Introduction sections of the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka”: history and role in the formation of the revalorization concept of the park environment

Abstract

Aims. To reveal the role of the introduction sections of the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, created during its development (Vasyl Pashkevich’s Arboretum — quarter No. 30; Arboretum Hrybok — quarter No. 21, Matochnyk in Dubynka — quarters No. 9, 10, 11, 12; Nursery — quarter No. 39) in the formation of dendrocenosis and increasing the recreational value of the park. Methods. Analytical, field. Processing of literary sources, archival materials, and internet resources. Results. Throughout the history of the park, introduction sections have been created at different times the First such section was the Arboretum, created under the direction of Professor Vasyl Pashkevych (1899–1891) during the period when the park was subordinated to the School of Horticulture. The next three were created in the postwar period of the park's reconstruction (1946). The formation and preservation of the dendrological collection in “Sofiyivka” Park is one of the priority areas of the institution's work in the past and present time. The analysis of literature sources on the functioning of these sites showed their significant importance in the introduction process: in the middle of the last century, more than 600 taxa of trees and shrubs were involved in the process of identifying their potential growth and development in the soil and climatic conditions of the southern part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.
Conclusions. The creation of introduction sections in different parts of the park contributed to the realization of plans to enrich the dendroflora with new species and forms of diversity, to obtain sufficient planting material to optimize and reconstruct the historical part and the buffer zone, and to increase the recreational value of the park as a whole. After the completion of their intended purpose, the sections were reconstructed: the existing plantings were optimized, arboretums were created to complement the park's greenery, and they became a new location for tourists' recreation and conducting introductory research, etc.