Journal articles on the topic 'Forest reserves Victoria Recreational use'

Several methods of studying the impact of recreational load on the landscape complexes are analyzed. It is shown that the main indicator of the recreational load is the condition of soil and vegetation. The condition and reaction to external influences serve as diagnostic signs of stages of recreational digression. There are five stages of recreational digression, in which various researchers (Kazanskaya et al., 1977; Rysin, 1983; Marfenina et al., 1987; Gensiruk et al., 1987; Prędki, 1999, Shlapak, 2003; Methodical recommendations…, 2003; Rysin L. & Rysin S., 2008) suggest using the following indicators of the state of natural complexes: 1) quantitative and qualitative changes in vegetation in meadows or the presence / absence of forest litter in forest complexes, 2) soil compaction, 3) the width of the trail, the presence of additional or parallel trails, 4) the growth of erosion processes and the microrelief of the trail. For the IV and V stages of recreational digression, it is proposed (Brusak, 2018) to use the indicator "degree of recreational digression" to reflect qualitative changes in the microrelief of trails, which includes trail width, erosion, amount of loose material in general and from 1 m² of the trail. Full-scale studies of tourist routes conducted in Carpathian NNP and Skolivski Beskydy NNP attest to the possibility of using different qualitative and quantitative characteristics of these indicators with a purpose to distinguish different stages of recreational digression. In general, the following time series of changes in the state of components of natural complexes are distinguished: vegetation (meadow) or forest litter (forest) → soils → relief → geological substrate. In the initial stages of recreational degression the forest litter is damaged, crushed and trampled into the upper humus-accumulative horizon. The stocks of forest litter on the trails are more than 1 kg•m⁻², and their water holding capacity is much higher than that of forest litter in the control area. With increasing recreational load, heavily shredded forest litter is washed away by rain and melt water, forming on both sides of the so-called "rollers". As follows forest litter reserves are less than 1 kg•m⁻², or complete absence. A significant reduction in forest litter reserves on trails leads to overcompaction of the upper soil horizons. Their density increases almost twice compared to the control. Erosion processes occur on a highly compacted surface, which causes the removal of a significant amount of loose material from 1 m² of the trail. So, indicators of the state of natural complexes in conditions of recreational activity are quantitative and qualitative changes in vegetation within meadow ecosystems or the presence / absence of forest litter in forest ecosystems, soil compaction, trail width, the presence of additional / parallel trails, depth of erosion cut and the amount of loose material from 1 m² of the trail. Key words: recreational load, stage of recreational digression, tourist routes, forest litter, soil structure density, depth of erosion cut.

The Rushworth Forest is a Box and Ironbark open sclerophyll forest in central Victoria that has been subject to a long history of gold mining activity and forest utilisation. This paper documents the major periods of land use history in the Rushworth Forest and comments on the environmental changes that have occurred as a result. During the 1850s to 1890s, the Forest was subject to extensive gold mining operations, timber resource use, and other forest product utilisation, which generated major changes to the forest soils, vegetation structure and species cover. From the 1890s to 1930s, concern for diminishing forest cover across central Victoria led to the creation of timber reserves, including the Rushworth State Forest. After the formation of a government forestry department in 1919, silvicultural practices were introduced which aimed at maximising the output of tall timber production above all else. During World War II, the management of the Forest was taken over by the Australian Army as Prisoner of War camps were established to harvest timber from the Forest for firewood production. Following the War, the focus of forestry in Victoria moved away from the Box and Ironbark forests, but low value resource utilisation continued in the Rushworth Forest from the 1940s to 1990s. In 2002, about one-third of the Forest was declared a National Park and the other two-thirds continued as a State Forest. Today, the characteristics of the biophysical environment reflect the multiple layers of past land uses that have occurred in the Rushworth Forest.

Abstract The Khabarovsk Territory is characterized by considerable reserves of the forest resources. Their share is 18 % of the forested area of the Far Eastern Federal District and 25 % of the timber reserves. In the region, the forestry sector is the branch of national economic specialization which is associated with the export orientation of the forestry products. In this paper, the factors that determine environmental risks during logging are analyzed, including a low level of control of felling, violations of technologies, rules and standards for felling in the main-use forests, an increase in a fire hazard, violation of the hydrological regime of rivers, the development of erosion processes, pollution of aquatic ecosystems, expansion of road networks, increased poaching pressure on previously inaccessible forest areas, etc. Environmental problems caused by these factors are associated with a decrease in the resources, the ecological functions and the biological diversity of forests, the destruction of possibilities for traditional forest management, and the destruction and transformation of historically formed ecosystems. An unbiased inventory of the forest resources, their quantity and quality assessment, a governmental monitoring of the state of forest ecosystems, support for alternative types of forest use (recreational, tourist, etc.) are of paramount importance in solving these problems.

Urbanization processes with their too rapid activity and changes in the state of the environment have the ability to compensate for recreation in forest parks, parks, gardens and squares, alleys and boulevards. Natural and recreational resources are understood as factors, substances and properties of components of the natural environment that have favorable parameters for recreational activities (qualitative and quantitative) and serve or may serve for the organization of recreation, tourism, treatment and rehabilitation of people [1]. Recreational resources of the city are the properties and factors of the components of the natural environment of the city and suburban area, which can be used for recreation, tourism, treatment and rehabilitation of people. The problem of preservation and use of recreational resources of the urban environment in modern scientific publications is not covered enough. Questions of this content often arise in the study of urban ecological processes or components of urban planning, green areas of the city and so on. However, from the standpoint of recreational nature management, urban areas as potential areas of short-term recreation are still insufficiently studied. That is why the purpose of this publication is to highlight scientific approaches to the assessment of recreational resources of urban areas on the example of one of the regional centers - the city of Ternopil. The article analyzes the approaches to the assessment of natural recreational resources of the city. The current problems of recreational load on the natural areas of the urban environment are highlighted. The method of assessment of natural recreational resources of the city has been improved. It is established that the natural recreational resources of the city, first of all, include greenery, forests, water bodies and nature reserves. Accordingly, the provision of recreation areas of the urban population is directly affected by the forest cover and nature reserves of the city and suburban area. Within the city there are areas of short, medium and long-term recreation. Differentiation of these areas is based on the time availability and structure of natural recreational resources that are included in the zone. On the basis of the conducted analysis the basic indicators of a zone of short, average and far recreation of the city of Ternopil are defined. The level of landscaping of the residential area of Ternopil, which is 95 m2 / person, is calculated. Provision of the urban population with public green spaces 21.3 m2 / person and the coefficient of general use of urban green spaces, which for the city of Ternopil is 22%. The zone of distant inner-city recreation of the city of Ternopil is characterized by such indicators as the recreational capacity of parks, which is more than 13 thousand people for five parks of the city and the recreational capacity of water bodies with coastal areas 5,5 thousand people. Ternopil city parks need more detailed research, especially taking into account their functional zoning and promising areas for recreation within the city. Key words: recreational potential, recreational capacity, Ternopil city, recreation area.

