Public Educational Initiatives for Promotion of Knowledge About Rare Plants in Ukraine

The natural flora of Ukraine is one of richest in Europe. It counts about 5000 species of vascular plants (Mosyakin and Fedoronchuk 1999). The existence of such diversity is possible due to natural conditions of three botanical-geographical zones (Forest, Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones) and two mountain zones (Crimean Mountains and Carpathians), which have been formed in post-glacial time (Mosyakin et al. 2005). However, anthropogenic influence on natural ecosystems has been growing very fast during the last 300 years, as a result their areas have reduced. For example, steppes occupied about 40% of the modern territory of Ukraine, but, unfortunately, presently only about 3% of the natural and semi natural steppes of the country remain, because of ploughing, mining operations, excavations etc. (Korotchenko and Peregrym 2012). Another example shows the dynamics and quantity of rare and endangered species in flora of Ukraine. The second edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine lists 439 species of vascular plants (Shelyag-Sosonko 1996), but there are 611 species of vascular plants listed in the third edition (Didukh 2009). Of course, it is important to note that the conceptions of these editions have differences but there is no doubt that situation with plant diversity has become worse (Didukh 2010). Besides, if the reasons for the rarity of these species (which are specified in the last edition of the Red Data Book (Didukh 2009) are analyzed, it can be seen that most plants have become rare or endangered species due to the direct impact of anthropogenic factors on their habitats or their populations. Only a very small number of species are threatened by climate change, desertification or sea level rise.