Nature Protection Research Articles

Новый подход к оценке выбросов от горных предприятий с учетом углеродного следа

Introduction. Regions with developed mining and mining processing industries are characterized, as a rule, by intense anthropogenic impact on the environment. It is necessary to assess the scale of the environmental impact taking into account a number of factors, such as: geographical location, climatic conditions, quantity and quality of extracted minerals, as well as technological indicators of their development. The negative impact on the environment during the extraction of minerals can be local, regional and global in nature. If local problems may be solved directly within the framework of a mining enterprise by applying environmental measures, then regional and global impacts need to be addressed taking into account many factors. An example of the regional and global scale of the impact of a mining enterprise on the environment is its impact on atmospheric air. Significant amounts of dust and gas emissions can spread beyond the territory of the sanitary protection zone, resulting in the migration of pollutants into water bodies and soils, and chemical transformations in the atmosphere will lead to the formation of acid rain, destruction the ozone layer and the emergence of the greenhouse effect. To ensure environmental safety in mining regions, it is necessary to reduce atmospheric air pollution, the effectiveness of which is assessed taking into account the results of a geoecological assessment, evaluation of the natural potential of the territory, analysis of anthropogenic load, protection of the territory of mining areas. In the geoecological assessment of anthropogenic impact, it is necessary be aware of the scale of the environmental impact of mining enterprises and apply a regional indicator that should take into account the specifics of enterprises and the effectiveness of environmental protection measures. The purpose of the work. Carrying out an assessment of territories subject to geoecological changes in the environment, consider the results of a geoecological assessment, evaluation of the natural potential and protection of the territory, analysis of anthropogenic load and a regional indicator that takes into account the scale of impact, the specifics of the enterprise, technological features of field development and the effectiveness of environmental protection measures. Methodology. The research was conducted on the basis of an analysis of literary data from Russian and foreign sources. Methods of geoecological assessment, patterns of interrelation of gas and dust emissions from mining facilities were considered, patterns of distribution of emissions in the air were evaluated, taking into account the specifics of the relief and climate of the mining region, and technological features of field development. The paper proposes a general concept of geoecological regulation by determining the composition and volume of pollutants from the technological process, taking into account the carbon footprint of the enterprise, assessing the relationship between gas and dust emissions from mining facilities and the patt erns of emissions in the air. The purpose of the research. Assessment of methods for determining the composition and volume of pollutants from the technological process, taking into account the carbon footprint of the enterprise, assessment of the regularity of the spread of emissions in the air, considering the specifics of the relief and climate of the mining region, as well as technological features of the field development. Results and discussion. As a result of the work, patterns of emission of gas and dust emissions into the atmosphere from technological processes at a mining enterprise have been established, taking into account climatic conditions and terrain. It is proposed to conduct a geoecological assessment of a mining enterprise taking into account the natural potential and protection of the territory, to form a structure for estimating specific emissions, which allows further taking into account the carbon footprint for the enterprise. Conclusions. It is proposed to use specific direct and indirect emissions of the enterprise when conducting a geoecological assessment of the impact of mining enterprises on atmospheric air, which will allow further use of data to assess the carbon footprint of the enterprise.

ИСТОРИЯ АРХЕОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО ИЗУЧЕНИЯ ГОРОДИЩА ГУНДЕЛЕН-2

The article is about the history of the archaeological examination of the Gundelen-2 site. The monument is situated on a high rocky ledge on the right bank of the Gundelen river, a tributary of the Baksan river, between the settlements of Zayukovo and Kendelen. The fortified hamlet is situ-ated in an important and strategically beneficial location, from which the entire adjacent river val-ley and the entrance to the Baksan canyon are easily seen. The town is located on a rocky ledge that runs north-south and is made of sandstone rocks, with steep cliffs on three sides: the southern, eastern, and western. On the northern side, where there is no natural protection, the settlement is protected by a number of fortifications - two ditches and a pair of ramparts. The size of the set-tlement in the widest place reaches 70 meters, and in length 220 m. The Gundelen-2 settlement is part of an archaeological monument complex that includes the Zayukovo-3 burial site and the Gundelen-2 rock catacomb burial ground (Fig. 1). The complex has been known since the 30s. XX century and has been visited numerous times by researchers over the subsequent decades, but serious study of the monuments did not begin until the 10s. XXI cen-tury.