The Bawean Serpent-eagle Spilornis baweanus is endemic to the 190 km2 island of Bawean in the Java Sea (Indonesia) where it is the only resident diurnal raptor. A 15 day study in 2002 revealed that the species is present in small numbers throughout the island. The eagle's abundance was assessed by an island-wide survey and by sampling 28 1 km2 plots covering five habitat types. There was a strong positive correlation between abundance and contact time in plots. Compared with other habitat types, the number of, and contact time with, serpent-eagles was higher in tall forest. The species was not recorded in mangrove and coastal forest. There was no correlation between the eagle's abundance and the nearest distance to villages. Based on the distribution of forest and the abundance of adult pairs within these forests, the available habitat totals 92 km2, in which some 60–75 adult serpent-eagles remain. Semi-structured interviews with the islanders revealed that recreational hunting poses the largest threat to the survival of the Bawean Serpent-eagle, and that the increase in recreational hunting was a relatively recent phenomenon. The forest on Bawean, including that in two reserves, is poorly protected and illegal logging and burning are widespread. The low degree of habitat protection, the severe threat posed by hunting and the very small population size of the eagle qualify the species to be included in the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. In order to safeguard the Bawean Serpent-eagle hunting must be stopped immediately and the remaining habitat needs to be better protected. This is probably best achieved by a conservation body in which local and regional authorities and NGOs cooperate.

Forested lands serve multiple needs, and the priorities that go into balancing the competing demands can vary over time. In addition to being the source of timber and other natural resources, forested lands provide a number of other services such as biodiversity conservation and opportunities for outdoor recreation. While allocations that enhance conservation and recreation can involve expenses and lost revenue, mechanisms exist to provide landowners with incentives to make such contributions. Here, we review the literature and present a conceptual framework that can help landowners envision possible contributions towards bolstering outdoor recreation opportunities on their lands. The framework classifies forests within a simple conceptual space defined by two axes: (1) the spectrum of intensity of recreational use, and (2) the level of economic contribution required by landowners to meet recreational demands of visitors to their lands. The resulting matrix consists of four broad categories that can be used in forest management zoning as seen from an outdoor recreation perspective: general and special considerations for recreational opportunities and biodiversity, wilderness and nature reserves, and service areas. These categories have different tolerances for active silviculture and require shifting harvest practices spatially within the forest property. While timber revenues may decrease with shifting allocations, other sources of revenue may open up. With an increasingly urban population and rising demands for natural resources, it is prudent for landowners and land use planners to consider zoning their properties to better handle potential conflicts. The framework presented here provides a simple, structured approach to visualize future challenges and opportunities.

Protected areas have been recognized as one of the most viable tools for conserving the environment which serves as “sanctuary” for threatened species, natural buffers against climate change and other vital ecosystem services. This research is aimed at assessing management effectiveness and also tourist satisfaction in private nature reserves within urban area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) methodology was adapted and administered to managers working at LCC and LUFASI nature reserves. Two hundred and three (203) respondents (tourists) were selected for both LCC (113) and LUFASI (90). Tourists were satisfied with the experience they had from their tour. Legal security, staffing, Communication & Information, Infrastructure, finances, Research monitoring & evaluation and outputs were significant (p ≤0.05) indicators between the context in the two reserves. Control of pressures and threat in the two-nature reserve are adequately carried out. However, threat recorded as a result of negative impact of tourist activities such as camping, motorized vehicle use and other types of recreational activities can be managed through development of tourist policy and constant monitoring especially during peak periods of the year which is as a result of high influx of tourists. Site design and planning of the reserves is consistent with the objectives of the reserve, which optimizes conservation of biodiversity. A significant difference between management effectiveness of LCC and LUFASI was obtained (t= 2.79 p= 0.01). We therefore recommend that more private organizations and individuals should consider investing in establishment of nature reserves.

Meliponinae eusocial bees are among the most important pollinators in the Neotropics and their beekeeping has been growing as both recreational and economic activity. Information on the pollen preferences and niche overlap among species coexisting in the same location is still scarce. This study focused on the use of pollen resources by three native species of Meliponinae in the Atlantic Forest, Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata (Lepeletier 1836), Scaptotrigona depilis (Moure 1942), and Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille 1811), at two different sites. The use of pollen resources was evaluated from reserves inside hives collected monthly between February 2015 and January 2016. It was also estimated the Mean Minimal Distance (Dm) traveled by the bees to obtain pollen. The bees differed regarding the diversity of pollen types, Dm, and proportion of pollen from different plant life-form. Local factor promoted differences only for Dm. M. q. quadrifasciata foraged a low diversity of pollen species and traveled greater distances with a higher proportion of trees plus palm species. Tetragonisca angustula foraged a higher diversity of pollen and flew shorter distances with a lower proportion of trees and palms. The species factor predominates over the local factor in the clustering pattern, based on pollen profile similarity.

Forest-steppe landscapes are ecotonic systems that are characterized by a high degree of diversity due to the combination of zonal forest and steppe landscapes, as well as swamps and meadows. The research is based on a comprehensive analysis of literary sources, topographic and thematic maps, satellite images, as well as field expeditions of 1997–2020. In the south-western part of the Tyumen Oblast, 12 types of terrain are differentiated on an area of 30,000 km2, including types of terrain of divides, ridges, flat ridges, flat depressions, hillock depressions, terraces, slopes, lakes and swamps, reed swamps, ravines and girders, floodplains of large rivers, small valleys. The main features of the spatial organization of landscapes in the region and the landscape structure at the level of components are characterized. In the conditions of the region, the main part of landscapes is convenient for economic development and used in various sectors of the economy. Meadow and steppe landscapes, and partly forests are plowed. Pastures and hayfields are widespread on the territory. Such economic activities as sand and peat extraction, wood harvesting, recreational nature use, as well as fishing, hunting, and gathering have been developed. Some landscapes are protected by state as nature reserves.

