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An annotated list of new records of butterflies and moths of the National Nature Park ‘Dvorichanskyi’ is provided. The list includes 103 species, of which 80 are registered in the park for the first time, 60 are new records for Kharkiv Region, and 3 (Trifurcula austriaca van Nieukerken, 1990, Ochsenheimeria capella Möschler, 1860, and Leucoptera genistae (M. Herring, 1933)) are new for Ukraine. Totally, there are 1,364 species of Lepidoptera registered in the National Nature Park ‘Dvorichanskyi’. There are 13 species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine and 24 species from the Red Data Book of Kharkiv Region of Ukraine registered in the park.

As a result of mycological research 34 species of coprophilous ascomycetes from 14 genera, 10 families, and 5 orders were recorded on the territory of the Oleshkivski Pisky National Nature Park. Among them 15 species belonged to the class Sordariomycetes, 12 – to Dothideomycetes, and 7 – to Pezizomycetes. Among the orders of the fungi, Sordariales – 12 species, Pleosporales – 11, and Pezizales – 7, occupy the leading position; the rest of the orders revealed the fewer number of species. Among the families, Sporormiaceae, Podosporaceae, Coniochaetaceae, Delitschiaceae, and Sordariacea, were the most abundant regarding the number of species and specimens. The species from the five leading families represent 64,7% of the total number of identified species. Among the found genera of the coprophilous ascomycetes, Coniochaeta, Delitschia, Sordaria, Sporormiella, and Triangularia prevailed by number of species, demonstrating much larger diversity, than others. Environmental conditions inside the park are more favorable for the development of loculoascomycetes and pyrenomycetes. The discomycetes species diversity was much less. The list of recorded fungi and their substrates is presented. All species of ascomycetes were collected on the hare and cattle excrements. Other dung types have not been studied. 31 species are new to the territory of the park, 15 species are new records for the steppe zone of Ukraine. Coniochaeta hansenii and Sporormiella tetramera are first recorded in Ukraine. Descriptions, illustrations, synonyms and general distribution are provided for them. C. hansenii is a fairly common and widespread species in the world, occurring mainly on the leporid droppings. In the park, this species was also collected on hare dung. S. tetramera also belongs to the widespread but rare species of coprophilous ascomycetes, known from isolated records in a few countries. It was collected on the hare excrements in the park. Сoniochaeta leucoplaca, Delitshia perpusilla and Triangularia comata were collected for the first time in the steppe zone of Ukraine and for the second time in the country. У результаті дослідження копрофільних аскоміцетів Національного природного парку «Олешківські піски» було виявлено 34 види грибів із 14 родів, 10 родини та 5 порядків. Це представники трьох класів: Sordariomycetes – 15 видів, Dothideomycetes – 12, Pezizomycetes – 7. Серед порядків найчисельнішими є Sordariales – 12 видів, Pleosporales – 11 та Pezizales – 7. У родинному спектрі грибів переважають представники Sporormiaceae, Podosporaceae, Coniochaetaceae, Delitschiaceae та Sordariacea, які об’єднують 64,7% загальної кількості виявлених видів аскоміцетів. Серед родів переважають Coniochaeta, Delitschia, Sordaria, Sporormiella та Triangularia. Екологічні умови території парку є більш сприятливими для розвитку локулоаскоміцетів і піреноміцетів. Кількість знахідок видів дискоміцетів є незначною. Представлено список зареєстрованих видів грибів, для кожного виду вказано локалітети та живильні субстрати. Всі види грибів зібрані на посліді зайця та корови. Інші типи копром не досліджувались. З виявлених видів аскоміцетів 31 наводиться вперше для території парку, 15 є новими для степової зони України. Два види аскоміцетів є новими для мікобіоти України та Східної Європи: Coniochaeta hansenii та Sporormiella tetramera. У статті представлено їх діагнози та фото, обговорюються деталі морфології, субстратної приуроченості та поширення у світі. C. hansenii є досить звичайним та поширеним у світі видом, що переважно трапляється на екскрементах зайцеподібних.На території парку також була зібрана на копромах зайця. S. tetramera належить до поширених у світі, але рідкісних видів копрофільних аскоміцетів, відомих з поодиноких знахідок у небагатьох країнах. У парку зібрана на посліді зайця. Знахідки Сoniochaeta leucoplaca, Delitshia perpusilla та Triangularia comata є новими для території степової зони України та вдруге наводяться для нашої держави.

