Introduction (preservation of biological diversity and monitoring)

     One of the most important results of the Earth Summit - a UN conference on stable development problems which was held in 1992 Rio de Janeiro in Brazil - was a broad recognition of the concept of preservation of biological diversity. It is believed that it is usually demonstrated in genetic diversity, biochemical, cytological and physiological polyquality of any beings in the richness of their populations and species, etc. The reason for this meeting was the understanding that preservation of biological diversity is a component and the main prerequisite of balanced development of humanity. It resulted in the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity signed by Ukraine and ratified by the Verhovna Rada in1994.

      Analysis of theoretical and practical approaches to the formation of knowledge of biodiversity showed that the first step to be made in this direction was organization of its monitoring. The latter is usually understood as a system of regular observations in space and time, which provides, in the first place, information about the condition of those biodiversity parameters (in the past, present and future projections) which support the natural homeostasis of ecosystems and bear considerable significance for human vital functions.

      Varied manifestations of biodiversity require various programs for its monitoring while one of its main parts should always provide for a chapter responsible for inventory of biodiversity components. It is believed one of the most important stages here is development of faunistic (floristic, etc.) lists of selected large taxons and creation of proper cadastres. The scientific and applied meaning of the latter lies, among other things, in the possibility to form an idea about the spatial spread of those biodiversity components, which require special attention to their preservation and rational use.