NATURAL RECREATIONAL RESOURCES OF CHORTKIV DISTRICT OF TERNOPIL REGION

The article presents a component-by-component analysis of natural recreational resources of the newly created territorial and administrative unit –Chortkiv district of Ternopil region. Geomorphological, water, biotic recreational resources are described. It is proposed to allocate the Chortkiv recreational area, which will include three recreational complexes: Monastyrysk and Buchach, Borshchiv and Zalishchyky, Chortkiv and Husyatyn. For the selected recreational complexes and nodes the types of recreational occupations according to the main groups of recreational resources are offered.The Monastyrysk and Buchach recreational complex has recreationally interesting landscapes that are part of the Dniester Canyon Landscape park, in particular the cascades of Rusylivsky and Sokiletsky waterfalls, the Zholoby cave (for cognitive recreation), and the mass recreation territory in the area of ​​the Lisova camp site, as well as the valley of the Strypa River from the village of Skomorohy (Buchach territorial community) to the village of Lytychi (Zalishchyky territorial community) for water tourism. Borshchiv and Zalishchyky recreational complex includes Borshchiv and Zalishchyky recreation centers and is characterized by very high recreational potential due to the aesthetic appeal of landscapes, a large number of living and inanimate objects, high climate comfort. The Dniester canyon, saturated with natural protection objects along its entire length, is favorable for the development of ecotourism, tourist and excursion cognitive recreation.Zalishchyky recreational center. Within the valley of the Dniester River in the vicinity of the village Khmelev, the valley of the river Dzhuryn near the village Nyrkiv and village Nahoryany (Chervonogorod waterfall) of Tovste territorial community, areas for mass recreation. The development of cognitive tourist and excursion recreation is promoted by Zhyzhavsk and Obizhevsk botanical reserves of national importance, in which forest and meadow and steppe groups with valuable relict shrubs are protected: Polish spiraea, Cyticus Podilskyy, dwarf cherry. Kasperivtsi Landscape Reserve of national importance with unique natural complexes in the valley of the Seret River with a picturesque reservoir, the presence of geological, paleontological and botanical objects of nature is a place of short-term recreation. In the valley of the Dniester and its tributaries there are ways to the surface of mineral waters – sulfate, chloride, like "Naftusya" or "Druskininkai" (Zalishchyky, Tovste), as well as medicinal peat bog (Tovste), which, in combination with a warm climate (climatotherapy), is the basis for the development of health and recreation.The unique flora of Western Podilsk Transdnistria is represented in Zhyzhavsk, Obizhevsk, Shutromyntsi, tract "Hlody" botanical nature reserves, can be the object of scientific and cognitive tourism for botanists, teachers, students, students of profile and secondary schools.Borshchiv recreation center also has a high recreational potential. Extremely interesting for the development of scientific and cognitive tourism are the outcrops of sediments belonging to the Paleozoic era (Trubchyn tract, Dzvenyhorodsk Silurian outcrops, Silurian and Devonian deposits in the Dniester, Khudykivsk outcrops of Lower Cretaceous deposits). In terms of completeness, number of fossil fauna and flora, accessibility for observation, most of them are of international importance and are stratotypes for the Eastern European platform.Chortkiv and Husyatyn recreation complex includes Husyatyn and Chortkiv recreation centers. Husyatyn recreation center specializes in the development of health and recreation. Husyatyn is a balneological resort with the use of low-mineralized water with a high content of organic substances such as "Naftusya" called "Novozbruchanska" and brines of high mineralization such as "Druskininkai" called "Husyatynska". Chortkiv recreational center specializes in short-term recreation, development of sports and recreation, which is facilitated by areas of river floodplains, slopes covered with forests, the river Seret for various types of water tourism.Key words: recreational resources, administrative district, recreational district, recreational complex.

Modelling long-term alluvial-peatland dynamics in temperate river floodplains

Peat growth is a frequent phenomenon in European river valleys. The presence of peat in the floodplain stratigraphy makes them hotspots of carbon storage. The long-term dynamics of alluvial peatlands are complex due to interactions between the peat and the local river network, and as a result, alluvial-peatland development in relation to both regional and local conditions is not well understood. In this study, a new modelling framework is presented to simulate long-term peatland development in river floodplains by coupling a river basin hydrology model (STREAM – Spatial Tools for River basins and Environment and Analysis of Management options) with a local peat growth model (modified version of DigiBog). The model is applied to two lowland rivers in northern Belgium, located in the European loess (Dijle (Dyle) River) and sand (Grote Nete River) belts. Parameter sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis are used to study the relative importance of internal processes and environmental conditions on peatland development. The simulation results demonstrate that the peat thickness is largely determined by the spacing and mobility of the local river channel(s) rather than by channel characteristics or peat properties. In contrast, changes in regional conditions such as climate and land cover across the upstream river basin have been shown to influence the river hydrograph but have a limited effect on peat growth. These results demonstrate that alluvial-peatland development is strongly determined by the geomorphic boundary conditions set by the river network and as such models must account for river channel dynamics to adequately simulate peatland development trajectories in valley environments.

