Amber Mining Research Articles

SYSTEMATIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ILLEGAL ACTS WITH AMBER

The article is devoted to the disclosure of certain systemic and legal aspects of responsibility for illegal actions with amber. Relevant judicial practice is analyzed. Proposals for improvement of Art. 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Illegal extraction, sale, purchase, transfer, forwarding, transportation, processing of amber”. The issue of the application of the criminal law norm of insignificance for the legal assessment of illegal amber mining and its illegal handling was considered. The existence of a conflict between the investigated criminal law ban and Art. 47 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses “Violation of the State Property Right to Subsoil”, comments are expressed regarding its (collision) overcoming in the aspects of de lege lata and de lege ferenda. It is argued that the socially dangerous consequences of illegal mineral extraction (in particular, amber) should be labeled as damages. It is shown that carried out within the limits of Art. 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the differentiation of responsibility related to the size of illegal actions with amber is insufficient. The relevant provisions of the project of the new Criminal Code of Ukraine were analyzed, the advantages and disadvantages of the relevant formulations were clarified. In particular, the proposal of the drafters of a potential criminal law to distinguish the grounds of criminal responsibility for the illegal acquisition of natural resources, on the one hand, and individual manifestations of involvement in the behavior of those who commit illegal extraction of natural resources from their natural environment, on the other, was supported. The issue of the appropriateness of anchoring in Part 1 of Art. 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine instructions on actions other than illegal amber mining.

Criminology significant signs of criminal offenses related to the illegal use of minerals

This scientific article is aimed at clarifying the criminologically significant signs of criminal offenses related to the illegal use of minerals (Articles 240, 2401 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). It is noted that the complex geopolitical and economic situation, the imperfection of legislation and other factors lead to an increase in the number of cases of illegal amber mining in Ukraine. This indicates that the specified problem needs to be solved in a theoretical and practical aspect. It was concluded that the criminological characteristics of criminal offenses related to the illegal use of minerals should be considered as an information model that displays typical features, that is, those inherent in such an array of criminal offenses, and specific ones that allow them to be separated from other groups illegal acts. Among the main characteristics of criminal offenses related to the illegal use of minerals, the following criminologically significant signs of a criminal offense are singled out: data on preparation for the commission and concealment of a criminal offense; typical techniques; time, place and circumstances of the commission; the subject of criminal encroachment; tools, means, data about the identity of the criminal, the motive and purpose of committing the criminal offense; typical traces of a criminal offence. All methods of illegal mineral extraction are divided into two groups: open method; underground way. The most common method of spontaneous extraction is hydromechanical. The subject of criminal offenses related to the illegal use of minerals can be the subsoil and minerals of national significance (except for common ones). The place of illegal extraction of minerals depends on their location, and the situation is often determined by weather conditions, the specifics of the activity of controlling bodies, and the organization of the work of individual services. The main sources and carriers of traces of committed criminal offenses are people and things. Special devices have been identified as tools for illegal amber mining. The subjects of such illegal actions can be persons both related and unrelated by nature of their professional occupations to amber mining. The usually group method of committing criminal offenses is indicated.

The first fossil genus and two new species of the worldwide tribe Prosopochrysini (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Stratiomyinae) found in Dominican and Mexican ambers

ABSTRACT Stratiomyidae is one of the most species-rich and morphologically diversified Diptera families of the orthorraphous Brachycera. Despite the large species diversity and prevalence in various environments, soldier flies are rare in the fossil records, especially in amber deposits. Here we present the first two Prosopochrysini fossils from Miocene amber. The fossils are assigned to a new genus—Cenorhaphiocerina gen. nov.— included in the extant tribe Prosopochrysini, with the description of two species, C. dominicana sp. nov. from amber mines in the Dominican Republic and C. kraemerae sp. nov. from amber areas in Simojovel, Chiapas, Mexico. The new genus and species are compared with other extant genera of Prosopochrysini. We postulate that Cenorhaphiocerina gen. nov. likely forms a group with the extant genera Acanthasargus White, 1914, Hoplistopsis James, 1950, Rhaphiocerina Lindner, 1936 and the species Prosopochrysa azurea (Lindner, 1951), that should be placed in a separate genus, based on the presence of four medial wing veins, upper and lower frons in the head contrasting in colour, and of some level of dichoptic eyes configuration in males. https://zoobank.org:act:1163F677-D54F-4CB8-A11B-9072E76EE91F https://zoobank.org:act:ADDDBA20-883B-41FB-9C28-3F11E3C34308 https://zoobank.org:act:567CEBF3-7E6D-4128-981D-3CC1DB25F0D5