The article presents a component-by-component analysis of natural recreational resources of the newly created territorial and administrative unit –Chortkiv district of Ternopil region. Geomorphological, water, biotic recreational resources are described. It is proposed to allocate the Chortkiv recreational area, which will include three recreational complexes: Monastyrysk and Buchach, Borshchiv and Zalishchyky, Chortkiv and Husyatyn. For the selected recreational complexes and nodes the types of recreational occupations according to the main groups of recreational resources are offered.The Monastyrysk and Buchach recreational complex has recreationally interesting landscapes that are part of the Dniester Canyon Landscape park, in particular the cascades of Rusylivsky and Sokiletsky waterfalls, the Zholoby cave (for cognitive recreation), and the mass recreation territory in the area of ​​the Lisova camp site, as well as the valley of the Strypa River from the village of Skomorohy (Buchach territorial community) to the village of Lytychi (Zalishchyky territorial community) for water tourism. Borshchiv and Zalishchyky recreational complex includes Borshchiv and Zalishchyky recreation centers and is characterized by very high recreational potential due to the aesthetic appeal of landscapes, a large number of living and inanimate objects, high climate comfort. The Dniester canyon, saturated with natural protection objects along its entire length, is favorable for the development of ecotourism, tourist and excursion cognitive recreation.Zalishchyky recreational center. Within the valley of the Dniester River in the vicinity of the village Khmelev, the valley of the river Dzhuryn near the village Nyrkiv and village Nahoryany (Chervonogorod waterfall) of Tovste territorial community, areas for mass recreation. The development of cognitive tourist and excursion recreation is promoted by Zhyzhavsk and Obizhevsk botanical reserves of national importance, in which forest and meadow and steppe groups with valuable relict shrubs are protected: Polish spiraea, Cyticus Podilskyy, dwarf cherry. Kasperivtsi Landscape Reserve of national importance with unique natural complexes in the valley of the Seret River with a picturesque reservoir, the presence of geological, paleontological and botanical objects of nature is a place of short-term recreation. In the valley of the Dniester and its tributaries there are ways to the surface of mineral waters – sulfate, chloride, like "Naftusya" or "Druskininkai" (Zalishchyky, Tovste), as well as medicinal peat bog (Tovste), which, in combination with a warm climate (climatotherapy), is the basis for the development of health and recreation.The unique flora of Western Podilsk Transdnistria is represented in Zhyzhavsk, Obizhevsk, Shutromyntsi, tract "Hlody" botanical nature reserves, can be the object of scientific and cognitive tourism for botanists, teachers, students, students of profile and secondary schools.Borshchiv recreation center also has a high recreational potential. Extremely interesting for the development of scientific and cognitive tourism are the outcrops of sediments belonging to the Paleozoic era (Trubchyn tract, Dzvenyhorodsk Silurian outcrops, Silurian and Devonian deposits in the Dniester, Khudykivsk outcrops of Lower Cretaceous deposits). In terms of completeness, number of fossil fauna and flora, accessibility for observation, most of them are of international importance and are stratotypes for the Eastern European platform.Chortkiv and Husyatyn recreation complex includes Husyatyn and Chortkiv recreation centers. Husyatyn recreation center specializes in the development of health and recreation. Husyatyn is a balneological resort with the use of low-mineralized water with a high content of organic substances such as "Naftusya" called "Novozbruchanska" and brines of high mineralization such as "Druskininkai" called "Husyatynska". Chortkiv recreational center specializes in short-term recreation, development of sports and recreation, which is facilitated by areas of river floodplains, slopes covered with forests, the river Seret for various types of water tourism.Key words: recreational resources, administrative district, recreational district, recreational complex.

The research is devoted to the study of forestry land use in the zone of activity of the Busk forestry enterprise. A comprehensive geographical study of forests in the territory of Male Polissia as a whole and its individual parts is relevant both from an ecological and economic point of view. Its importance is growing in the context of the administrative reform and improvement of the land resources of the established communities and the consolidation of forestry enterprises announced in 2021. Today, Ukraine is not able to provide its own needs in timber and is one of the least forested countries in Europe. The territories of Male Polissia, including the newly formed Busk and Krasne and neighboring territorial communities, are promising for afforestation, in particular plantations. The authors of the article believe that it is possible to understand the modern structure of land resources only through the prism of history. For these reasons, the study used cartographic materials of different times, which made it possible to trace the development of several forests from the end of the 18th century to the present. The study was carried out on four time slices: the map by Friedrich von Mieg of the late 18th century, the topographic map of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of the 19th century, the topographic map of the Military Geographical Institute of the 30s of the 20th century. and a modern satellite image of Google. The zone of activity of the Busk forestry enterprise fully covers the territory of the Busk and Krasne territorial communities and is partially located on the lands of the Dobrotvir, Novyi Yarychiv, Kamianka-Buzka, and Hlyniany communities. The forests of the studied region are part of nine forestries of Tadani, Hrabova, Verbliany, Polonychna, Kutkir, Ozhydiv, Sokolia, Neznaniv, Bolozhyniv. The largest areas are Tadani - 3917 hectares and Verbliany - 3603 hectares of forestry, and the smallest is Polonychna forestry, with an area of 1456 hectares. In the zone of activity of the study forestry enterprise, the forestry enterprise " Halsillis " also operates, uniting collective farm forests. The average forest cover of the study region is 20.9%. The highest forest coverage is observed in the north-west of the zone of activity of the Busk forestry enterprise. In the process of research, the authors developed statistical and stock materials of the forestry enterprise. On the basis of these data, maps of the species composition, age structure and timber stock in the context of forest areas were built and analyzed. The geospatial features of pine, black alder and oak stands have been revealed. Based on the processing of the cadastral map, promising areas for afforestation are proposed. As a result of the study, it was found that the characteristic features of forestry in the region are: uneven forest cover of the study area; significant fragmentation of the forest fund in the southern part of the forestry enterprise; location of large forest areas in the northwestern part of the forestry enterprise; dominance in stands of such species as pine, oak, alder; a slight increase in the forest cover of certain territories due to the creation of pine forest plantations on non-land areas and the active expansion of black alder forests on waterlogged pastures. Analysis and generalization of taxation materials made it possible to establish that the age structure of forests is dominated by medieval (44.7%) and plantations - 24.5%, young forests occupy 19.4%, and only 11.4% of the area covered by forests falls on mature ones and overgrown plantings. Such an age structure indicates intensive forest management on the territory of the forestry enterprise over the past decades and the active work of foresters on the formation of the species composition of forests. We have studied the division of the forest fund into categories. It has been established that the largest area of the forest fund of the Busk forestry enterprise is occupied by operational forests - 22202.1 hectares (87.8%). Protective forests account for 1.5% of the total forest area of the study region. The share of recreational forests in the structure of the forest fund is 9.5%. The forest supply of the population in the Krasne united territorial community averages 0.12 hectares/person, in Busk are 0.61 hectares/person. The total stock of wood in the forestry enterprise is 4576.36 thousand m³. In the structure of reserves, 52.7% is occupied by conifers. Hardwood and softwood species each account for 23.7% of the wood reserves of the study region. In geospatial terms, the distribution of wood reserves is extremely uneven and correlates with forest areas. Keywords: forest; wooded area; forestry enterprise; forest categories; forest tract; species composition; age structure of the forest.