Characterising the late Quaternary facies stratigraphy of floodplains in South Africa

South African river floodplains and their alluvial deposits reflect a diversity of geological and geographical drivers. We use a genetic geomorphic classification system originally developed for dryland wetlands to characterise geomorphic processes and potential successions of sedimentary fill for South African floodplains. Using case studies from the literature, we consider differences between alluvial rivers and mixed bedrock-alluvial rivers in the context of macro-scale geomorphic setting, and evaluate the impact of the setting on floodplain persistence and potential as a palaeo-environmental archive. Sedimentary facies associations represented in South African floodplains, including lateral and oblique accretion, channel, channel infill, levee vertical accretion, floodplain vertical accretion and debris flow deposits, are also evaluated. Floodplains of South Africa’s interior are typically mixed bedrock-alluvial as channel beds are set upon or close to bedrock and sediment thickness is limited. By contrast some floodplains in tectonic basin settings have sediment deposits exceeding 30 m in thickness. The resulting rivers are alluvial, and thus able to adjust their width, depth and slope to accommodate changes in discharge and sediment supply. Similarly, coastal floodplain rivers are alluvial due to downcutting during the last glacial maximum and subsequent sedimentary infilling as sea levels rose. When considering the potential of floodplains as palaeoarchives of environmental change, two considerations emerge. First, floodplain stratigraphy is not a response to a single variable due to complex process-form feedbacks. Rather, floodplain stratigraphy is an outcome of both autogenic and allogenic processes. Second, most South African floodplains are zones of sediment recycling, and as such, preservation potential is typically low. Thus, although floodplain settings of the interior may be a few million years old, the sediment within them may be only thousands to tens of thousands of years old. Our review indicates that research has historically focused on meandering river and mixed bedrock-alluvial anabranching river floodplains, while understanding of other floodplain sub-types remains limited.

Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus) Control and Management Strategies in Large River Floodplains

Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus) is an invasive vine that establishes in open areas in riverine habitats and suppresses tree regeneration and native vegetation. This study evaluated the use of herbicides and tree plantings to control and manage Japanese hops on five Mississippi River islands over a four-year period. Herbicide treatments included a preemergent (sulfometuron methyl), a postemergent (glyphosate), and a combination of both. Tree plantings used containerized and bareroot American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) trees. Japanese hops biomass was significantly lower in all herbicide treatments in 2012 and 2015, but the preemergent treatment was less effective than other treatments in 2012 and 2014. After two years, average survivorship of containerized trees was 20%–42%, whereas bareroot seedlings had near 100% mortality. Results indicate that postemergent treatments are effective for short-term control, but large floods reestablish Japanese hops in treated areas. Reforestation, if combined with herbicide treatments and active management, may be a promising approach in large river floodplains that experience frequent flooding, but low tree survivorship presents challenges to reforestation. Study Implications Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus) is an invasive vine that establishes in open riparian areas and suppresses tree regeneration and other native vegetation. We confirmed that glyphosate provides effective short-term control, but also found that large floods can quickly reestablish Japanese hops in treated areas. Bareroot seedling mortality was extremely high, but initial survival and growth rates of containerized trees were more promising. We conclude that tree plantings combined with active maintenance, including glyphosate application, may be a viable option for long-term control of Japanese hops in upper Mississippi River floodplains.

Modelling long-term alluvial peatland dynamics in temperate river floodplains

Peat growth is a frequent phenomenon in European river valleys. The presence of peat in the floodplain stratigraphy makes them hotspots of carbon storage. The long-term dynamics of alluvial peatlands are complex due to interactions between the peat and the local river network, and as a result, alluvial peatland development in relation to both regional and local conditions is not well understood. In this study, a new modelling framework is presented to simulate long-term peatland development in river floodplains by coupling a river basin hydrology model (STREAM) with a local peat growth model (modified version of Digibog). The model is applied to two lowland rivers in northern Belgium, located in the European loess (Dijle river) and sand (Grote Nete river) belts. Parameter sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis are used to study the relative importance of internal processes and environmental conditions on peatland development. The simulation results demonstrate that the peat thickness is largely determined by the spacing and mobility of the local river channel(s) rather than by channel characteristics or peat properties. In contrast, changes in regional conditions such as climate and land cover across the upstream river basin showed to influence the river hydrograph, but have a limited effect on peat growth. These results demonstrate that alluvial peatland development is strongly determined by the geomorphic boundary conditions set by the river network and as such models must account for river channel dynamics to adequately simulate peatland development trajectories in valley environments.

