National parks

National parks Askaniya-Nova Biosphere Reserve Cape Martyan Reserve Cheremskyi Nature Reserve Chornomors'kyi Biosphere Reserve Desnyano-Starogutskyi National Park Kanivs’kyi Reserve Karadag Reserve Karpatskyi Biosphere Karpatskyi National Podil’ski Tovtry National Park Polis’kyi Reserve Roztochchya Reserve Shats’kyi National Park Steppe Reserve Yalta Mountain Forest Reserve Yovorivskyi

Ukraine has a great diversity of natural landscapes and wildlife. For this reason areas of Ukraine have been declared protected areas, nature reserves and National parks. National Parks in Ukraine are vital for preserving large natural areas and provide the country with great opportunities to develop ecotourism. We discuss the protected areas andNational Parks of Ukraine under the headings: Mixed Forest area; Forest-Steppe area; Steppe area; Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains and Crimean Mountains. Mixed Forest Shatskyi National Park – This Ukrainian National Park was created in 1983. It was declared a Biosphere Reserve in the year 2002. Within the borders of the park there are 23 lakes, the largest is Svityaz (deepest and biggest in Ukraine). Circling the lakes are pine forests, home to 61 IUCN Red List species both of fauna and flora. Poliskyi Reserve – Located in Zhytomyr, the reserve was established in 1968, chiefly for research purposes. Swamps are an important habitat here and make up 22% of the park. Cheremskyi Nature Reserve – Established in the year 2001, the purpose of the reserve is to protect and study special ecosystems as well as for sustainable development. Desnyano-Starogutskyi National Park – Founded in 1999 and forms part of an Ukrainian-Russian biosphere reserve. 700 vascular plant species grow here. Forest-Steppe Yovorivskyi National Park – Created in 1998, much of the land is covered by oak, pine-oak, alder and hornbeam-oak forests. Also within the boundaries of the park are several historical monuments, a monastery and churches. National Park Podilski Tovtry – Founded in 1996 and is known for its amazing geological formations. Forests, grasslands and meadows define the landscape. Approximately 1 700 plant species can be found in the Park. Mineral springs as well as historical andcultural monuments attract many tourists. Kanivskyi Reserve – Established in 1968, it is situated on the bank of the Dnieper River. The reserve is considered to have great geological and archaeological significance. Roztochchya Reserve – Protected from 1984, the reserve consists of pine, oak, ash and beech forests leading to swamps with willows and birches. This region is an important watershed for rivers leading to the Baltic Sea and Black Sea. Steppe Askaniya-Nova Biosphere Reserve – Established way back in the 19th century this is the oldest protected area in Ukraine. It was declared UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1984. The park guards Europe's only Festuca-Stipa grassland community. Large numbers of animal species can be seen throughout the reserve. Ukrainian Steppe Reserve – Created in 1961, this reserve is actually made up of four reserves, namely Khomutivsky Steppe Reserve, Mykhailivska Tsilyna Reserve, Kamyani Mogyly Reserve and Melova Flora Reserve. Chornomorskyi Biosphere Reserve – Organized in 1927, is vital for the protection of migrating and nesting birds. Some 300 species of birds reside in the reserve. It also plays a significant role in education and scientific studies. Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains Karpatskyi Biosphere Reserve – Founded in 1968, the reserve encompasses five massifs. They are: Ugolsko-Shyrokoluzhansky massif, Marmarosk massif, Chronogir massif, Svidovets massif and Khust massif. Karpatskyi National Park – Created in 1980 it takes in Central Europe forest, alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems. This park is ideal for tourists as it incorporates health resorts, lodges, monuments, sporting facilities and archaeological sites. Crimean Mountains Yalta Mountain Forest Reserve – Founded in 1973 the forest extends along the coast of the Black sea. Protected forests include Crimean pine, juniper, beech, oak and hornbeam. Geological features to see are caves, grottoes, rocks, craters and waterfalls. Karadag Reserve – Created in 1979, the reserve protects Europe's only Jurassic period rocky shoreline massif. Formations in the reserve come from extinct volcanoes. Minerals found in the reserve include crystal, cornelian, jasper, amethyst, agate and opal. Cape Martyan Reserve – Established in 1993 near Yalta, the reserve protects the coastal aquatic ecosystem. Mediterranean vegetation such as fir,and oak grow here.