The feature of present time is a sharp deterioration of environmental quality, so it is important to form the population with careful attitude to nature. The efficient approach of influence on the people’s consciousness is ecological tourism that is spreading in many countries. Its development in Ukraine is closely connected to environmental areas. That’s why the Nature Reserve Fund for ecological tourism development question is interesting and socially important. At one time, the contribution to the development of ecological tourism was made by domestic and foreign scientists. In this way works of A. S. Kuskov considered the main tasks of ecological tourism and requirements for work. O. Dmytruk defined principles, functions, and integration foundations of ecological tourism. V. V. Khrabovchenko studied the question of origin and development of ecological tourism and analyzed the phenomena of ecological tourism as a factor of stable development. General theoretical and practical aspects of recreational nature management in Ukraine were covered by K. Y. Kilinska, V. M. Rudenko, N. P. Anipko, N. S. Andrusiak, N. I. Konovalova. The foreign scientists B. Dzhons, R. Bakli, H. Lofman developed the conception of ecological tourism. The each region has its own specific conditionals of development of ecological tourism. Among them is the Natural Reserve Fund. The aim of this work is to study the objects of Poltava Regional Natural Reserve Fund as factors of ecological tourism development. The paper used the domestic and foreign geographical sources and methods: descriptive, analytical, synthesis, comparison, deduction, graphic, cartographic and others. Nowadays there are in existence several definitions of the concept ecological tourism. The Ukrainian scientist O. Beidyk thinks ecotourism is a recreational activity which has the least impact on the natural environment. The ecological routes are applied for different purposes: recreational, educational and upbringing, gaining the emotional impressions from communication with nature etc. The Nature Reserve Fund – is a territories and objects which have a special protective, scientific, recreational and other value. They are created for saving the natural diversity, maintaining the general ecological balance and environmental monitoring. Ukraine has 11 categories of nature-reserved objects. All of them differ in potential needed for ecological tourism development. There are 384 objects in Poltava oblast. They make up 4,95% of a the total area of the region. Among them there are 178 partial reserves, 2 national natural parks, 5 regional landscape parks, 137 natural monuments, 2 dendrological parks, 1 botanic garden. The partial reserves are one among the most numerous environmental objects of Poltava oblast. They are created to maintain the ecological balance and to save biological kinds and natural complexes. Botanical, landscape, geological, hydrological, forest partial reserves of Poltava oblast are picturesque areas around coasts of rivers where the plants are well preserved. The environmental legislation still has not provided them for recreational use. Natural monuments are a big category of environmental objects that have protective, scientific, cognitive, cultural, and recreational value. The most promising for tourism developing are complex, botanical, geological and hydrological natural monuments. They can be attracted to make ecological routes, or be used for educational and upbringing purposes. A large value for ecological tourism development has regional landscape parks that are created to save natural complexes and objects to provide the conditions for rest of population. The main functions of regional landscape parks are protective, defense the culture and history memorabilia, recreational and educational. Among of such objects Dykan regional landscape park that saves age-old broadleaf forests. The regional landscapes Kremenchuk Plains park is located within the floodplain and island of Dnipro (Zelenyi and Shalamai) has a lot of opportunities for making of ecologically oriented routes, organizing excursions for pupils and students. Protect tracts are characterized by considerable potential for development of ecological tourism, but the legislative mechanism to use them are still unregulated. The dendrological parks are made to save different kinds of trees and shrubs for the most efficient scientific, cultural, recreational, educational use. So their resources are actively attracted to organization of tourist activity. In this way, the ecological tours are done in the Ustimov dendrological park, where visitors can become familiar with its interesting history and variety of plants. So, environmental territories and objects play a big role for development of ecological tourism in Poltava oblast. The resource of national landscape parks are attracted to the most to recreational activity. The cognitive direction of ecological tourism is the most important for dendrological parks, natural monuments, botanical gardens of Poltava oblast. This gives them special educational and upbringing value. The organization of tourist activities within the protected tracts and environmental areas can still be considered (with some exceptions) as a potential task.

The problem today is to ensure a harmonious relationship between anthropogenic activity and natural processes in order to preserve the dynamic integrity of the environment. The best specimen of the territorial compatibility of the natural and cultural component is a rather specific category in the list of objects of the nature reserve fund (PFP) - “parks and gardens”. The article deals with the formation, operation and development of the Alexander Park, located in the Tomashpil district of Vinnytsia region. It, like the vast majority of areas of existing and designated nature reserves and sites of Vinnytsia region, has a complex origin, caused by long (about 150 years) and multi-stage human impact. The purpose of this study is to combine ecological and geographical approaches in determining the features of organization of the park and park territory at the present stage of their functioning. Alexander Park, which is of great environmental, historical and cultural importance for the whole Vinnytsia region, is characterized and symbolized by the indivisibility of natural and cultural heritage, and thus provides the fulfillment of several interrelated functions: environmental, recreational and economic. The use of both traditional and modern methods, such as geo-ecological analysis and synthesis, comparative-geographical, key areas, etc. made it possible to study the features of the territorial organization of nature management, relations and relationships between their most characteristic forms, the “cultural morphology” of the forest park type. The development of the Benetto-Alexander Surprises Nature Trail demonstrates the results of conservation and efficient use of biotic and landscape diversity, combined with the sustainable use of natural resources, which is one of the main tasks of modern environmental management and conservation. In addition, it is also a basic condition for balanced development of the region. The practical value of the proposed methodology is to use them, especially in Vinnytsia region, as a reference and scientific and practical basis in the assessment of cultivated landscapes in scientific and practical activities in the development and improvement of planning nature conservation and recreational and tourist activities of the region.

The research aims to quantify the environmental carrying capacity of both Petrified Forest Protectorate in East Greater Cairo and Hassanah Dome Protectorate in West Greater Cairo, with their sustainable use and preservation. The environmental carrying capacity works as a sustainable method not to exceed the environmental limits of nature reserves or in other words, the number of visitors does not exceed the maximum allowed for visiting the reserve. The methodology used in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been used. The elements of the methodology are at 3 levels, namely, physical carrying capacity (PCC), which depends on the optimal rate of space used per capita and open period, real carrying capacity (RCC), which depends on environmental and social factors, and effective carrying capacity (ECC), which depends on administrative and operational capacity. The results of the research found that the Petrified Forest Protectorate (East of Greater Cairo) accommodates 186,286 visitor per day, and Hassanah Dome Protectorate (West of Greater Cairo) accommodates 26,612 visitor per day. In addition to assessing the level of the ecological carrying capacity index (ECCI), which measures the extent of support for the population and its activities, and by comparing the total environmental carrying capacity of the two protectorates that reached 212,898 visitors per day with the population of Greater Cairo (Cairo Governorate and Giza Governorate), which reached 17 million (Capmas, 2017), it was found that the environmental carrying capacity of the two protectorates is not sufficient to support recreational activities and environmental tourism for people of Greater Cairo.