Modelling effects of water regulation on the population viability of threatened amphibians

The regulation of river systems alters hydrodynamics and often reduces lateral connectivity between river channels and floodplains. For taxa such as frogs that rely on floodplain wetlands to complete their lifecycle, decreasing inundation frequency can reduce recruitment and increase the probability of local extinction. We virtually reconstructed the inundation patterns of wetlands under natural and regulated flow conditions and built stochastic population models to quantify the probability of local extinction under different inundation scenarios. Specifically, we explored the interplay of inundation frequency, habitat size, and successive dry years on the local extinction probability of the threatened southern bell frog Litoria raniformis in the Murray River floodplains of South Australia. We hypothesised that the changes in wetland inundation resulting from river regulation are driving the decline of L. raniformis in this system. Since river regulation began in the 1920s, the inundation frequency of many reliable breeding habitats has decreased to a point where they no longer support local populations. Increasing successive dry years drives the probability of local extinction, particularly in smaller wetlands. Larger wetlands and those with more frequent average inundation are less susceptible to these effects. Synthesis and Applications. Although the availability of suitable habitats has reduced, environmental water provision is a promising tool to mitigate the negative impacts of river regulation on amphibian populations. Our modelling approach can be used to prioritise the delivery of environmental water (through pumping or the operation of flow-regulating structures) to minimise the probability of local extinction in L. raniformis and potentially many other frog species. By quantifying the extinction risk of amphibian populations, we can strategically manage environmental water to reduce successive catastrophic breeding failures and increase the probability of persistence.

Modelling peatland development in temperate alluvial environments

<p>It is well known that C accumulation rates are much higher when focusing on short-term measurement periods in areas with active peat growth when compared to the net C storage at longer timescales as obtained from palaeo-studies. When selecting effective management options that aim to sustain or increase rates of peat development and, hence, C sequestration, a detailed insight into the factors controlling C storage in peatlands at longer timescales is therefore required. Several peatland models have been developed to simulate long-term peatland development and such models thus can be a useful tool to evaluate the effect of environmental changes and management on peatland dynamics at centennial to millennial scales. Many of these models assume the peat to form in a geomorphically stable environment. However, for river floodplains these assumptions cannot always be made. In temperate Europe for example, many river floodplains have known phases of active peat growth throughout the Holocene, influenced by the local geomorphic dynamics of the river channel(s) and associated sediment dynamics. In addition, many restoration efforts in floodplain environments are accompanied by allowing the river channel(s) to behave more freely, with increased meandering and more natural channel dynamics. As these dynamics are currently lacking in peatland models, a detailed assessment of the interactions between river channel(s) and the adjacent peatland in terms of long-term peat growth and carbon accumulation remains difficult.</p><p>Here, we developed a new peatland model, specifically designed for alluvial environments, by modifying an existing local peat growth model (1D version of Digibog), coupled with a raster-based river basin hydrology model (STREAM). This model allows to assess the effect of changes in both the river hydrology and local river channel properties on alluvial peatland development and the associated carbon dynamics. The model was applied at two contrasting lowland river basins in northern Belgium, located in the European loess (Dijle river) and sand (Grote Nete river) belts. Local peat growth was simulated at an annual resolution over a period of 10,000 years under a range of climate and land cover scenarios, as well as varying river channel characteristics (number of channels, channel dimensions, channel roughness and channel slope).</p><p>The results demonstrate that changes in river discharge through regional climate or land cover changes have a negligible effect on the floodplain peat growth as these changes mostly affect the magnitude of peak discharges. In contrast, the configuration of the local river network such as the number of river channels and their position relative to the peatland surface show to have a strong effect on the equilibrium peat thickness. Especially the number of drainage channels strongly affects the peat thickness with a fourfold reduction in number of channels leading to a threefold increase in simulated peat thickness. This demonstrates that limiting the number of drainage channels in a floodplain and raising the elevation of the channel bed can be effective strategies in stimulating floodplain peat formation and allow to quantify the long-term carbon sequestration potential of these different management practices.</p>