Introduction. Holosiivskyi National Nature Park is a unique, by its location, protected area. Parts of the park are located within the administrative boundaries of the city of Kyiv and include extensive, by area, forest plots. The park consists of three parts: Central (Holosiivskyi forest and other tracts), Southern (Lisnyky), and, since 2014, Northern (Svyatoshyn-Bilychi). The latter has the largest area – 6462.62 ha. Data on the chiropterofauna of this massif were incomplete. Bats are an essential element of terrestrial ecosystems. All bat species in Ukraine have a protection status, according to the Red Book of Ukraine and three international treaties. For effective conservation measures for species of this group, it is necessary to own data on their distribution, number, status, etc. As well, the study and monitoring of fauna are one of the primary tasks of national nature parks. Серія «Біологічні науки», 202125Purpose. The aim of the work was to describe the bat fauna of the Svyatoshyn-Bilychi massif of the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park, based on results of the field research conducted in 2019–2020, with the involvement of data collected in 2000–2005.Methods. Catching was carried out with mist nets. Bats were examined by the standard scheme, immediately after their capture. The study was done without removing animals from the wild; bats were released immediately after their examination at the place of their capture. Ultrasonic detectors were used for acoustic observations. The search of roosts was done by social vocalization of bats, presence of feces, night and morning swarming; as well structures which might be potential shelters for bats were inspected.Results. During 2000–2020, at the territory of the Svyatoshyn-Bilychi massif, nine bat species were recorded: Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis dasycneme, M. daubentonii, Nyctalus leisleri, N. noctula,Plecotus auritus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, P. nathusii, P. pygmaeus. Thus, today the list of bat fauna of the Svyatoshyn-Bilychi massif includes 10 species: 9, recorded; 1 species, Nyctalus lasiopterus, known by the record of the first half of the 20th century, was not revealed. According to the results of the survey in 2019–2020, four species were found to be dominants, in terms of the number of record points and their representation in catches: P. nathusii, P. pygmaeus, N. noctula, N. leisleri. During the survey, six species were confirmed to breed at the study area. 11 bat roosts were found; most of them, in trees.Originality. A comprehensive inventory of the chiropterofauna of the large protected area of the Svyatoshyn-Bilychimassif of the Holosiivskyi National Park was carried out for the first time. The first and the only one known Myotis dasycneme maternity colony in Kyiv region was found.Conclusion. The initial description of the chiropterofauna of the Svyatoshyn-Bilychi massif of the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park is presented. The obtained data can be used in the development and further implementation of practical measures for the conservation of bats within the territory of the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park and represent the basis for bat monitoring in the future. Key words: bats, fauna, Holosiivskyi National Nature Park, Kyiv City, Central Ukraine.

