An analysis of the current state of dendrological objects protected by the city of Kherson

Abstract

Kherson is located within the dry steppe subzone of the Steppe zone of Ukraine. Therefore, woody vegetation is not typical for the Kherson urbo-ecosystem. And hence, single trees and dendrological parks are unique azonal natural objects that require careful control and conservation. Currently, there are 10 objects in the nature reserve fund of Kherson. Among them there are four parks, monuments of garden art and six botanical nature monuments of local significance. The parks-monuments include the Botanical Garden of the Kherson Pedagogical Institute, the Park of the boarding school №2, the Arboretum of the Institute of Irrigation Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, the Arboretum of the Kherson Agricultural Institute. These objects were organized to preserve, study and renew the collections of living plants, especially rare and exotic species, which have a scientific, ecological and aesthetic value. Their tasks on the territory of Kherson are: to support the overall ecological balance in the region; to protect and preserve the most prominent and valuable examples of park construction to use them for aesthetic, educational, scientific, environmental and recreational purposes; to ensure the protection of its territory with all its natural objects; dissemination of ecological knowledge, etc. Century oaks are the botanical monuments of nature of local significance. These specimens belong to Quercus robur L. of more than a hundred years old. All these objects are in satisfactory condition, have fences and information plates. Regarding the present state of protected parks, it is important to note that the degree of conservation and protection of each of them varies. The Botanical Garden of the Kherson Pedagogical Institute (12,34 hectares) is a scientific, educational and recreational establishment, well guarded and in satisfactory condition. The dendrological park of the Kherson Agricultural Institute (2,4 hectares) is a green zone in the middle of a densely populated area of the city. Therefore, despite the conservation status and efforts of the staff, it suffers from excessive recreational stress and vandalism. All this negatively reflects on its trees and the overall ecological state. The arboretum of the Institute of Irrigation Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (5,6 hectares) is in a satisfactory condition, as it is far from the densely populated areas of the city. Nevertheless, its proximity to a crowded highway of international significance causes a negative influence. Among all the arboreta of Kherson, the park of the boarding school №2 is in the worst ecological condition. All this is caused by a number of reasons: the lack of administering and protection of the object; excessive recreational load; absence of cutting and sanitizing; unauthorized landfills, etc.