Ukraine has transformed into one of the most environmentally dangerous countries in the world due to the high concentration of industrial production and agriculture and predatory use of natural resources. The current ecological situation in Ukraine is characterized by a deep ecological crisis, which is caused by the laws of operation of the command economy of the former USSR. The majority of the environmental and social indicators of Ukraine are among the worst in Europe. The Carpathian Mountains are among the most significant and interesting landscapes in Europe from the geological and geomorphological, scenic and biological perspectives. The giant arc of the Carpathians begins in southern Romania and passes through Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to Austria, crosses all Eastern and Central Europe. A third of the forest reserves of Ukraine are located in the Ukrainian Carpathians, at 53.5% the percentage of forest cover of the area is among the highest in the country. About 50% of the gene pool of Ukraine’s plants, many species of trees and medicinal plants grows there. The geographical location and large area of the rich natural heritage of the Carpathians have multifaceted importance for the conservation of biological, phytocoenotic and landscape diversity and maintaining the ecological balance in the central part of our continent. As with the Alps mountain range, this is an important ecological corridor between Western, Central and Eastern Europe, which promotes the migration of species and their spread into lowland landscapes. In order to preserve biodiversity an inventory of virgin forest ecosystems should be made and strict measures for their protection should be enforced. It is necessary to continue the practice of establishing bilateral areas in cross-border protected areas in order to combine efforts to solve pressing environmental challenges. Conservation of the Carpathians Biodiversity is an urgent problem. Structural changes in the economy of the region are expected to strengthen the recreational value of the Ukrainian Carpathians for the public not only in our country but also in Central and Eastern Europe, reducing the technogenic loading. International cooperation of all countries of the Carpathian region is imperative. The development of tourism in the Carpathians is highly promising, but this should be civilized tourism, taking into account the environmental sustainability of the recreational areas and protected areas.

The main forms of anthropogenic relief formation (defensive ditches, mounds, canals, quarries, dumps, etc.) from the Neolithic to the present, which were marked by the presence of 152 abandoned and 137 active quarries on the territory of the peninsula, are considered. The basic principles and approaches to the reclamation of anthropogenic landforms are stated. Improvement options should be determined by the specific conditions of the technogenic landscape, as well as the suitability of the quarry for the intended use and the possibility of its transformation and, of course, the need of the ecosystem and society for an optimized object of the proposed type. The versions of optimization of open-pit workings during dry and wet rock excavation are considered. It is noted that in conditions of water shortage, preference should be given to the creation of reservoirs at the place of workings. The basic requirements for reclamation for agricultural and forest lands, the formation of sozological reserves by the formation of artificial reservoirs for various purposes: a reservoir to maintain ecological balance and preserve biological diversity (landscape-ecosystem function), a reservoir as a recreation area (recreational function), a reservoir as a source of drinking water (hydrological function), a reservoir for fish farming, including professional fishing (economic function). Possible approaches to optimization of quarries are discussed. An assortment of plant species suitable for creating coastal communities with a coastal protection function is presented.

The state and prospects of application of geoinformation systems (GIS) to solve monitoring tasks of nature protected territories of Ukraine are investigated. The results of the first in Ukraine project of geoinformation support of the territory of the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve (CBR) for monitoring conduction is introduced; it is based on a geospatial database (SDB) of the reserve, which was created using an featureoriented approach based on national standards of Ukraine DSTU 8774:2018 "Geographical information. Rules for geospatial data modeling" and DSTU ISO 19110: 2017 "Geographic information – Methodology for feature cataloging". An information and reference geoportal of the territory and facilities of the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve has been created, which makes it possible to provide public access to the current monitoring information of the CBR based on the ArcGISOnline platform to a wide range of users. The use of the developed specialized algorithms of geoinformation analysis and modeling for monitoring of a radiation pollution condition of CBR is offered. Peculiarities of geoinformation support of the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve for GIS monitoring are as follows: keeping up-to-date and unifying different types and origins of data on a single digital topographic basis, ensuring the required level of interaction between different local government authorities, other enterprises and institutions which ensure the viability of the reserve. Problems solved with the help of GIS CBR: creation and maintenance of up-to-date of the spatial data such as: (boundaries of the reserve, current state of use of the territory, natural landscapes, vegetation, distribution of rare and endangered species of flora, fauna, plant communities, functional zoning, afforestation of the reserve; location of historical, cultural and recreational areas features, ecological trails and tourist routes; fire-fighting landscaping, project plan); planning of nature reserve territory; organization of economically, socially and ecologically effective management of the reserve; development of measures for environmental monitoring; monitoring of the state of radiation pollution of the reserve territory; making management decisions, issuing data on hard media; design of tourist routes; designing possible consequences of catastrophes; providing geoinformation support during forest fire fighting; development of measures for the implementation of environmental, anti-erosion, landslide and fireworks, restoration of disturbed natural complexes; comprehensive assessment of the territory of the reserve, its economic use and reserves of natural resources, landscape diversity, historical and cultural sites, the state of engineering and transport infrastructure; conducting scientifically substantiated functional zoning of the reserve territory; development of proposals for the construction and reconstruction of facilities necessary to ensure the activities of the reserve.

Formulation of the problem. This article briefly describes the main problems that arise during landscape and ecological investigation of territories. On the example of V.V.Dokuchayiv KHNAU’s arboretum the comparative and ecological method of estimating the soil conditions for the forest-based effect, i.e. species composition and productivity of indigenous forest vegetation groups is considered. The forest represents a system of vegetation and habitat. From the ecological point of view it is a reflection of the environment, as its forestry effect. The objective is also to justify measures aimed at solving urgent landscape and environmental problems, namely, transformation and pollution of the natural environment, the development of morphodynamic processes. Soils, as the element of the landscape, are an important block of ecosystems whose destruction has a multidimensional value for the stability of the natural environment. Aggregate soil transformation has traditionally been evaluated as progressive. However, scientific analysis suggests that extensive farming, inappropriate chemical fertilization and fetishization of pesticides have led to a significant decline in fertility, and in some cases, its loss due to the development of erosion of natural soil cover on large areas. Such processes stimulate soil microflora to decompose organic contaminants and promote the absorption of harmful substances by the plant. The landscape-ecological approach is currently used in solving many scientific problems: both theoretical and practical. The purpose of the article. The purpose of this work was to study the landscape and ecological structure of the forest massif, to identify the relationship between the components of landscapes on the example of the V.V. Dokuchayiv KHNAU’s arboretum by mapping the territory. Methods. The authors’ own achievements as well as the research results of domestic and foreign investigators made the methodical basis for the article. Results. The content of heavy metals on the territory of the arboretum is investigated, a ranking of factors influencing the distribution of concentrations of pollutants has been carried out and the type of ecological situation is determined by means of mapping methods. Modern and ecological methods of disturbed territories’ restoration with the help of phytotherapeutic technologies, which are much cheaper and safer, are offered. When implementing phytoremediation methods, there is less secondary pollution, physical and granulometric composition of soils does not deteriorate, biological activity does not decrease, and productivity is kept constant. This technology is most convenient for cleaning of moderately polluted soils. Scientific novelty and practical significance. One of the main mechanisms for regulating the ecologization of land resources is the identification, evaluation and implementation of the maximum possible reserves for increasing the efficiency of this process. This is reduction of unproductive losses in the mode of use and conservation of resources and the possibility of using the basic solution as a scientific and technological progress. Digital terrain models are designed for interactive visualization and have an effect of presence on the ground. Such models are used to substantiate measures to optimize land use in order to restore and stabilize the ecological situation, assess the natural recreational potential of the territory, monitor the components of the environment, predict transformation and degradation processes and environmental phenomena development.