The importance of conserving biodiversity, reflected in a number of international instruments other than the Convention on Biological Diversity. In this context, rare visions deserve special attention, which are the most understandable, because rarity precedes extinction. Especially relevant are the studies of rare views in the Ukrainian Carpathians, which is the smallest anthropogenically altered territory of Ukraine. Conservation of biotic diversity in this region is of European importance, which is reflected in the international "Framework Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians". Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the rare phytogenus fund allow to characterize the level of uniqueness of flora, serve as a basis for the formation of regional Red Lists and allow to organize adequate environmental measures. Sozological characteristics of flora of different levels imply, for all, the analysis of representation is transformed into its composition of taxa listed in the "red" lists of different levels – international, national, regional. A rare component of the flora of the Verkhovynsky National Nature Park includes 125 species of vascular plants with international, national and regional sociological status.Of these, 64 species of plants listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 3 species listed in the IUCN Red List, 7 species listed in the European Red List, 2 species – in Annex I of the Bern Convention, 2 species – in Annexes IIb and IVb of the EU Directive on the conservation of population and species of natural fauna and flora. 21 species – listed in CITES Appendix II, 26 species in the Regional Red List. Thus, a third (32.3%) of the "Red Book" species of vascular plants of the Ivano-Frankivsk region are protected on the territory of the Park, in addition, it is 29.9% of the "Red Book" species of plants of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The leading families of the rare component of the flora of Verkhovynsky National Park are Orchidaceae. The second and third positions are occupied by the breeds Ranunculaceae and Asteraceae.In general, the first three families account for 39.6% of the species composition of the list. In total, the first nine taxa cover more than two thirds (64.9%) of the species composition of the list. According to the results of good analysis, it is established that the number of rare species and their localities located on the mountain massifs: Gnetesa-Fatiya Banului, Preluky-Hitanka, Lostun-Glistuvata, Palenytsia-Komanova, and attached to the largest rare species to the mid-mountain phenomenon.

The National Nature Park «Nyzhnyodniprovsky» is located in the south of Ukraine in the Kherson region. According to a preliminary analysis, the flora of the NNP «Nyzhnyodniprovsky» has 516 species of higher vascular plants belonging to 313 genera and 100 families During the expeditionary research on the territory of Nizhnedneprovsky National Park in 2019-2020, an inventory of flora was conducted and species that were not previously listed for the territory of the national nature park were identified – 58 species of higher vascular plants belonging to 42 genera and 22 families. Of the 58 species, 19 are listed firstly for territory of NNP, others are noted in the literature, 32 of them are noted for the lower reaches of the Dnieper and seven – for the modern territory of NNP. From the total number of locations found 15 species were recorded in the steppe areas.

This work is the first attempt to make up an inventory of the fauna of rove beetles in the Hutsulshchyna National Natural Park (Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast), which was created in 2002 and has an area of 32,271 hectares. The modern territory of the park has never been the object of special scientific research on the fauna of rove beetles of the Aleocharinae subfamily. As a result, information about the finds of representatives of the Aleocharinae subfamily has been obtained from the study of the largest collection of rove beetles in Ukraine, which contains both modern collections and collections of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection was formed by Marian-Aloiz Lomnitski and was further developed and replenished with collections from different parts of Ukraine and the world by several generations of Ukrainian and European entomologists. For the moment, the collection is kept in the funds of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and contains more than 1,500 specimens, which belong to more than 300 species and are of great historical and scientific value. As a result of the conducted studies, 30 species belonging to 18 genera are reported for the first time for the fauna of the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park, of which 4 species (Atheta corvina (Thomson, 1856), Schistoglossa viduata (Erichson, 1837), Leptusa puellaris puellaris (C. Hampe, 1863), Silusa rubra (Erichson, 1839)) are reported for the first time for the territory of Ukraine. The species and specimens (with references, data of their distribution in Europe, as well as substrate and biotope preferences of adults) are listed. The obtained data will later on provide an opportunity to expand the understanding of the distribution of species – specifically for faunal research, as well as for biogeographic modelling.

An annotated list of new records of butterflies and moths of the National Nature Park ‘Dvorichanskyi’ is provided. The list includes 85 species, of which 46 are registered in the park for the first time, 24 are new records for Kharkiv Region, and 1 (Phtheochroa unionana (Kennel, 1900)) is new for Ukraine. Totally, there are 1,284 species of Lepidoptera registered in the National Nature Park ‘Dvorichanskyi’. There are 12 species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine and 23 species from the Red Data Book of Kharkiv Region of Ukraine registered in the park.