Chemical, Bioactive and antioxidant properties of Alhydwan (Boerhavia elegana Choisy) Seeds- A review

In recent years, consumers have turned to natural foods, but this is not the case. Since synthetic preservatives are harmful to health, consumers demand partial or complete replacement of synthetic preservatives. Because of this, there is an increasing demand for the development of more natural alternatives to improve food shelf life and safety. Strategies for natural protection are gaining popularity in food mapping. New preservation methods focus on using environmentally friendly organic plants with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to extend the safety and shelf-life of food. Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been used in almost all cultures to treat many ailments around the world. The genus Boerhavia is found around the world in tropical, subtropical in nature and temperate climates, including Mexico, as well as the United States, Africa, Asia, Indian Ocean islands, Pacific islands, and Australia. Boerhavia plants are widely used by locals and physicians to treat hepatitis, urinary tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, skin problems, infectious diseases and asthma. This review focuses on the bioactive compounds of Boerhavia elegana Choisy.

Микола Матвєєв як зоолог і краєзнавець Поділля

An essay about one of the most prominent researchers of the fauna of Podillia, organiser of a number of nature protection areas and many regional and national conferences in Podillia. In the field of theriology, the researcher has been most notable for studying the winter population of bats in artificial and natural shelters of Podillia, studying a number of notable species that he could study simultaneously with bird research, including the squirrel and beaver. The researcher carries out a huge amount of organisational work, managing the biology speciality at the university, and is very active in the creation and functioning of protected areas of the rank of national and regional parks, the development of an ecological network, and the analysis and description of valuable natural objects, including rare fauna and world heritage sites.

Seznam izopodov (Crustacea: Isopoda) v Sloveniji

Isopods are a diverse peracarid crustacean group with marine, freshwater and terrestrial representatives. Isopod species lists were typically prepared according to different habitats, which was true also for Slovenia. Here, we prepared the first unified overview of isopod species for Slovenia, which is also the first list of marine isopods in the country. We examined scientific publications, research reports and institutional databases. A total of 126 species have been recorded in Slovenia, of which 31 are marine, 21 are found in freshwater, and 74 are terrestrial. Of these, we report on seven marine and one terrestrial species for the first time. A major part of freshwater isopod richness is linked to the subterranean environment, where most endemic species for the country can be found. Among marine species, many are parasites, with potential economic impact, and two species are considered introduced. When the new species list is considered with valid national legislation, only 41 species retained the same taxonomic status. Many synonyms and invalid taxa according to recent taxonomy point out the need for revision the national red list of Malacostraca as well as other nature protection acts.

Эффективность функционирования особо охраняемых природных территорий Республики Алтай

The purpose of the study is to study the role of specially protected natural territories in ensuring the sustainable development of regions and to identify areas for improving their functioning in order to preserve the national heritage in the form of a unique natural heritage. Research methods. The main provisions and conclusions of the article are based on the results of the use of statistical and analytical research methods. They helped to determine the impact of nature protection areas on the sustainable development of regions, to formulate trends and contradictions in the development of the tourist and recreational complex of specially protected natural territories of the Altai Republic, as well as to identify the need to improve the efficiency of its functioning through an established system of staffing. Research results. In the course of the work carried out, the influence of specially protected natural territories on ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of the regions was proved. It was also revealed that one of the main factors hindering the successful functioning of tourist and recreational complexes of specially protected natural territories of the Altai Republic is a shortage of personnel. Conclusions. The development of the tourist and recreational complex of specially protected natural territories is a promising area of activity of the Altai Republic, due to its geographical location and the presence of historical, cultural and natural values on the territory. However, there are some contradictions in the development of the tourist and recreational complex of specially protected natural territories, which creates a shortage of personnel, but they play a key role in its successful functioning. In this regard, an adequate response of the education system is required. The key lies in the development of specific educational programs that work ahead of the curve and, most importantly, transform the willingness and ability of employees to breakthrough solutions and actions.