Based on comprehensive environmental monitoring, geobotanical, zoogeographical, landscape-ecological, hydro-ecological, forest-typological, agroecological principles and approaches and own field research it is proposed to create a national nature park (NNP) «Central Podillya» within Vinnytsia region. A promising NNP is planned to be created on the territory of Vinnytsia and Khmilnytsky administrative districts of Vinnytsia region as a habitat and migration routes of bison (Bison bonasus) and preservation of unique biotic and landscape diversity. The projected area of NPP «Central Podillya» is 53 820 hectares. The need to create a park due to the presence of natural (forest, wetland, peat-swamp, floodplain, meadow, forest-steppe, meadow-steppe, steppe, weed-field) complexes with associations of plant groups, where more than 40 species of plants and lives more than 50 species of animals listed in the RBU, as well as the presence of a significant number of objects that have historical, cultural, recreational, health (medical) value. The general ecological and geographical characteristics of the park from the standpoint of physical-geographical and geobotanical zoning are given. There are 34 objects of the nature reserve fund (NRF), which will be a part of the perspective park. Functional zoning of the territory of the projected NNP «Central Podillya» was carried out taking into account representative and rare ecosystems, where its 4 zones (protected, regulated recreation, stationary recreation, economic) were allocated. The structural elements of the ecological network of the perspective park are singled out. The necessity of protection, preservation and reproduction of biotic and landscape diversity and historical and cultural heritage of the studied territory through the greening of economic activity, education and culture of the local population is substantiated. It was found that the creation of NPP «Central Podillya» through the Presidential Decree and the optimization of protected areas, which account for 2.27% of the total area of Vinnytsia region, the implementation of regional ecological and Emerald networks is an extremely important, important and absolutely necessary for effective adjustment of the strategy of balanced development of territorial communities. Creation of NPP «Central Podillya» will increase the percentage of protected areas to 4.5% of the total area of Vinnytsia region. According to this indicator Vinnytsia region is in one of the last places in Ukraine. According to the Institute of World Resources (Washington), for the effective functioning of the territory, the area of its reserves should be at least 10–12%. Preparation of scientific substantiation and project of creation of NPP «Central Podillya» within Vinnytsia region is a pilot project that requires official detailing, delimitation, land management, coordination with land users on which the park will be located, creation of park directorate, introduction of technologies aimed at preservation and restoration of biogeocenotic cover, reproduction of broken types of connections, preservation of settlements, optimization of land use, balanced development of territorial communities that will be a part of the NNP.