The additional data to the list of butterflies and moths of Ichnia National Nature Park is given. There are original records for 91 lepidopterous species from 78 genera of 12 families presented. Actually, 42 species from 37 genera of 10 families are recorded in the Ichnia National Nature Park for the first time. Recently the checklist of Lepidoptera of Ichnia National Nature Park and its immediate environs (taking into account the species from the previously published list) includes 633 known species from 379 genera of 31 families. According to the number of registered species, the following Lepidoptera families prevail in the fauna of Ichnia National Nature Park: Noctuidae (190 species from 99 genera), Geometridae (147 species from 83 genera), Tortricidae (70 species from 35 genera), Erebidae (36 species from 27 genera), Pyralidae (34 species from 25 genera) and Crambidae (24 species from 18 genera). The best studied is the territory of Arboretum ‘Trostianets’ of the National Academy of ciences of Ukraine (as a separate component of Ichnia National Nature Park), where 506 lepidopterous species from 302 genera of 21 families were registered. In other parts of the Ichnia National Nature Park 156 species from 133 genera of 27 families were recorded. It shows a lack of knowledge of its Lepidoptera diversity as a whole.

The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils, a geoconservation plan has been developed by ICNF with the support of local authorities. After several years of being open to visitors without proper control, the Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site is now conditioned to organized groups of researchers, schools, and tourists. Some body fossils were collected for studies and included in the national collections of the Geological Museum (Lisbon). Moreover, casts have been made to protect holotypes of trace fossils, also providing ways to replicate this fossil record in temporary exhibitions. A long-term experimental study to conserve the limestone bedding plane exposures and their fossil contents was started in order to develop the best geoconservation strategy with an aim to reduce the damage produced by the increasing tourist demand on natural sites. Cabeço da Ladeira and other geosites in protected areas are key to communicating an evolutionary approach to environmental education, and their geoconservation must be a priority to improve their long-term use as (geo)tourism attractions. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The work of AB has been supported by the ALAN‐X, PALEOGIANTS, and CAMBIACLIMA projects (University of Genova, Italy). Fieldwork was partially conducted with the financial support of Naturtejo, E.IM.

The monograph “Monitoring of springs of the Carpathian National Natural Park” is presented and analyzed in the article (authors R.L. Kravchynskyi, V.K. Khilchevskyi, M.V. Korchemlyuk, O. M. Stefurak / Ed. by V.K. Khilchevskyi), published in 2019. This is the first such monographic study of of springs in Ukraine. It presents the results of monitoring studies of natural of springs in the territory of the Carpathian National Natural Park (field surveys, studies of the hydrological regime, chemical composition of water). Inventory and accounting of springs is included in the plan of annual nature conservation activities held in the park. There are all the necessary conditions for a comprehensive study of natural groundwater output to the surface – scientific, logistical and informational base. In 2019, after the grant of two wetlands in the Carpathian National Park (Prut and Pogorelets) international status and their inclusion in the list of wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Imports of International Imports especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 1971 – the study of environmental components, including springs, becomes more relevant and practical. About 40 expeditions were conducted to investigate springs in three major natural complexes in the Carpathian National Nature Park: Skibov Gorgany, Yasin-Verkhovyna Inter-Mountain Basin, and the Chernogorsky Massif. In the hydrological aspect, these are the basins of the Prut River. About 300 objects were covered by the monitoring studies. As a result of the analysis of literary sources, summarization of the information obtained in the expeditions, laboratory conditions and during the camera processing of materials, a considerable amount of data has been formed for writing the first monographic study in Ukraine on this subject, structurally consisting of eight sections. The methods used in the study of of springs and interpretation of data are presented. The book notes that in our time the multifaceted structure of the ecological and functional significance of natural of springs can be the subject of interdisciplinary research, including natural, technical, economic, often medical, and sometimes humanities. The necessity of increasing attention to the monitoring of natural of springs from environmental experts – geographers, hydrogeologists, hydrologists, ecologists, is justified.

Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park (Krasnokutsk District, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine) is represented by forest ecosystems and areas of forest marshes and swamp alders. Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park is adjacent to the floodplains of the Merla and Merchik rivers (Dnipro river basin). Studies of small mammals were conducted in 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2013–2018 in different biotopes. The data were collected using different types of traps, observation of animals in nature, fixation the traces of their vital activity, analysis of owl pellets, and surveys of the park’s staff and locals. Currently, 19 species of small mammals were identified for Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park and its surroundings, including 5 insectivorous and 14 rodent species. The number of species recorded in the study area is less than that for Kharkiv region (25 species) and for the two other national nature parks located in Kharkiv region (22 species in Dvorichanskyi NNP, 23 species in Gomilshanski lisy NNP). In total, 12 species of small mammals were caught by traps (4 insectivorous and 8 rodent species). Forest and eurytopic species such as Talpa europaea, Sorex araneus, Sorex minutus, Myodes glareolus, Sylvaemus sylvaticus / uralensis, Sylvaemus tauricus are the most widespread and abundant in Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park and its surrounding territories. Myodes glareolus is dominant in almost all biotopes except for floodplains. The typical meadow and steppe species Cricetulus migratorius and Alexandromys oeconomus are rare in Slobozhanskyi National Nature Park. Cricetulus migratorius is known only by bone remains from pellets of the tawny owl. Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus occur near human settlements in the study area. The highest species richness of small mammals (11 species) is found in the floodplain. This can be explained by the specific conditions of the drained floodplain with trees and shrubs along reclamation channels. According to the research, the smallest number of species (3–4 species) was recorded in young pine plantations.

An annotated list of new records of butterflies and moths of the National Nature Park ‘Dvorichanskyi’ is provided. The list includes 214 species, of which 174 are registered in the park for the first time, 116 are new records for Kharkiv Region, and 7 (Monopis pallidella, Phyllonorycter cephalariae, Amseliphora saturatella, Caryocolum petryi, Blastobasis pannonica, Neopempelia hieroglyphella, Mythimna deserticola) are new for Ukraine. Totally there are 1,238 species of Lepidoptera registered in the National Nature Park ‘Dvorichanskyi’. There are 11 species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine and 22 species from the Red Data Book of Kharkiv Region of Ukraine registered in the park. 20 figs, 32 refs.

Currently, palsa mires in the southern limit of circumpolar permafrost zone are characterized by an increased intensity of thermokarst processes. In the south of Nature Park Numto the cyclic character of frozen mound formation was replaced by their unidirectional degradation as a result of thaw. We analyze plant indicators of various thermokarst forms occurring in mounds: denudation spots, slumps and funnels. Depending on the stages of thermokarst and type of palsas (flat mound or large mound ones) a number of plant indicators of thawing is revealed: “the drunken forest”, the loss of dwarf shrubs and lichens and their secondary colonization, eutrophication of communities, the emergence of the “ridges” of vegetatively mobile species and others. Brown mosses and secondary colonizing Cladonia lichens with cup-shaped and club-like podetia are indicators of slow thermokarst on patches of denudation in large mounds. Meanwhile, the role of Cladonia lichens with richly branched podetia is markedly reduced. Mesotrophic communities, dominated by mesotrophic sphagnum mosses, are formed in deep funnels on large mounds under the conditions of frozen bed existence. The development of eutrophic communities indicates the release of nutrients during the melting of peat. The stages of thermokarst on the flat palsa mounds correspond to the following succession row: lichens + dwarf shrubs → hygrophyte sphagnum mosses and / or brown mosses + liverworts → hygro-hydrophyte sphagnum mosses + Warnstorfia fluitans. Reliable and the most long-term indicator of thermokarst on large mounds is the downy birch (Betula pubescens).