Species distribution modeling based on MaxEnt to inform biodiversity conservation in the Central Urban Area of Chongqing Municipality

Mainstreaming biodiversity into protection planning and management is of great significance for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Species potential distribution modeling is an effective way for species diversity evaluation and biodiversity hotspots identification, which are crucial for biodiversity conservation. Taking the Central Urban Area of Chongqing Municipality as the study area, the main objectives of this study were to identify the potentially suitable habitats, species richness and biodiversity of key protected species in current and future, determine the relative contribution of environmental factors and assess the conservation effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) based on MaxEnt model and gap analysis. The results showed that the current potentially suitable habitats of total key protected species were mainly located in “two rivers and four mountains”, with a total area of 1610.55 km2, of which forestland accounted for 59.78 %. Species suitable habitats demonstrated clear topographic heterogeneity, and the distribution index decreased at first and then increased with increasing terrain niche index (TNI). Meanwhile, it was observed that key protected plants and birds shared similar suitable habitats in mountainous areas, with an overlapping area of 753.53 km2, and the high species richness covered 182.83 km2. In 2050, the future biodiversity hotspots would remain stable and increase steadily. In terms of the direction of centroid shift, the biodiversity hotspots would migrate to low latitude, low altitude and southeast by 8.34 km. The jackknife tests indicated that the potential distribution of key protected species was mainly determined by land use, mean diurnal range and TNI. Additionally, the problems of high protection gaps and low protection effectiveness coexisted in the existing PAs, with the overlapping area of the comprehensive biodiversity hotspots and the existing PAs was only 446.96 km2. Finally, suggestions for natural PAs system optimization and ecological protection were proposed. This study provides scientific supports for biodiversity conservation and efficient management.

Research on Legal Guarantee of Red Natural Resources Protection and Development Based on EOD Model

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the academic circles have paid great attention to related research on red resources. Red resources are not only a witness to revolutionary history, but also a presentation of our values, national identity and cultural self-confidence. As an important part of red resources, red natural resources have some problems in the process of protection, such as ecosystem damage, multi-value unexplored and lack of funds. As an emerging resource protection and development model, the Ecology-Oriented Development (EOD) model, coupled with the protection and development of natural and red natural resources, should be applicable to the protection and development of red natural resources. On this basis, combined with current situation and problems of the protection and development of red natural resources, this paper constructs the legal path of protection and development of red natural resources based on EOD model, including perfecting legal norm system, strict subject access qualification, establishing franchise rights, absorbing the participation of social capital and other paths, so as to provide a better legal solution for China to make good use of red resources and continue the red bloodline.

Exploring watershed ecological risk bundles based on ecosystem services: A case study of Shanxi Province, China

Humans are having an increasingly profound impact on the environment along with the advent of the Anthropocene. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) as a method to quantify ecological problems can provide support for decision-makers, and it is one of key issues to integrate ecosystem services into ERA. In this study, an ERA framework was proposed under the loss-probability paradigm from the perspective of ecosystem services risk bundles. The results showed that initiatives aimed at ecological protection in Shanxi Province had been effective, the number of watersheds with low-risk bundles increased significantly (from 16.09% to 34.49%) and the watersheds basically overlapped with key forestation areas. However, the effects of forestation activities may no longer be as significant as they once were, as the relationship between forestation and water supply was becoming increasingly contradictory. Meanwhile, the conflict between urban expansion and natural ecosystem protection was intensifying, habitat degradation risks were gradually polarized, and the risk bundles dominated by high carbon emission and habitat degradation were increasing significantly (from 15.88% to 33.54%). Strengthening the construction of urban green space and controlling the expansion of human activities may be the next focus of ecological conservation in Shanxi Province. This study enriched the ERA framework with an ecosystem services risk bundle approach.