All history of this area and the general talk and all of that is that 1973 was a turning point and the Aquarius Festival is credited with having turned this region around in so many ways, but I think that is a myth ... and I have to honour the truth; and the truth is that old Dicke Donelly came and did a Welcome to Country the night before the festival. (Joseph in Joseph and Hanley)In 1973 the Australian Union of Students (AUS) held the Aquarius Arts and Lifestyle Festival in a small, rural New South Wales town called Nimbin. The festival was seen as the peak expression of Australian counterculture and is attributed to creating the “Rainbow Region”, an area with a concentration of alternative life stylers in Northern NSW (Derrett 28). While the Aquarius Festival is recognised as a founding historical and countercultural event, the unique and important relationships established with Indigenous people at this time are generally less well known. This article investigates claims that the 1973 Aquarius Festival was “the first event in Australian history that sought permission for the use of the land from the Traditional Owners” (Joseph and Hanley). The diverse international, national and local conditions that coalesced at the Aquarius Festival suggest a fertile environment was created for reconciliatory bonds to develop. Often dismissed as a “tree hugging, soap dodging movement,” the counterculture was radically politicised having sprung from the 1960s social revolutions when the world witnessed mass demonstrations that confronted war, racism, sexism and capitalism. Primarily a youth movement, it was characterised by flamboyant dress, music, drugs and mass gatherings with universities forming the epicentre and white, middle class youth leading the charge. As their ideals of changing the world were frustrated by lack of systematic change, many decided to disengage and a migration to rural settings occurred (Jacob; Munro-Clarke; Newton). In the search for alternatives, the counterculture assimilated many spiritual practices, such as Eastern traditions and mysticism, which were previously obscure to the Western world. This practice of spiritual syncretism can be represented as a direct resistance to the hegemony of the dominant Western culture (Stell). As the new counterculture developed, its progression from urban to rural settings was driven by philosophies imbued with a desire to reconnect with and protect the natural world while simultaneously rejecting the dominant conservative order. A recurring feature of this countercultural ‘back to the land’ migration was not only an empathetic awareness of the injustices of colonial past, but also a genuine desire to learn from the Indigenous people of the land. Indigenous people were generally perceived as genuine opposers of Westernisation, inherently spiritual, ecological, tribal and communal, thus encompassing the primary values to which the counterculture was aspiring (Smith). Cultures converged. One, a youth culture rebelling from its parent culture; the other, ancient cultures reeling from the historical conquest by the youths’ own ancestors. Such cultural intersections are rich with complex scenarios and politics. As a result, often naïve, but well-intended relations were established with Native Americans, various South American Indigenous peoples, New Zealand Maori and, as this article demonstrates, the Original People of Australia (Smith; Newton; Barr-Melej; Zolov). The 1960s protest era fostered the formation of groups aiming to address a variety of issues, and at times many supported each other. Jennifer Clarke says it was the Civil Rights movement that provided the first models of dissent by formulating a “method, ideology and language of protest” as African Americans stood up and shouted prior to other movements (2). The issue of racial empowerment was not lost on Australia’s Indigenous population. Clarke writes that during the 1960s, encouraged by events overseas and buoyed by national organisation, Aborigines “slowly embarked on a political awakening, demanded freedom from the trappings of colonialism and responded to the effects of oppression at worst and neglect at best” (4). Activism of the 1960s had the “profoundly productive effect of providing Aborigines with the confidence to assert their racial identity” (159). Many Indigenous youth were compelled by the zeitgeist to address their people’s issues, fulfilling Charlie Perkins’s intentions of inspiring in Indigenous peoples a will to resist (Perkins). Enjoying new freedoms of movement out of missions, due to the 1967 Constitutional change and the practical implementation of the assimilation policy, up to 32,000 Indigenous youth moved to Redfern, Sydney between 1967 and 1972 (Foley, “An Evening With”). Gary Foley reports that a dynamic new Black Power Movement emerged but the important difference between this new younger group and the older Indigenous leaders of the day was the diverse range of contemporary influences. Taking its mantra from the Black Panther movement in America, though having more in common with the equivalent Native American Red Power movement, the Black Power Movement acknowledged many other international struggles for independence as equally inspiring (Foley, “An Evening”). People joined together for grassroots resistance, formed anti-hierarchical collectives and established solidarities between varied groups who previously would have had little to do with each other. The 1973 Aquarius Festival was directly aligned with “back to the land” philosophies. The intention was to provide a place and a reason for gathering to “facilitate exchanges on survival techniques” and to experience “living in harmony with the natural environment.” without being destructive to the land (Dunstan, “A Survival Festival”). Early documents in the archives, however, reveal no apparent interest in Australia’s Indigenous people, referring more to “silken Arabian tents, mediaeval banners, circus, jugglers and clowns, peace pipes, maypole and magic circles” (Dunstan, “A Survival Festival”). Obliterated from the social landscape and minimally referred to in the Australian education system, Indigenous people were “off the radar” to the majority mindset, and the Australian counterculture similarly was slow to appreciate Indigenous culture. Like mainstream Australia, the local counterculture movement largely perceived the “race” issue as something occurring in other countries, igniting the phrase “in your own backyard” which became a catchcry of Indigenous activists (Foley, “Whiteness and Blackness”) With no mention of any Indigenous interest, it seems likely that the decision to engage grew from the emerging climate of Indigenous activism in Australia. Frustrated by student protestors who seemed oblivious to local racial issues, focusing instead on popular international injustices, Indigenous activists accused them of hypocrisy. Aquarius Festival directors, found themselves open to similar accusations when public announcements elicited a range of responses. Once committed to the location of Nimbin, directors Graeme Dunstan and Johnny Allen began a tour of Australian universities to promote the upcoming event. While at the annual conference of AUS in January 1973 at Monash University, Dunstan met Indigenous activist Gary Foley: Gary witnessed the presentation of Johnny Allen and myself at the Aquarius Foundation session and our jubilation that we had agreement from the village residents to not only allow, but also to collaborate in the production of the Festival. After our presentation which won unanimous support, it was Gary who confronted me with the question “have you asked permission from local Aboriginal folk?” This threw me into confusion because we had seen no Aboriginals in Nimbin. (Dunstan, e-mail) Such a challenge came at a time when the historical climate was etched with political activism, not only within the student movement, but more importantly with Indigenous activists’ recent demonstrations, such as the installation in 1972 of the Tent Embassy in Canberra. As representatives of the counterculture movement, which was characterised by its inclinations towards consciousness-raising, AUS organisers were ethically obliged to respond appropriately to the questions about Indigenous permission and involvement in the Aquarius Festival at Nimbin. In addition to this political pressure, organisers in Nimbin began hearing stories of the area being cursed or taboo for women. This most likely originated from the tradition of Nimbin Rocks, a rocky outcrop one kilometre from Nimbin, as a place where only certain men could go. Jennifer Hoff explains that many major rock formations were immensely sacred places and were treated with great caution and respect. Only a few Elders and custodians could visit these places and many such locations were also forbidden for women. Ceremonies were conducted at places like Nimbin Rocks to ensure the wellbeing of all tribespeople. Stories of the Nimbin curse began to spread and most likely captivated a counterculture interested in mysticism. As organisers had hoped that news of the festival would spread on the “lips of the counterculture,” they were alarmed to hear how “fast the bad news of this curse was travelling” (Dunstan, e-mail). A diplomatic issue escalated with further challenges from the Black Power community when organisers discovered that word had spread to Sydney’s Indigenous community in Redfern. Organisers faced a hostile reaction to their alleged cultural insensitivity and were plagued by negative publicity with accusations the AUS were “violating sacred ground” (Janice Newton 62). Faced with such bad press, Dunstan was determined to repair what was becoming a public relations disaster. It seemed once prompted to the path, a sense of moral responsibility prevailed amongst the organisers and they took the unprecedented step of reaching out to Australia’s Indigenous people. Dunstan claimed that an expedition was made to the local Woodenbong mission to consult with Elder, Uncle Lyle Roberts. To connect with local people required crossing the great social divide present in that era of Australia’s history. Amy Nethery described how from the nineteenth century to the 1960s, a “system of reserves, missions and other institutions isolated, confined and controlled Aboriginal people” (9). She explains that the people were incarcerated as a solution to perceived social problems. For Foley, “the widespread genocidal activity of early “settlement” gave way to a policy of containment” (Foley, “Australia and the Holocaust”). Conditions on missions were notoriously bad with alcoholism, extreme poverty, violence, serious health issues and depression common. Of particular concern to mission administrators was the perceived need to keep Indigenous people separate from the non-indigenous population. Dunstan described the mission he visited as having “bad vibes.” He found it difficult to communicate with the elderly man, and was not sure if he understood Dunstan’s quest, as his “responses came as disjointed raves about Jesus and saving grace” (Dunstan, e-mail). Uncle Lyle, he claimed, did not respond affirmatively or negatively to the suggestion that Nimbin was cursed, and so Dunstan left assuming it was not true. Other organisers began to believe the curse and worried that female festival goers might get sick or worse, die. This interpretation reflected, as Vanessa Bible argues, a general Eurocentric misunderstanding of the relationship of Indigenous peoples with the land. Paul Joseph admits they were naïve whites coming into a place with very little understanding, “we didn’t know if we needed a witch doctor or what we needed but we knew we needed something from the Aborigines to lift the spell!”