This study reports a continuous microclimate monitoring carried out in Gorilla Cave、Beifeng Cave、Jingua Cave and Tienyu Cave(Kaohsiung, Taiwan) between June 2018 and August 2019. These limestone caves are located in the Mt. Shoushan, which is mainly composed of limestone and mudstone. This study tried to assess the recreational impacts to the microclimate of the caves by monitoring the CO2, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure, and provide effective management strategies. A monitoring station was set up at the middle of each cave. We also set up an auto-operated time-lapse camera at the entrance of the caves to record the numbers of tourists and their entering time and the durations in caves. As carbon dioxide in the limestone caves may have negative impact to both speleothems and visitors, our presentation focuses on the variations of CO2 concentration in the caves.Daily and seasonal fluctuations of CO2 concentration were observed. Monitoring data show that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the caves also changes significantly with the wet and dry seasons. The monthly average of the carbon dioxide concentration in the cave has a good correlation with rainfall and temperature, which means that the higher the temperature and humidity, the higher the carbon dioxide concentration in the cave. Besides, the difference between the day-night temperature change outside the cave and the temperature inside the caves also seems to affect whether the carbon dioxide inside the cave is easily dissipated or not. Especially when the temperature outside the cave at night is lower than the temperature inside the cave, the carbon dioxide concentration inside the cave often drops to the environmental background value (around 420 ppm). Therefore, the difference in air density caused by high and low temperature may be an important mechanism driving the gas exchange inside and outside the cave.Based on the monitoring results, we suggest that (1) The cave is open during the dry seasons from November to April. Although monitoring data indicate that the caves have gradually dried up in October, cave exploration activities have also become active. However, the period from wet to dry in the cave is theoretically the stage of cave rock development. Considering the continuous dripping in the cave at this time, in order to avoid disturbing the development of speleothems, it is recommended to close the caves until most of the caves are dry in November. (2) The caves are open daily from 8 am to 12 am, from 1 pm to 5 pm, with a break of an hour at noon. (3) There are one batch per hour and 8 batches per day to allow visitors enter the caves, and the stay time is limited to 1 hour. (4) The monitoring results also help us reasonably estimate the number of visitors in each batch, that is, Gorilla Cave is about 15 people, Tienyu Cave is 20 to 30 people, Beifeng Cave is about 20 people and Jingua Cave is 10 to 15 people.

Anthropogenic activities cause environmental pollution and alter biogeochemical cycles. Soils in cities and their vicinity are exposed to different pollutants. Nature Park Shumen Plateau is a protected area situated in the proximity of Shumen (Bulgaria). The aim of this research was to compare elemental composition of surface soil samples from Nature Park with two areas in Shumen city. Soil samples from seven sites on the territory of Nature Park and from two urban sites were collected. The elemental composition of the samples was determined using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence technique. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to interpret the complex data. The content of 24 elements was determined: Br, Y, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce Si, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Pb. Results presented here and previously showed that concentrations of heavy metals Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb are below the upper limit according to Bulgarian legislation. Concentrations of Mn and Fe in samples from Nature Park were comparable to the literature data reported for unpolluted areas. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis show similarity of the content of 24 elements between samples from Nature Park and from Shumen city. These findings are in accordance with our previous positive results from Allium-test: cytogenetic endpoints showed a presence of harmful compounds in Nature Park soils. The content of heavy metals in the surface soils studied show a lack of environmental risk for Nature Park. However, a similar distribution pattern of the investigated elements in the park and two anthropologically influenced areas in Shumen city indicated a potential hazard in Nature Park.

The green areas play a significant role in keeping the urban population healthy. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in the urban and peri-urban parks lately. The Nature Park Shumen plateau and Shumen City Park are an important green area for residents of Shumen city. The aim of this study was to make comparative analysis of the qualities of the Nature Park Shumen Plateau and the Shumen City Park as green spaces. For quality assessment 10 criteria were used. The criteria were grouped in four categories - Green space placement, Green space use, Environment and Biodiversity. Five-point Likert scale was used to determine satisfaction with each of the 10 criteria. Nine experts did the evaluation of the criteria. In category “Green space placement”, the Nature Park Shumen Plateau and the Shumen City Park had very similar evaluations however there were big differences in the individual criteria. According to the category “Green space use, both parks showed rather similar results. Concerning the category „Environment”, the Nature Park Shumen Plateau received slightly higher assessment and the category “Biodiversity” was ranked as twice higher. The results show that the Nature Park Shumen Plateau and the Shumen City Park possess good quality as a green area, as the Nature Park Shumen Plateau was higher assessed compared to the Shumen City Park.

