ASSESSMENT OF SPATIAL STRUCTURE LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK
Restoration of biological and landscape diversity of Donetsk region in the postwar period requires the implementation of new methodological approaches to the assessment of local ecological networks structure. In the present study, we examine the spatial structure of the local ecological network (for example, administrative Artemovsk Donetsk region) in terms of a comprehensive assessment of its natural nuclei. The comparative characteristic of the latter is given in the form of an integrated scoring and topological position regarding its biotsentric-dimensional network of the structure. According to a 10-point system we evaluated species and phytocenotic richness of sites (geotop contours) of natural nuclei, including their rare component. The topological structure of the ecological network is estimated according to its biotsentric-network character, which makes it possible to allocate its central and subsentral nuclei based on the association strength between them. The conducted ranking of the natural nuclei is based on their main characteristics, i.e. species and phytocenotic richness, ecosystem diversity, topological communication and, finally, the total score evaluation, which made it possible to make a hierarchical spatial structure of the local ecological network according to “significance” of its natural nuclei. We made the conclusions on the unequal value of natural nuclei of local ecological networks related to a prioritized introduction of them into the region natural-reserved fund. Thus, we specified the 1st and 2nd ranks of "significance" for natural nuclei of the local ecological network area. Based on them it is recommended to create new natural areas of preferential protection after a more detailed observation.