Back to the Problem of Criminal Liability of Legal Entities: Two Views on the Problem (Using the Example of Environmental Crimes)

The authors examine the positions of supporters and opponents of introducing criminal liability for legal persons in the Russian Federation. They have summarized and evaluated the existing approaches to the problem, and present two views on the prospect of introducing the institute of criminal liability for legal persons using the example of environmental crimes. This choice is not accidental and is explained by a number of reasons. Firstly, the condition of the environment continues to deteriorate in spite of all undertaken efforts, which calls for new approaches to its protection, including through criminal law means. Secondly, it is necessary to understand that the greatest threat to the environment is posed by large companies working in the sphere of extracting, processing and using various natural resources — oil, gas, metals, chemical companies, agricultural holdings, energy and transportation companies, which all operate with the purpose is maximizing profits. Practice shows that they are responsible for the largest environmental disasters of the latest decades. Compared to them, the contribution of private persons to environmental pollution is negligibly small. Thirdly, the overwhelming majority of researchers specializing in the problems of criminal liability for environmental crimes support the establishment of criminal liability specifically for the violations of nature protection legislation. In spite of the differences in the opinions of authors regarding the necessity of establishing criminal liability for legal persons, they leave space for further discussions on the topic.

Strategic partnerships for ensuring environmental compliance in business

The article systematically examines and thoroughly explores strategic partnerships as a means of ensuring environmental compliance in the business sector. The work is dedicated to the consideration of key aspects of environmental compliance and its impact on enterprises in the context of interaction with various stakeholders. The concept of environmental compliance in the context of strategic partnerships is investigated, revealing its essence and determining its significance in the contemporary business environment. Environmental compliance is defined as a system of commitments aimed at compliance with legislation and standards in the field of nature and environmental protection. Drawing upon the global aspect of this issue, directions for strategic partnership actions are proposed, taking into account sustainable development goals. Key performance indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of implemented actions are provided for each of the identified directions. Special attention is given to the stages of environmental compliance development. Stages are defined, ranging from the initial phase of familiarization to more complex systematic approaches, helping organizations understand the stage of their environmental strategy development, identify key obstacles and challenges faced by enterprises in implementing environmental compliance. Knowledge of the stages of development enables the implementation of systematic environmental compliance management, including planning, implementation, and monitoring at different stages. It allows adapting environmental compliance strategies to changes in legislation, social requirements, and technological innovations. Key steps and strategies for enterprises to achieve and maintain a high level of environmental responsibility are identified. This aspect allows for a comprehensive consideration of the dynamics and step-by-step development of environmental compliance in the context of strategic partnerships. A detailed analysis of the role of strategic partnerships in ensuring environmental compliance in business is conducted. The positive impact of strategic partnerships on the formation of sustainable environmental practices is demonstrated, along with the identification of factors that contribute to successful interaction with stakeholders and the resolution of environmental challenges. The overall concept of the article highlights the importance of strategic partnerships as an effective instrument for enterprises to achieve and maintain environmental compliance. The research results can serve as a basis for formulating recommendations and strategies aimed at improving the sustainability and responsibility of businesses in the environmental dimensions.

Practical Exploration of Eco-Geological Survey Mapping in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: Framework, Standard and Preliminary Cost Estimation

It is a common responsibility of all countries to protect the ecological environment and promote sustainable development. Eco-geology, which provides a basic guarantee for the rational utilization of natural resources, ecological protection and restoration, has gradually become a new hot spot of geological survey institutions in various countries. Eco-geological survey in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau plays an important role in regional ecological protection and global change research. Setting up workable budgets symbolizes the competence of geological survey organizations in fulfilling their responsibilities, and unreliable cost estimates can cause economic and political complications. The unclear scope definition and scarcity of project information available at early stages make it hard to generate reliable preliminary cost estimates. Hence, based on historical data and the practical experience of scientists who have been engaged in eco-geological survey in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau for a long time, this research aimed to develop a cost estimation model using statistical learning methods for geological survey organizations to forecast preliminary costs during the early stages of an eco-geological survey project to fulfill different cost control and managerial functions. This research makes full use of modern remote sensing technology and reasonably arranges the input of ground survey, drilling, geophysical exploration and other workloads, supplemented by the existing ecological monitoring station data. It comprehensively sorts out the work means and workload of field and office work needed to complete the map work, and it puts forward a consistent index system and preliminary cost calculation framework. On this basis, based on the principle of matching quantity and price, a reasonable budget standard or market price is selected to calculate the budget estimate of a single map sheet, and then, through the regional adjustment coefficient, the budget estimate of a map sheet covering the whole Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is extended and calculated. The budget estimate will provide effective support for the declaration of eco-geological survey projects in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the calculation of the scale of project funds so as to ensure the smooth development of eco-geological surveying in the region.