The article presents the results of a 10 years long research on roadkills in Sviati Hory National Nature Park. The research was held in 2006–2016. In total, 24 roadkilled bats belonging to 9 species were found: Myotis nattereri, Myotis daubentoni, Plecotus auritus, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Eptesicus serotinus, and Vespertilio murinus. All roadkilled specimens were recorded during the summer-autumn period, from June until November. The most frequent roadkills are the brown long-eared bat and two pipistrelle species. The negative impact of roads on populations of bats may not be significant in this region. Monitoring of roads on the subject of dead animals may be useful for the registration of finds of rare species and for collecting materials of species with high conservation status.

The paper is devoted to the review of the World Karst Natural Heritage and the perspectives of such new properties in the Russia. Presently there are 37 World Karst Natural Heritage sites on the globe; 34 of them have the natural heritage and 3 sites have the mixed, natural-cultural significance. The World Karst Heritage distribution by the countries and by parts of the world was analyzed. A brief description of outstanding universal value of the “Lena Pillars Nature Park”, being currently the only Russian karst area nominated at the List of World Natural Heritage by a specific type of the karst – ground frozen karst, was given. The necessity of the new World Karst Heritage properties characterizing by the karst development in sulfate and salt rock sites are considered. The karst areas, located in extreme (cold or arid) climate conditions, are in the focus of separate attention.

Many wild animal populations are considered endangered due to anthropogenic activities. Wildlife and nature habitat preservation requires holistic and science based approaches supported by adequate regulations. One of the means for wildlife preservation is undoubtedly heath monitoring and investigation of infectious diseases of the wild animal populations, particularly if spillover effects are considered. Even though the theoretical background is well researched, implementation of disease prevention and control measures in wildlife populations entails more challenges than in domestic animal populations. Immediate signs of health disorders in wildlife often become evident when the infectious agent is well established in an area. Additionally, due to unrestricted and often long-range movement of wildlife, diseases are easily spread across borders. Brown bears, indigenous in Europe, are classified by EU regulations as endangered, almost extinct and rare. The wild bear population in Bosnia and Herzegovina shares a genetic lineage with bear populations of neighbouring Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and is one of the few remaining fragments of bear populations in Europe. The aim of this paper is to describe implemented activities for health and telemetric monitoring of wild bears in the Nature Park Skakavac, Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Data on dynamics of population and distribution of the wildcat and in the Uzhansky National Nature Park from since its creation (2001–2016) are presented. Results of census of this species are analysed. The abundance of the wildcat became critical on the territory of the park in the beginning of the 20th century. Significant increase in its abundance has been noticed since 2007. The most important factors threatening the existence of species were analysed and it was established that the greatest threats for the species are poaching and conflicts with the locals. The creation of the national park improved conditions for the existence of the wildcat in the territory and for conservation of the species in general. There are favourable natural conditions and rich feeding base for existence of this mammal in the park.

The Nature Park "Telašćica" covers the southern part of the island Dugi Otok (Long Island), one of the bigger islands along the Croatian coast. It is only 25 km away from Zadar in southern direction, neighbouring National Park "Kornati" which extends towards south-east. The central office is in Sali, the main administrative centre of the Dugi Otok (1190 inh. 1991). N. P. "Telašćica" is proclaimed in 1988 after being divided apart from N. P. "Kornati". It covers an area of 25,95 km2 of the land (Dugi Otok and belonging islets), and 44,55 km2 of the sea, altogether 70,50 km2. Although the environmental plan had been made there, some problems of its protection and sustainable development have not been solved yet. The conflict between the idea of complete protection and that of an intensive exploitation of the territory has been existed. The Environmental Plan of N. P. "Telašćica", made in 1990 suggests a series of actions to be started in order to insure functional and comprehending protection of biological and physical nature.

