, “Roztochchia”, “Western Polissia” were created. Professor Stoyko justified the need for preserving nature and developing the historical landscape reserves within the areas where, important for Ukraine, historical events happened. Including the ethnographical reserves in Hutsul region, Boyko region and Lemko region. Professor Stoyko believes that the philosophy of each intelligent person is to create kindness for your nation. He considers that the intelligent person has to raise the Ukrainian national consciousness. And he posits the day of the proclamation of Ukrainian independence as the brightest in his life. Until now, professor Stoyko is actively publishing his scientific works in different publications, writes monographs, consults the young scientists and lectors, participates in scientific conferences and writes articles in the media. Key words: nature protection, ethnocultural heritage preservation, geosozology, nature conservation.