Approach to the development of ecological tourism in specially protected natural areas on the basis of system analysis

The study is aimed at analyzing the development of ecological tourism in specially protected natural areas in Almaty region using a systematic approach. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively analyze and develop a strategy for the development of ecological tourism in this region. The study is based on the relationship between natural areas and tourism infrastructure, taking into account all factors and influences. To achieve the goal, various research methods were applied. A search for scientific materials on Scopus, Web of Science, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and other platforms was conducted. Keywords for the search included «ecotourism», «specially protected natural areas», «tourism», «nature protection», «system analysis», «tourism in Almaty region». The search for materials was conducted for two months, from February to May 2023. Domestic and foreign experience was studied on the materials devoted to the topic of ecological tourism development. Also during the study a comparative analysis and SWOT-analysis of ecological tourism development in specially protected areas of Almaty region was conducted. The results of the study indicate methods for the conservation of natural heritage and biodiversity in the development of ecotourism. They emphasize the importance of sustainable use of resources, compliance with environmental standards and principles of environmental responsibility. The role of local community participation in ecotourism development is also emphasized to preserve cultural heritage, ensure sustainable development and create positive interaction between tourists and local people.

Болотні оселища масиву Сира Погоня Рівненського природного заповідника та їхня созологічна оцінка

Solving the problem of conservation biodiversity and implementing the basics of sustainable development becomes possible under the condition of using the habitat concept of nature protection, in particular peatland ecosystems, as unique objects of the nature reserve fund. In the article, on the basis of own field research and literary data, the structure of the vegetation cover of the Syra Pogonia massif of the Rivnenskyi Nature Reserve is analysed and three types of peatland habitats are identified. The research was conducted during the growing seasons of 2020–2023, the territory was surveyed by route method; linear transects were laid within visually homogeneous areas of vegetation, on which 141 phytosociological relevés were made. Vegetation descriptions were made according to the ecological and floristic method and processed using the program TURBOVEG 2.0. To define the types of habitats, European and Ukrainian classification schemes were used, taking into account the peculiarities of the research area. The location of different types of habitats is plotted on the map of the studied territory. A description of habitat types is given, which consists of a list of plant species, in particular, diagnostic and rare, their syntaxa of different ranks, ecological features of biotopes, and threats to their existence are determined. A set of measures for the introduction of environmental management is proposed. As a result of research, it was established that the distribution of three types of habitats (raised bogs, drained raised bogs, transition mires and quaking bogs) on the territory of the Syra Pogonia peatland massif and their ecological characteristics indicate the high conservation value of their components (species and communities). The presence of degraded areas was established, probably as a result of both anthropogenic influence and climate changes, which requires the urgent implementation of environmental protection measures to restore their initial state. The obtained and generalized data can be used for the conservation of rare and endangered plant species and their communities and will be useful for the development of a methodology for ecological monitoring of the state of peatland ecosystems.

Improving Agri-environmental Schemes: Suggestions from Farmers and Nature Managers in a Central European Region

Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are important policy instruments within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union for environmental protection. Due to the voluntary nature of AES, their attractiveness to farmers and stakeholders involved in nature management and protection (nature managers) is essential for high participation levels. This study aims to assess farmers’ and nature managers’ ideas to improve agri-environmental schemes. We analyzed suggestions of 825 farmers and 118 nature managers for improvements of AES collected in a large-scale survey in Bavaria, Germany. A content analysis was applied to categorize and compare suggestions by farmers (differentiated into two groups through a cluster analysis) and nature managers. The results reveal that stakeholders were highly willing to share ideas and made detailed suggestions for improvements and individual measures. They were aware of the importance of protecting nature and promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and acknowledged the necessity of (financial) support programs. Farmers placed more emphasis on the practicability and profitability of measures on arable land, while nature managers tended to propose policy-related ideas focusing on nature protection, biodiversity, and specific species. Among farmers, suggestions differed with farm characteristics such as the operation mode (full-time, part-time). These findings can support the design of future AES, accounting for different background situations and thereby increasing acceptability. This includes considering perspectives from different stakeholder groups and creating regionally adapted programs with varying levels of flexibility and practicability.

