Spatial-Temporal Assessment of Formation of Nature Reserve Fund of Sumy Region

Purpose. To assess the main trends in the formation of nature reserves and the degree of protection of the territory of Sumy region to determine the directions of development of the regional ecological network.Methods. Methods of historical analysis, statistical processing, spatial modeling, evaluation and generalization of the obtained data are used.Results. During the study period since 1991, the area of ​​NPF has increased 5.44 times, and the number of NPF objects - almost 2 times and in 2019 is 275 units. Comparison of administrative districts of Sumy region by the number of NPF objects allows to determine the districts - "leaders": Romensky (37), Sumy and Lebedyn (25 pieces each), Krolevets (24) and districts - outsiders - Buryn (5), Shostka (7) and Velykopysarivsky 8). By the area of ​​the nature reserve fund "leaders" - Putivl district (39298.55 hectares) and Konotop district (32440.7 hectares). The discrepancy between a large number of objects and the area of ​​the NPF prompted the determination of the percentage of reserves and modeling of the relationship between these three indicators. Based on cartographic visualization and statistical modeling, recommendations have been developed, the main of which are: intensification of the creation of NPF objects of local significance, first of all, in the areas that are most "lagging behind" in the process of bequest; renewal of previously rejected NFP Projects and facilitate their approval; initiating activities to promote tourist routes on unique natural, historical, ethnographic sites of the NPF for economic support of communities.Conclusions. It is established that the degree of protection of the territory of Sumy region is lower than recommended and averages 7.43%. Spatially, there is a band of high concentration of NPF objects with relatively large areas, which even exceeds the recommended (Konotop, Krolevets and Putivl, or according to the new zoning - Krolevets district) in the central part of the region, which is surrounded on both sides by areas with low percentage (up to 5%) of protected areas and only the extreme northern and southern parts of the region (Seredino-Budsky, Trostyanetsky, Velykopysarivsky and Okhtyrsky districts) are approaching the norm in terms of the percentage of protected areas. The patterns identified by modeling allow us to recommend increasing the share of NPF in the total area of ​​the region in two directions - increasing the area of ​​the existing facilities or creating a large number of new ones with small areas.