Peter the Great Botanic Garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS took part in establishing of the Lower Khoper Nature Park – the largest Park at Volgograd region (active since 2003). The Garden helps to the Park with scientific consulting in identification of species and in clarifying places of its natural distribution, in development of ecological tourism and other branches of the Park’s activity. At the same time the cooperation with Park is useful for Botanic Garden to enlarge the collection with new valuable and well documented samples of natural provenances.

Results of a 8-year-long monitoring study of micromammals in the "Holy Mountains" National Nature Park are presented. Data accumulated from 2006 to 2014 within 3 monitoring plots were analized. In sum, during 20 672 trap-days 1111 specimens were collected. Studies mainly concerned the most typical biotopes of the park, namely pine and oak forests. The composition and structure of the micromammal community within the studied area are described. There were 14 micromammal species recorded in NNP “Holy Mountains.” The yellow-necked wood mouse is a dominant species, while the wood mouse and the bank vole are subdominants. The obtained data were analyzed by using the Shannon and Simpson indexes. It was shown that the biodiversity indexes change as a result not only fluctuations in the number of micromammals, but also the anthropogenic transformation of habitats. The lowest values of diversity indexes are in biotopes with the highest abundance of rodents.

The Bolimów Large Forest, of 85 km2 area, is situated in the center of Poland, between Warsaw and Lodz, in the middle course of Rawka river. It is a rest of a former extent woodland, in which the aurochs Bos primigenius had lived until 1627. The aurochs became extinct in whole Europe in early medieval time. Because of special protection ordered by Polish kings this species had survived in Poland to the begening of XVII century. The life history of the species and its habitat in last 200 years of existing is know well owing to archival documents. But from the XVI to the end of XIX centuries the exploitation of forest resources grew and grew, forest area diminished with action of agriculture and settlement. Only in XX century the trend of change turn back: forest area began grow and tree stands improve. Now the Bolimów Large Forest is protected by law as a Nature Park with 6 reserves inside. It has a very important functions as educational and touristic area.

The terraced landscape in the Jeruzalem Hills is the result of specific socioeconomic conditions under communism, and now its appearance is drastically changing for the second time in the last fifty years. This article examines the creation of the new landscape layer of modern cultivated terraces and studies their disappearance and the return to a condition similar to the original state. The analysis is based on interviews and visual interpretation of aerial laser scanning (lidar) data. It focuses on the state of the landscape before terracing, the creation of terraces and formation of a terraced landscape, and its most recent transformation into slopes without terraces. It is determined that, despite the recognized aesthetic value of terraces, legal protection in the form of a nature park has not impacted their preservation because 56% of them have already been leveled. With the conversion of vineyards to vertical plantations, a new challenge is arising: increased erosion.

Biodiversity of lichens in the "Olenyi Ruchyi" Nature Park (Sverdlovsk Region, Middle Urals, Russia) has been studied. The list of 240 species is presented. Leptogium turgidum (Ach.) Cromb. is recorded for the first time in Russia, Verrucaria foveolata (Florke) A. Massal. for the first time in the Ural Mountains. Nine species: Anema nummularium (Duf. ex Dur et Mont.) Nyl. ex Forss., Collema dichotomum (With.) Coppins et J. R. Laundon, Fellhaneropsis vezdae (Coppins et P. James) Serus. et Coppins, Gyalecta ulmi (Sw.) Zahlbr., Lemmopsis arnoldiana (Hepp) Zahlbr., Leptogium rivulare (Ach.) Mont., Pertusaria coccodes (Ach.) Nyl., Pyrenopsis haemaleella (Nyl.) Blomb. et Forssell and Verrucaria foveolata — are known in the Sverdlovsk Region from the Nature Park locality only.

Preliminary list of lichens of the Nature Park “Shodnya River valley in Kurkino” (Moscow) comprises 51 species. The list includes data on their ecology, distribution and GPS coordinates for the red-listed species (5 are included in the Red Data Book of Moscow, 2 — in the Red Data Book of the Moscow Region). The locality of new for Moscow lichen species Melanelixia subargentifera (Nyl.) O. Blanco et al. is provided.