Some criminological indicators of land mismanagement

Based on official statistical sources, this article presents a long-term criminological analysis of the situation with land mismanagement in Ukraine spanning the period from 2002 to 2023. The author determines absolute, average and relative indicators, in particular, the rate and dynamics of crimes in this category. The total number of recorded crimes in the category under study (1,240 crimes), their average annual occurrence (56 crimes), and the average growth rate (22.9 %) are calculated. Employing a 5th degree polynomial function, a trend depicting the dynamics of these crimes is constructed. The chosen model aptly captures the development trend of the process with high precision (coefficient of determination R2 = 0.916) and facilitates the identification and characterization of four distinct periods, each reflecting the main trends of land mismanagement in Ukraine.
 A paradoxical situation is revealed by the analysis of the practical application of the criminal law provisions which have supplemented Art. 254 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code « Land Mismanagement» in accordance with Law of Ukraine No. 402-IX of December 19, 2019 « On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding Improvement of Legislation on Mining of Amber and Other Minerals». Notably, no crimes were recorded under Part 2 of Article 254 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (the primary corpus delicti). Conversely, 15 crimes were recorded under Parts 3 and 4 of Article 254 (qualifying elements of the crime). The author concludes that this correlation would be impossible in the case of objective recording of crimes, and it also underscores a noteworthy latent aspect of land mismanagement, in particular, deliberate evasion of mandatory reclamation of lands damaged in the course of pilot commercial development of amber deposits or amber mining under a special subsoil use permit, resulting in considerable damage. The conducted analysis holds an intrinsic value both for scientific research and for law enforcement, ensuring an appropriate information support base for countering land mismanagement, firstly, by providing a clear understanding of the current situation with this phenomenon. Furthermore, it lays the groundwork for the development of the relevant system of criminal preventive measures tailored to address this specific issue.

Remote monitoring of lands, the soil cover of wich is disturbed due to arbitrary amber mining

Remote monitoring of lands, the soil cover of wich is disturbed due to arbitrary amber mining

Characteristics of typical methods of illegal amber mining in Ukraine

Characteristics of typical methods of illegal amber mining in Ukraine

Influence of circulation processes on cyanobacteria bloom and phytoplankton succession in the Baltic Sea coastal area

Many studies related to the influence of eddies on the primary production chain of marine ecosystems have been conducted; however, this effect tends to be regionally specific, especially in coastal dynamic waters. In the Baltic Sea, mesoscale and submesoscale eddies are a ubiquitous feature of water circulation during summer, when diazotrophic cyanobacteria blooms occur in surface waters due to the excess of phosphorus in seawater. Climatic change may increase the frequency and duration of these negative events in the marine ecosystem. We examined the taxonomic composition, abundance, and primary production of phytoplankton in the southeastern Baltic Sea during the occurrence of the packed eddy system at the end of the abnormally warm summer of 2018. Massive cyanobacteria growth was observed in the plume of the eutrophic Vistula Lagoon in the Gulf of Gdansk. The only species diazotrophic Dolichospermum flos-aquae ((Bornet & Flahault) P. Wacklin, L. Hoffmann & Komárek, 2009) vegetated along the western coast of the Sambia Peninsula. Its colonies reached the highest biomass nearby the dumping site of the Amber Mining Plant in Yantarny, Kaliningrad Region, Russia. The cyanobacteria colonies dispersed in the outgoing jet of a relatively warm eddy dipole. Chrysochromulina spp. (Lackey, 1939) was dominant in these nitrogen-rich waters. In contrast, cryptophyte species dominated in the relatively cold waters of the dipole anticyclone that resulted in a fourfold decline in primary production. The decrease in the number of mobile phytoplankton species was revealed within the “old” eddies near the northern coast of the Sambia Peninsula and the Curonian Spit. Meanwhile, species of the spring–autumn complex Coscinodiscus granii (Gough, 1905), Peridiniella catenate ((Levander) Balech, 1977) and other developed in the community. This implies that the appearance of eddies can cause phytoplankton succession in the coastal area. The mechanism of their influence was similar to the action of other physical factors perturbing a relatively stationary environment. Capture of cyanobacterial colonies by eddies led to an improvement of the ecological situation in the area, as cyanobacteria transported their biomass outside the coastal area. However, the opposite direction processes obviously were the deterioration of light conditions, increased water turbidity, and organic matter concentration.