(Joseph and Hanley). Joseph, one of the first “hippies” who moved to the area, had joined forces with AUS organisers. He said, “it just felt right” to get Indigenous involvement and recounted how organisers made another trip to Woodenbong Mission to find Dickee (Richard) Donnelly, a Song Man, who was very happy to be invited. Whether the curse was valid or not it proved to be productive in further instigating respectful action. Perhaps feeling out of their depth, the organisers initiated another strategy to engage with Australian Indigenous people. A call out was sent through the AUS network to diversify the cultural input and it was recommended they engage the services of South African artist, Bauxhau Stone. Timing aligned well as in 1972 Australia had voted in a new Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam. Whitlam brought about significant political changes, many in response to socialist protests that left a buoyancy in the air for the counterculturalist movement. He made prodigious political changes in support of Indigenous people, including creating the Aboriginal Arts Board as part of the Australian Council of the Arts (ACA). As the ACA were already funding activities for the Aquarius Festival, organisers were successful in gaining two additional grants specifically for Indigenous participation (Farnham). As a result We were able to hire […] representatives, a couple of Kalahari bushmen. ‘Cause we were so dumb, we didn’t think we could speak to the black people, you know what I mean, we thought we would be rejected, or whatever, so for us to really reach out, we needed somebody black to go and talk to them, or so we thought, and it was remarkable. This one Bau, a remarkable fellow really, great artist, great character, he went all over Australia. He went to Pitjantjatjara, Yirrkala and we arranged buses and tents when they got here. We had a very large contingent of Aboriginal people come to the Aquarius Festival, thanks to Whitlam. (Joseph in Joseph and Henley) It was under the aegis of these government grants that Bauxhau Stone conducted his work. Stone embodied a nexus of contemporary issues. Acutely aware of the international movement for racial equality and its relevance to Australia, where conditions were “really appalling”, Stone set out to transform Australian race relations by engaging with the alternative arts movement (Stone). While his white Australian contemporaries may have been unaccustomed to dealing with the Indigenous racial issue, Stone was actively engaged and thus well suited to act as a cultural envoy for the Aquarius Festival. He visited several local missions, inviting people to attend and notifying them of ceremonies being conducted by respected Elders. Nimbin was then the site of the Aquarius Lifestyle and Celebration Festival, a two week gathering of alternative cultures, technologies and youth. It innovatively demonstrated its diversity of influences, attracted people from all over the world and was the first time that the general public really witnessed Australia’s counterculture (Derrett 224). As markers of cultural life, counterculture festivals of the 1960s and 1970s were as iconic as the era itself and many around the world drew on the unique Indigenous heritage of their settings in some form or another (Partridge; Perone; Broadley and Jones; Zolov). The social phenomenon of coming together to experience, celebrate and foster a sense of unity was triggered by protests, music and a simple, yet deep desire to reconnect with each other. Festivals provided an environment where the negative social pressures of race, gender, class and mores (such as clothes) were suspended and held the potential “for personal and social transformation” (St John 167). With the expressed intent to “take matters into our own hands” and try to develop alternative, innovative ways of doing things with collective participation, the Aquarius Festival thus became an optimal space for reinvigorating ancient and Indigenous ways (Dunstan, “A Survival Festival”). With philosophies that venerated collectivism, tribalism, connecting with the earth, and the use of ritual, the Indigenous presence at the Aquarius Festival gave attendees the opportunity to experience these values. To connect authentically with Nimbin’s landscape, forming bonds with the Traditional Owners was essential. Participants were very fortunate to have the presence of the last known initiated men of the area, Uncle Lyle Roberts and Uncle Dickee Donnely. These Elders represented the last vestiges of an ancient culture and conducted innovative ceremonies, song, teachings and created a sacred fire for the new youth they encountered in their land. They welcomed the young people and were very happy for their presence, believing it represented a revolutionary shift (Wedd; King; John Roberts; Cecil Roberts). Images 1 and 2: Ceremony and talks conducted at the Aquarius Festival (people unknown). Photographs reproduced by permission of photographer and festival attendee Paul White. The festival thus provided an important platform for the regeneration of cultural and spiritual practices. John Roberts, nephew of Uncle Lyle, recalled being surprised by the reaction of festival participants to his uncle: “He was happy and then he started to sing. And my God … I couldn’t get near him! There was this big ring of hippies around him. They were about twenty deep!” Sharing to an enthusiastic, captive audience had a positive effect and gave the non-indigenous a direct Indigenous encounter (Cecil Roberts; King; Oshlak). Estimates of the number of Indigenous people in attendance vary, with the main organisers suggesting 800 to 1000 and participants suggesting 200 to 400 (Stone; Wedd; Oshlak: Joseph; King; Cecil Roberts). As the Festival lasted over a two week period, many came and left within that time and estimates are at best reliant on memory, engagement and perspectives. With an estimated total attendance at the Festival between 5000 and 10,000, either number of Indigenous attendees is symbolic and a significant symbolic statistic for Indigenous and non-indigenous to be together on mutual ground in Australia in 1973. Images 3-5: Performers from Yirrkala Dance Group, brought to the festival by Stone with funding from the Federal Government. Photographs reproduced by permission of photographer and festival attendee Dr Ian Cameron. For Indigenous people, the event provided an important occasion to reconnect with their own people, to share their culture with enthusiastic recipients, as well as the chance to experience diverse aspects of the counterculture. Though the northern NSW region has a history of diverse cultural migration of Italian and Indian families, the majority of non-indigenous and Indigenous people had limited interaction with cosmopolitan influences (Kijas 20). Thus Nimbin was a conservative region and many Christianised Indigenous people were also conservative in their outlook. The Aquarius Festival changed that as the Indigenous people experienced the wide-ranging cultural elements of the alternative movement. The festival epitomised countercultural tendencies towards flamboyant fashion and hairstyles, architectural design, fantastical art, circus performance, Asian clothes and religious products, vegetarian food and nudity. Exposure to this bohemian culture would have surely led to “mind expansion and consciousness raising,” explicit aims adhered to by the movement (Roszak). Performers and participants from Africa, America and India also gave attending Indigenous Australians the opportunity to interact with non-European cultures. Many people interviewed for this paper indicated that Indigenous people’s reception of this festival experience was joyous. For Australia’s early counterculture, interest in Indigenous Australia was limited and for organisers of the AUS Aquarius Festival, it was not originally on the agenda. The counterculture in the USA and New Zealand had already started to engage with their Indigenous people some years earlier. However due to the Aquarius Festival’s origins in the student movement and its solidarities with the international Indigenous activist movement, they were forced to shift their priorities. The coincidental selection of a significant spiritual location at Nimbin to hold the festival brought up additional challenges and countercultural intrigue with mystical powers and a desire to connect authentically to the land, further prompted action. Essentially, it was the voices of empowered Indigenous activists, like Gary Foley, which in fact triggered the reaching out to Indigenous involvement. While the counterculture organisers were ultimately receptive and did act with unprecedented respect, credit must be given to Indigenous activists. The activist’s role is to trigger action and challenge thinking and in this case, it was ultimately productive. Therefore the Indigenous people were not merely passive recipients of beneficiary goodwill, but active instigators of appropriate cultural exchange. After the 1973 festival many attendees decided to stay in Nimbin to purchase land collectively and a community was born. Relationships established with local Indigenous people developed further. Upon visiting Nimbin now, one will see a vibrant visual display of Indigenous and psychedelic themed art, a central park with an open fire tended by local custodians and other Indigenous community members, an Aboriginal Centre whose rent is paid for by local shopkeepers, and various expressions of a fusion of counterculture and Indigenous art, music and dance. While it appears that reconciliation became the aspiration for mainstream society in the 1990s, Nimbin’s early counterculture history had Indigenous reconciliation at its very foundation. The efforts made by organisers of the 1973 Aquarius Festival stand as one of very few examples in Australian history where non-indigenous Australians have respectfully sought to learn from Indigenous people and to assimilate their cultural practices. It also stands as an example for the world, of reconciliation, based on hippie ideals of peace and love. 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