Concept of ecosystem services and its implementation in Ukraine

Abstract

Development in harmony with nature is a fundamental social paradigm, the realisation of which depends on fulfilment of basic conditions, namely preservation and restoration of the the natural environment as well as ensuring the ecologically safe functioning of ecosystems. There is a need to find a compromise between the social and economic needs of mankind and the potential of the biosphere to satisfy them. At the present stage of development of society, the tools based on economic interest are the most efficient for the effective use, preservation and restoration of ecosystem functions. The economic contributions of ecosystems are not fully taken into account in the modern economy. This is largely explained by the lack of a coherent scientific approach to defining their nature and lack of methodological tools for their economic evaluation. In this regard, the need arises for undertaking appropriate scientific research and the inclusion of ecosystem services in the activities of business entities. The concept of ecosystem services is based on the need for co-evolutionary development of environmental and economic components. There is no single approach to implementing the concept of ecosystem services that would meet the environmental conditions of every geographical site. Generalisation and systematisation of the provisions of the concept of ecosystem services, verification of the basic mechanisms and their adaptation to the legal and regulatory framework in Ukraine, examination of the conditions of ecosystems and their economic value are necessary for the implementation of the ecosystem approach in the sectors of the Ukrainian economy. The objective of the study is to characterise the progress of development and implementation of the concept of ecosystem services in Ukraine; to define and characterise the ecosystems in Ukraine that are particularly important for the provision of ecosystem services. Scientific principles and consistent patterns in the field of ecology, geography and landscape science provided the methodological basis of the study, which was based on a systematic approach. The cartographic method (based on GIS-technologies), the method of expert estimations and the statistical method were used. ArcGis and Mapinfo Professional software products as well as Google satellite images and electronic vector layers of a topographic map of Ukraine with a scale of 1:200,000 were used to calculate the area of ecosystems within landscapes and create cartographic material. Statistical and cartographic materials, reports from research institutions, regulatory and reference materials, scientific papers written by domestic and foreign scholars provided the information basis of the study. Scientific papers on the classification of ecosystems, ecosystem services and the implementation of the concept of ecosystem services in Ukraine have been analysed. The categories, size and area of ecosystems in Ukraine that are of particular importance for the provision of ecosystem services have been defined, their ecological condition has been assessed and the prevailing ecosystem services have been identified.