The predictive and search system of amber (PSSA) and sustainable development of mining areas

A new (“amber”) branch of the economy is currently developing in Ukraine, which includes the search for, mining and processing of amber. Ukrainian amber is noted for its high quality and is one of the most competitive types of domestic coloured stones on world markets. A significant part of the territory of Ukraine is promising for the discovery of placer deposits of amber, but their industrial development is currently carried out only within the boundaries of “the Pripyat amber-bearing basin” (PAB), which covers the regions of Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv regions. The development of the “amber” industry of Ukraine caused problems of a production, organizational, socio-economic and environmental nature. They significantly influence the socio-economic development of amber mining areas. These are: 1) lack of a national program for the development of the “amber” industry; 2) its insufficient level compared to the real potential; 3) uncontrolled mining of amber; 4) negative impact on the ecology of the natural environment; 5) socio-economic consequences for the population of amber mining areas. “The predictive and search system for amber” (PSSA) allows solving these problems in a complex manner. The PSSA of Ukraine allows systematic research of “the amber-bearing formation” (AF) developed on its territory. PSSA uses scientific ideas about the origin of amber and the main natural factors of its formation, develops methods and a specific research algorithm. The main goal of PSSA is to identify “amber-bearing objects” (AO) in the geological body of the AF, which may contain high concentrations of amber, the so-called “traps”.

Thaumatodryinus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) in time: A new record from the Miocene of southwestern Mexico

Miocene Dryinidae are relatively well-known compared to other Chrysidoidea families. But most taxa (16 out of 17 described species) derive from the amber mines of the Dominican Republic. Here, a new fossil species of Dryinidae, Thaumatodryinus cotyi sp. nov., is described and figured from the early to middle Miocene of Totolapa (Mexico), and compared to more or less contemporaneous Dominican species. Thaumatodryinus cotyi sp. nov is noteworthy characterized by the testaceous body, the tridentate mandibles, the clypeal anterior margin outcurved, the pronotum striate rugose, the mesopleuron and propodeum areolate rugose, and the propodeum shorter than high. We also propose an up-to-date key to the subfamilies of Dryinidae and summarize the fossil fauna from Totolapa, a deposit hitherto less studied than the coeval amber from Simojovel.

Structure of Microscopic Fungal Species in Soils at Amber Mining Territories before and during the use of New Technology of Pine Plantation Formation.

