EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

2.a.8 Svydovets (Ukraine)
Abiotic conditions
Being a part of the CBR, this cluster is located on the slopes of the Svydovets Ridge and
on its offshoots at 350-1.883 m and it belongs to the Svydovets-Chornohirskyi Physical-
Geographic district of the Polonynsko-Chornohirskyi Region of the Eastern Carpathian
Subprovince.
The flysch formations with dominating clay and aleurite are present in the geologic
structure of the cluster, and sandstones with admixtures of limestone occur here.
The western part of Svidovets is characterized by the Middle-Mountain landscapes
complicated by erosion-denudation activity of streams. Besides, the fragments of the High-
Mountain Meadow denudation leveled surface are characteristic features of the Svidovets
summits; they are mainly flat saddles and gently sloping foothills, and they are complicated
by the signs of an ancient icing with typical glacial forms (karrens and trough valleys).
The climatic conditions here vary from moderate-warm to cold. Annual precipitation is
750–1.500 mm.
The cluster covers the drainage area of the rivers Chorna (Black) Tysa and Kisva (right
tributary of the Tysa River). A dense network of streams curves this area.
Acid (dystrophic) brown soils totally dominate in the topsoil of the cluster, and only
small patches on rocks are covered with primitive and initial soils. The characteristic features
of soils here are the high pH level (ca. 4.0), a powerful profile of 80-100 cm; rich content of
rough humus (10-12% in upper horizons and 1-2% in transition and bottom horizons), and a
low content of amphoteric bases (degree of saturation less than 30%). Brown soils on
limestone rocks have a two-member grid (double structure). The upper part corresponds to
acid (dystrophic) brown soil, and the bottom one to eutrophic saturated with calcium brown
soils with neutral reaction. Soils are very stony, mostly middle-loamy with good penetration
of water and air into them.
Biota (vegetation and flora)
The total area of the cluster “Svydovets” is 8.670 ha: core zone is 1.525 ha and buffer
zone is 1.145 ha, and here is the richest flora within the Ukrainian Carpathians. Beside the
forest vegetation belt, the High-Mountain belt (mainly subalpine and partly alpine) occur
within the Svidovets site.
Soil-climatic conditions are optimal for beech, therefore its communities here are of a
climax character, and they are mainly Fagetum rubosum hirtae, Fagetum asperulosum,
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