Experience and prospects of environmental mapping of Kharkiv region

The purpose of this article is to acquaint a wide range of specialists in the field of ecology and nature protection with the achievements of scientists at the Department of physical geography and cartography of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv NationalUniversity in the field of environmental mapping and search for reasons to reduce the number of cartographic works on this topic.Main material. The system of regional environmental and nature protection cartographic works of Kharkiv region includes 24 units of finished cartographic products, supplemented by hundreds of primary auxiliary maps serving as the basis for creating the resulting maps. The authors reveal the history of the creation of the first regional series of environmental maps in the USSR, published with the DSP stamp, the Directions of their use-in the process of planning environmental activities in the region until 1990 and their further use as a visual educational material.The structure and content of a separate environmental map, three series of maps and four environmental atlases are described. A separate comprehensive map provides an overview of the environmental conditions and nature protection in the region and is intended as a demonstration tool for regional organizations and as a reference guide for educational institutions. The basic series of maps provides an overall assessment of the ecological state and nature protection. A series of maps of dynamic and depositing components of the natural environment characterize deteriorating quality of atmospheric air and water, their environmental condition and protection measures. The maps provide information about the eco-environmental assessment of soils, vegetation and wildlife. Environmental and nature protection atlases of the region fully disclose the features of interaction in the “nature-society” system and are intended for specialists in the field of ecology and nature protection for educational purposes, promoting environmental knowledge.The development of interactive cartographic products on environmental issues, such as nature protection maps of Kharkiv region on the GeoMixer web GIS platform, is considered as a promising direction for the development of environmental cartography in the region.Conclusions and further research. The developed cartographic works are used in fragments l, not systematically. Today, the activity of creating maps and atlases on this topic has significantly decreased mainly due to the lack of unifyingobjective, ideological, state-oriented structures, lack of funds and lack of interest of local authorities in obtaining visual information about the region’s environment.