Humans, megafauna and landscape structure – Rock engravings from Namibia encourage a comparative approach to central Europe and southern Africa

This paper deals with reflections that arose after observing prehistoric rock engravings at different locations in Namibia. These observations stimulated comparative considerations with focus on southern Africa and central Europe. Similar to the Aurignacian rock art of European origin, the most common motifs in the Namibian rock engravings are large animals. While in Europe, the species that served as a blueprint for the illustration of Aurignacian rock art have mostly disappeared, the megafauna illustrated on the rock engravings in Namibia can still be found in the immediate vicinity of the rock art. Against this background, we discuss and further develop a comparative regional approach. We reconstruct and evaluate the suitability of African savannas and still-existing megafauna communities as an appropriate reference-frame for natural European grassland systems and extinct associated warm-adapted megafauna (Eemian Interglacial megafauna). Special attention is laid on the unique situation in Africa in the light of a global extinction wave of megafauna following increasing human activity in the Late Quaternary. This leads us to discuss the use of domesticated ungulates as surrogate taxa to fulfill ecosystem functions in Europe as part of concepts termed “rewilding” or “naturalistic grazing”. After critically examining these concepts, we conclude that using domesticated forms as representatives of extinct or locally disappeared species in Europe has its justification to some extent. If, however, the naturally occurring megaherbivore community still exists (Africa), these naturally occurring species should be given priority due to their organismic abilities and limitations adapted to the harsh conditions in their specific environment. Finally, we discuss the application of (transboundary) protected areas as effective instruments to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. A holistic approach, including nature conservation and preservation of cultural achievements (domesticated forms, grazing systems), appears promising for the effective protection of the natural African savanna ecosystems with their unique fauna elements, as illustrated in rock engravings that inspired us to write this paper.

REGIONAL ECONETWORK OF VOLYN OBLAST

The purpose of the publication is to clarify the peculiarities of the formation, modern structure, prospects for the development of the regional ecological network of the Volyn Oblast, substantiation of measures to optimize its territorial organization. The methods of comparative geographical analysis, cartographic modeling, statistical are used in the work. The characterization of all available nature protection networks of the oblast: territories and objects of nature reserve fund, wetlands of Ramsar list, especially important nature protection territories of Emerald network, regional ecological network is made, the scheme of regional econetwork developed by authors is given, functioning problems are defined. It is shown that the Volyn Oblast has a significant environmental potential, and the border location necessitates environmental cooperation with Poland and Belarus, in particular in the formation of transboundary protected areas - international protected areas. Peculiarities of the development of the network of territories and objects of the nature reserve fund, substantiation of structural and functional elements of the regional ecological network are considered taking into account their hierarchy and landscape representativeness. The necessity of further physical-geographical researches of regional nature protection networks for the purpose of optimization of landscape-ecological organization of the territory is substantiated, which will promote realization of natural potential of geosystems and reduce probable risks of discrepancy between natural preconditions and their functional use. It is proved that effective environmental protection of the oblast requires practical implementation of a number of measures, including identification of rare species of plants and animals included in national and international conservation lists, development of relevant maps, inventory of lands subject to conservation, reclamation, etc., development of local econetworks in terms of administrative districts, united territorial communities, city and village councils, intensification of the process of greening of public consciousness and social production.

Does environmental peacemaking between states work? Insights on cooperative environmental agreements and reconciliation in international rivalries

The literature on environmental peacemaking argues that cooperation in the face of shared environmental challenges can facilitate further cooperation, trust building, and eventually peace between states in conflict. Empirical research on environmental peacemaking, predominantly conducted in the form of single case studies, has so far been inconclusive. This article uses a cross-case, multimethod research design to test the environmental peacemaking proposition. More specifically, it argues that the conclusion of a cooperative environmental agreement can have a positive impact on reconciliation between rival states. Based on a new dataset on international rivalry termination, transboundary protected areas, and international freshwater agreements, this article first conducts a statistical analysis and a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). The results are then verified and refined by six case studies. Triangulation of findings from the three studies suggests that the conclusion of a cooperative environmental agreement facilitates reconciliation in international rivalries. But this effect is contingent on a number of scope conditions, such as high environmental attention, internal political stability, wider patterns or traditions of environmental cooperation, and already ongoing processes of reconciliation. Still, the findings imply that environmental challenges do not only affect peace and security in a negative way. Addressing them jointly also opens opportunities for peacemaking and peacebuilding between states.

Transboundary nature conservation cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of the European Union

The experience of international cooperation in the development of transboundary nature conservation territories of Ukraine and the EU countries on the example of the Eastern Carpathians biosphere reserve was analyised in article. The characteristic of the organization and functioning national nature parks of Uzhansky, Bieschadsky and Poloniny is given. The assessment of environmental activities within these objects was conducted and it was suggested to borrow some provisions of international experience for the development in Ukrainian part of the Eastern Carpathians biosphere reserve, as well as for other transboundary nature conservation territories. It is necessary to organize scientific research work, to initiate educational and volunteer programs on natureconservation, to exchange experience of international environmental work. Important in this case will be the opening and equipment of international tourist and nature trails, a dense network of which has long existed in Europe. Problems of scientific substantiation of the expansion of existing protected territories, as well as planning new, the organization of an independent transboundary monitoring of the state of ecosystems are particularly relevant to all transboundary regions of Ukraine. For the Carpathian region the problems of control over illegal felling in the Uzhansky National Park, the observance of the environmental regime of certain massifs of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, the proliferation of the reserve regime of the Svydovets massif for the whole Basin of the Chorna Tysa river are very important. More attention should be paid to the preservation of ethnographic features of the Carpathians, the development of ecological consciousness of local inhabitants and the population of Ukraine as a whole, their responsibility for the preservation of unique national natural conditions and resources. The solution of the above problems to a large extent depends on the geographers who should participate directly in the study and planning of the development of transboundary protected areas. Only through joint efforts of international cooperation Ukraine's naturally reserved fund will become a multifunctional part of the Pan-European ecological network.