Екологізація сільського господарства: правовий аспект

The article is devoted to the analysis of regulatory and legal support of ecologization in the field of agriculture and prospects for its improvement. Ecologization of the agricultural sector is ensured by legal norms contained in laws and by-laws. In general, the norms of environmental and agrarian legislation of Ukraine regulate the relations of environmental protection and nature use in the field of agriculture. The main directions of further improvement of the legal support for the ecologization of the agricultural sector are: the implementation of certain types of agricultural production activities, taking into account the peculiarities of specialization and activities related to agricultural production; use of land and other natural resources in agricultural production; agricultural production waste management; organic agricultural production, etc. In particular, the relevant rules of nature protection for agricultural production should be aimed at: ensuring ecological and biological safety in the process of agricultural production activity; ensuring rational use of land and other natural resources in agricultural production; restriction and termination of agricultural activities that damage to the environment; introduction of the most effective methods of management, in particular, the spread of the use of organic production methods; support for the development and introduction of innovative technologies in the field of agriculture; protection of agricultural plants and animals; increasing the level of knowledge and improving the practical skills of sustainable agriculture. A special role in the legal support of ecologization of agriculture is played by strategic documents defining goals and task for the relevant period. The task of state policy is to bring national legislation, standards and practices in the agricultural sector closer to the pan-European principles of sustainable agriculture policy and good agricultural practices. Also, rules of nature protection should be reflected in the local intra-economic acts of the subjects of agricultural activity.

Legal support of the use of Industry 4.0 technologies in the field of natural resource management and environmental protection

Legal support of the use of Industry 4.0 technologies in the field of natural resource management and environmental protection

Peculiarities of the objective side of the failure of the declarant to submit a declaration of a person authorized to perform the functions of the state or local self-government

Peculiarities of the objective side of the failure of the declarant to submit a declaration of a person authorized to perform the functions of the state or local self-government

An ecological network for large carnivores as a key tool for protecting landscape connectivity in the Carpathians

ABSTRACT The main aim of our study was to delineate a coherent ecological network for large carnivores, using a unified methodology, which would be flexible and serve as a basis for nature and habitat connectivity protection across the Carpathians. We applied a comprehensive methodological approach based on habitat suitability modelling followed by connectivity modelling. For the habitat suitability modelling, we used a robust set of large carnivores occurrence data, which allowed us to build a solid model. From the model, we derived a layer of patches of suitable habitat of required quality and resistance surface to express landscape permeability. Both outputs were crucial for the connectivity modelling. We applied Random Walk and Least-Cost Path models and combined them to determine feasible connections between suitable habitats. With expert discussions and editing/improvement of modelled corridors, we developed a unique ecological network consisting of various components adapted to the heterogeneity of the Carpathian landscape.

A relational exploration of tourists’ environmental values and their perception of restrictions in protected nature

In the face of the present ecological crisis, a relational understanding of human-nature relationships is increasingly critical, especially in protected nature areas. This understanding encompasses not only the values assigned to nature but also the environmental values that individuals hold and their impact on sense-making. We apply the Two Major Environmental Value scale, which allows for the classification of individuals into four environmental value groups along a broader spectrum. For the first time, we examine the scales’ explanatory power in the context of nature-based tourism in a protected area. Specifically, we explore the dynamic between different environmental value groups and their sense-making of the restrictions limiting access to nature in a Swedish nature reserve. Findings reveal significant differences in how visitors with varying environmental values perceive these restrictions. We introduce a newly identified value-based visitor group, i.e. the dualcentric environmental value group. Its perception of restrictions is found to be located between those of the biocentric and the anthropocentric group. Implications for how management should work towards creating transformative nature-based tourist experiences based on human-nature relationships are discussed along with an agenda for future research.