ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL STABILITY OF LITHUANIAN NATIONAL PARKS TERRITORIES

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors influencing the ecological stability of national park areas. During the research, the territories of five Lithuanian national parks – Aukštaitija, Dzūkija, Curonian Spit, Žemaitija and Trakai Historical Park – were analyzed. Statistical information on the distribution of land areas and the condition of land was collected and analyzed. The ecological stability coefficients of the territories were calculated and the strength of the relationships between the analyzed factors was determined. It was found that the values of ecological stability coefficients of the analyzed park areas have a very strong direct relationship (R=0,93) with the total area of the park and a strong relationship (R=0,85) with the area of forests and other vegetation. Trends in the use of park areas were evaluated