Virgin forests as environmental, educational and scientific object of the Ukrainian Carpathians

The virgin forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians are unique ecosystems in which preserved natural, protected, recreational, historical and cultural objects. That is why a comprehensive study of the forest ecosystems of the Ukrainian Carpathians is needed in order to preserve these unique treasures of our country.The Ukrainian Carpathians are characterized in ecological, educational and scientific-cognitive aspects, as a significant number of objects and monuments of nature, history, architecture and culture are concentrated here. In the region under study, there is a well-developed network of nature reserve fund, the objects of which are basic for the organization of tourist activity.The importance of virgin forests as an ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive object of the Ukrainian Carpathians is revealed. The purpose of the research was to study the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians, as an object of ecological, educational and cognitive perception. The object of the research was the forest ecosystems within the conservation areas of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The subject of the study was the consideration of forest ecosystems as an ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive object. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were set: to give a complete definition of the term “primaeval” forests and their varieties; to identify, establish distribution areas and forest areas in the Ukrainian Carpathians; to analyze their ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive functions.It is revealed that the centres of distribution of forest ecosystems in the Ukrainian Carpathians are nature conservation areas, namely: Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Carpathian National Park, Uzhansky, Synevyr Verkhovyna, Cheremosky, Hutsulshchyna, Vyzhnytsya, Zacharovanyi Krai. It is stated that ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive objects in the region are natural undisturbed by the anthropogenic activity of the place.The best network of ecological-educational and scientific-educational trails is set up in the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The most popular are the eco-routes “To Goverla Mountain from Lazeshchyna”, “Kevelsky Forests to Petros”, “Beech Forests of Velyka Ugolka”, “To Sokolino Berdo”. It is revealed that the ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive potential of the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians is special.The primaeval forests are widespread in the Ukrainian Carpathians, and their area is about 50 thousand hectares, and much of it requires identification. Forests have a special status in Ukraine and are strictly protected in nature reserves and perform ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive functions, since within them preserved natural, intact, virgin objects and also represent the cultural heritage of the region.Key words: Ukrainian Carpathians, virgin forests, quasi-virgin forests, ancient forests, ecological-educational and scientific-cognitive objects.