Introduction: Ukraine is one of the European leaders in amber deposits. The main deposits of the mineral are concentrated in the forests of the Rivne, Zhytomyr and Volyn regions. As a result of the extraction process, the integrity of forest’s ecosystems is violated, the fertile soil layer is destroyed, and 3.5 thousand hectares of forests have to be restored. Aim: Evaluation of different forest management strategies in degraded soil regeneration. Objective: The study aims to explore the response of soil mycobiota to extreme conditions associated with amber mining and to propose biotechnology to restore the fertile soil layer by methods of regenerative land use, namely the use of biomass of various ways of birch cuts, which is the primary succession to the indigenous pine stands in the region. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on the territory of the Klesiv amber deposit in the Ukrainian Polissya. The bioindication method with the help of soil micromycetes was used to assess the quality of the plant development environment in the conditions of ecosystem restoration after amber extraction. To determine the species composition of hyphomycetes, the method of serial dilutions and direct seeding on agar media of soil suspensions was used. The analysis of soil mycobiota was performed using quantitative ecology methods. The method of correlation groups was used to determine the taxonomic diversity of hyphomycetes. To determine the effectiveness of the restoration of the studied forest soils, the express analysis of the content of essential nutrients using NPK-sensor was used. Standard methods for the determination of mobile phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen compounds were used as controls. Results: The species composition and taxonomic characteristics of soil micromycetes of forest ecosystems disturbed by amber mining have been studied. It was found that in the areas of amber mining, soil micromycetes form linear connections and three-membered structures, which is characteristic of disturbed biocenoses. In the 60-year-old plantation, soil micromycetes form strong six-membered structures that are characteristic of menopausal ecosystems or intact biocenoses. The biotechnology of restoration of the indigenous plantation characteristic of these conditions - pine with an admixture of hanging birch is offered. The result of the application of this technology will allow to reproduce natural forest ecosystems in large areas. Conclusion: For the first time, the structure of fungal complexes in the areas of amber mining has been determined, which indicates that the formation of a stable structure requires time and a systematic approach to the restoration of damaged soils. In the soils disturbed by amber mining, initial linear, three-membered and four-membered structures were formed, the structural genera of which are the “pioneer genera” Penicillium, Mucor, Rhizopus, the species of which were the first to inhabit plant remains. In the process of reforestation in areas affected by amber mining, biotechnology was used for the first time, which involved the formation of natural pine stands by cutting birch, forming the primary succession in the studied areas. The comparison of the results of chemical analysis of soils of the studied areas of the Klesiv forestry before and after the application of birch pruning technology for the formation of pine stands proves the effectiveness of the technology, as in all areas nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were increased in the soil.

Criminological characterization of environmental crimes in the field of subsurface resources protection

Purpose. To study environmental crimes in the field of subsurface resources protection and provide their criminological characterization, namely, to determine criminological indicators reflecting the studied crime rate, dynamics and structure. Methodology. A system of general scientific and special methods and approaches ensuring an objective analysis of the studied issue, particularly, logical and dogmatic, systematic, documentary, and modeling and statistical analysis methods. Findings. We determined absolute, mean and relative indicators of environmental crimes in the field of subsurface resources protection in Ukraine during 2002–2021, their total recorded number (9118 crimes), annual average (456 crimes) and share in the overall crime structure over the past 20 years (0.1 %). The conclusion shows a significant growth of environmental crimes in the field of subsurface resources protection in the overall crime structure (from 0.01 to 0.24 %) due to a significantly higher increase in these crimes rate compared to the absolute overall crime rate. The calculated dynamics indicators showed wave-like changes in the recorded crimes number against their steady overall upward trend – over the twenty-year period analyzed, reported crimes of this category increased more than 14 times. Originality. Following a long-term statistical analysis, since illegal amber mining criminalization, the article provides the first criminological characterization of environmental crimes in the field of subsurface resources protection. Practical value. The authors substantiate their understanding of the essence of this crime category envisaged by Article 240 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code “Violation of the Rules for Subsurface Resources Protection or Use, Illegal Extraction of Mineral Resources” and Article 2401 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code “Illegal Mining, Sale, Acquisition, Transfer, Sending, Transportation, and Processing of Amber”. The calculated indicators of the rate, dynamics and structure of the studied crimes are of standalone significance for academic research and law enforcement activities and create an appropriate basis for the information provision of combating environmental crimes in the field of subsoil protection being a prerequisite for developing an appropriate system of specified crime prevention measures.

Psychosocial risk factors of artisanal amber mining in Simojovel, Chiapas

Este artículo tiene como objetivo identificar y analizar factores psicosociales de riesgo de la minería artesanal del ámbar que realiza la población tsotsil de Simojovel, Chiapas, México. Se acude al enfoque cualitativo con diseño etnográfico y de teoría fundamentada, teniendo como técnicas entrevista semiestructurada, diario de campo y observación participante. Participaron mineros, exmineros, artesanos, artesanas, consumidores y personal de instancias culturales. Los resultados indican que los factores psicosociales de riesgo de la minería artesanal están asociados a condiciones de trabajo, informalidad del trabajo, pluriactividad, origen étnico, género y grupo poblacional de quienes participan en el trabajo minero. Se concluye que es necesario generar alianzas estratégicas, acciones específicas y propuestas que aspiren a la construcción de una política pública que considere la formalización de la minería artesanal, acceso a tecnología, cuidado ambiental y mejora de condiciones de vida, de trabajo y de salud de la población dedicada a la minería.

Environmental and economic prerequisites of amber mining in Ukraine

The negative consequences of illegal amber mining lead to damage to the country's economy and the destruction of the ecosystem in those regions where intensive mining is conducted. The article is devoted to a comprehensive consideration of the issue of illegal amber mining. The ecological and economic prerequisites for the emergence of the problem of illegal mining are given, and its main ecological, economic and social consequences are also determined. It is argued that the illegal actions of prospectors and their consequences continue to be a painful issue in the socio-economic life of Ukraine, from which not only the natural environment, but also the economy of Ukraine suffers. As a result of the uncontrolled extraction of precious stones, the actions of criminal groups smuggling them abroad, the state will not receive millions of hryvnias from the state budget. The calculation of Ukraine's annual losses from illegal amber mining and sales is presented. The distribution of reserves and extraction of amber by administrative regions of Ukraine was analyzed. It is noted that there are two direct payments related to amber mining: a fee for a special permit for the development of the site and mining, as well as rent - a share of the income from the sale of precious stones. Generalized data on the formation of amber deposits and mining taxation processes in Lithuania and Poland are provided. The dynamics of selling prices of Ukrainian and Polish amber is presented, a significant drop in the price of Ukrainian raw amber compared to 2016 was established. The problem of illegal mining in forest areas in the north-west of Poland has been studied. It is noted that amber prices are constantly changing depending on the fractions, but the introduction of a single fixed rate will contribute to the development of this industry.

“AMBER ISSUE” IN UKRAINE: PREVENTION AND CONSEQUENCES

The study analyses the current process of amber mining and assesses the legal consequences of illegal activities in the amber mining industry. The relevance of the study is due to the deterioration of the socio-economic aspect of the life of Ukrainian citizens due to the unauthorised extraction of raw materials. The existing fact determines the purpose of the study, namely: the analysis of legal preventive measures and the system of liability norms, in particular, for non-state mining of fossilised resin. The research uses the following methods of searching, processing and presentation of Information: general scientific (formal-logical, analysis and synthesis, concretisation and abstraction, and induction and deduction methods) and special-legal methods (formal-legal, comparative-legal, and method of interpretation of legal provisions). The paper highlights the main gaps in the regulations for amber mining and tort obligations. Based on the results, the main area for changes was established: strengthening responsibility for illegal amber mining, in particular, introducing a state monopoly on its extraction, stopping non-state extraction of valuable resin. The conclusions of the study emphasise that the issue under study also requires the examination of natural aspects of geology, geomorphology, palaeogeography, biology, and the ecology of amber mining sites in general, so only a comprehensive solution to the issues of legalising amber mining at the state level will allow bringing the industry to international standards for mining. The results of the study can be useful for researchers in the field of law, geology, ecology, and biology. Ultimately, the necessary changes in the process of legalising amber mining relate not only to legal aspects. For example, one of the measures aimed at a positive result is the implementation of reclamation processes in the amber mining areas.

Phytostroma transformation of «Rechitsia» hydrological reservoir as a consequence of amber mining

As a result of illegal amber mining on the territory of «Rechitsia» hydrological reserve, 97.0 hectares or 80.8% of its area was damaged during 4 years (2014– 2017). Including on the area of 59.2 hectares (49.3% of the area of the reserve), catastrophic changes took place — the complete destruction of natural ecosystems; on 37.8 hectares or 31.5% of the area of the reserve, gradual negative changes are taking place — there is a strong impact on natural ecosystems from the side of the surrounding quarters, disturbed by amber mining. As a result of the illegal mining of amber on the territory of «Rechitsia» hydrological reserve, all protection priorities were lost both at the species and coenotic levels. On its territory, mesooligotrophic ancient, 130-year-old pine-sphagnum bogs (unique reference areas), treeless oligotrophic sedge-sphagnum bogs, and areas of ancient, 110-yearold dryland pine-oak acidophilic, floristically rich forests had the greatest value. Prior to anthropogenic disturbance of the natural ecosystems of the reserve on its territory, the priorities of protection at the species level were 8 species of vascular plants listed in the «Red Book of Ukraine», as well as 5 species of animals listed in the «Red Book of Ukraine». At the cenotic level, rare coenoses of forest-swamp meso-oligotrophic and oligotrophic swamps of the reserve were protected, listed in the «Green Book of Ukraine». In 8 areas bordering heavily disturbed areas, a strong impact on natural ecosystems from the surrounding disturbed quarters is now manifested, due to negative changes in the general hydrological regime of the territory — as a rule, significant drying, which results in the degradation of natural vegetation. The total area of such plots in «Rechitsia» reserve is 37.8 hectares or 31.5% of the area of the reserve. These gradual changes are manifested, first of all, in the loss of ecological stability of ecosystems, the loss of the most moisture-loving species at the first stage, the thinning and gradual dying of the crowns of the tree stand, the reduction of species and coenotic diversity of flora and fauna. On the territory of the former reserve, disturbed by illegal amber mining, it is necessary to carry out engineering reclamation, after which — biological, namely — planting of birch and pine crops.

Additional fossil specimens of Eophylica (Rhamnaceae) in mid-Cretaceous amber from the Hukawng Valley, Myanmar

The recently described fossil angiosperm genus Eophylica (Rhamnaceae) was based on 18 amber-embedded specimens derived from two sites in northern Myanmar. A vegetatively similar fossil, which came from the same amber mines but which lacked flowers, had been previously described as a putative green alga and given the name Electrophycus. The dimensions and vegetative aspect of that taxon’s holotype specimen are identical with those of the Eophylica fossils. Four additional specimens were acquired by the senior author after the publication of Electrophycus, all of which have a single terminal flower that is either immature or essentially fully formed. Using techniques of floral dissection, high magnification microscopy, and microphotography of the better-developed flowers, we present a more detailed picture of the floral organs, especially the stamens and style, of Eophylica. These flowers differ from the holotype specimen of Eophylica and 3 of its paratypes in that they possess involucral bracts of a so-called ‘pseudanthial head,’ a structure that the authors of Eophylica had only ascribed to certain other paratype specimens of the genus.

Geographical distribution and habitats of Moneses uniflora (Ericaceae) in Ukraine

Geographical distribution, ecological conditions and the current state of populations of a regionally rare species of the Ukrainian flora, Moneses uniflora (Ericaceae), were studied. In Ukraine, this species is at the southern limit of its range in Eastern Europe. Locations in the Ukrainian Carpathians and the Polissya Lowland are a part of a large Euro-Asiatic geographical population. A separate exclave of its range is located in the Crimean Mountains. The habitats of M. uniflora in Ukraine are associated with green moss coniferous forests. The species grows in spruce forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians, in pine forests dominated by Pinus sylvestris in the Polissya Lowland, and in pine forests dominated by Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana in the Crimean Mountains. Local populations of M. uniflora in Ukraine are characterized by low numbers (up to one hundred shoots with a predominance of vegetative shoots) and small areas (1–2 m2). Anthropogenic pressure on the habitats of M. uniflora resulted in range decline and determined its current southern limit that coincides with the border between the Forest (Polissya) and the Forest-Steppe zones. In the past, during the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, M. uniflora occurred in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Uncontrolled deforestation and amber mining have led to intense habitat destruction and decline of species populations. Each local population of this species in Ukraine needs to be protected. Moneses uniflora is to be included to the next edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Mechanism of protecting forest and land resources of Ukraine from illegal amber mining: legal aspect

Purpose. To determine a legally established mechanism of criminal-legal protection of forest and land resources on the territory of Ukraine where illegal amber mining is carried out. Methodology. The methodological basis of the study is a system of general and special methods of cognition: the dialectical method was used to learn the essence of such a phenomenon as the protection of public relations for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources during amber mining; system-structural method when separating the social relations of the constituent elements protected by the law within the specified structure; when analyzing the forms of socially dangerous acts of crimes under Articles 240-1, 239 and 245 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine; logical-dogmatic method during the interpretation of certain terms used in the sciences of geology, administrative and criminal law, contained in the provisions of current legislation; comparative law method - in the study of the relationship of objective signs of acts under Articles 201-1, 239 and 245 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Findings. It is established that the criminal law protection of Article 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine covers public relations for the protection and rational use of amber resources, forest and land resources. The former ones are the main direct object of the crime, the latter ones are the direct additional objects of this crime. The range of objects of this crime is established amber, forest and land resources. The collision of norms of Articles 240-1 and 245 and Articles 240-1 and 239 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Originality. It is established that the object of the crime under Article 240-1 of the Criminal Code includes the main direct object public relations for the protection and rational use of amber resources and two direct additional objects of crime: public relations for the protection and rational use of forest and land resources. It is determined that damage to forests due to illegal amber mining must be further qualified under Part 1 of Article 245 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine if illegal mining is carried out in a generally dangerous manner. This crime must be further qualified under Part 1 of Article 239 of the Criminal code of Ukraine if illegal extraction of amber is carried out with violation of special rules of treatment of substances, waste or other materials. Practical value. From a practical point of view, the results of the study will contribute to the correct qualification of practitioners of illegal amber mining in Ukraine.

Methodology of geoinformation modeling of areas affected by amber mining

The article considers modern possibilities of geoinformation technologies for geospatial modeling of areas affected by amber mining in Ukraine on the example of Rivne Region. The purpose of the study is to present a methodology for decoding satellite image materials for geoinformation modeling of the areas affected by amber mining. The use of actual materials of remote sensing of modern satellite systems in combination with geospatial models during land monitoring is analyzed. It was found that the calculation of the NDVI makes it possible to identify the contours of affected areas more clearly. An approach for assessing soil cover moisture content based on the use of norm-difference water indices is presented. It is noted that the assessment of soil moisture is one of the elements of thematic processing of satellite images which makes it possible to identify the areas where amber mining by hydraulic method was carried out. It is offered to consider the method of geoinformation modeling of areas affected by amber mining as a method of practical implementation of determining affected lands using remote sensing images, due to the regularities and features of spectral analysis of a photo image. The use of the methodology is presented on a specific example, namely on state-owned lands of Dubrovytsia Forestry of Rivne Region. The methodology will provide a technical basis for the decisions on the identification of affected land plots and their further monitoring. In addition, the methodology offered in the article will help to determine the directions of land reclamation and groups of affected lands.

Identification and monitoring of the state of illegal amber mining lands

The negative consequences of illegal amber mining in Ukraine are analyzed. Emphasis is placed on the urgent need for a reliable assessment of the extent of illegal mining, determining the area of such sites and the necessary amount of their further reclamation. As part of scientific and technical research commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine "Development of a system for identification and monitoring of lands damaged by amber mining" in the northwestern part of Ukrainian Polissya selected 5 test plots of 100 km2 with the highest distribution of disturbed lands. The test areas have clear features and a significant area of merged contours. An integrated approach has been proposed for the identification and monitoring of such areas, which involves the use of multi-zone satellite images, mapping from unmanned aerial vehicles, and ground geodetic measurements. A methodology for such research has been developed. To automate the work on the basis of the free open source program QGIS 3.4.2, the structure was substantiated and a modular geographic information system was developed. Verification of the areas of disturbed lands on the basis of satellite survey materials and field geodetic measurements has been performed. Some results of researches of the sites of the broken earths in the Sarny area of the Rivne area which testify to efficiency of the offered technique are resulted.