The principles of the habitat concept of biodiversity protection and features of the organization of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) are outlined. EUNIS covers a wide range of habitats from natural to artificial, from terrestrial to freshwater and marine. It forms a single classification scheme for the entire European space. The factors that influence on bison (Bison bonasus) existence are determined. According to the classification of the WWF, an overview of such ecoregions as Central European mixed forests, East European forest steppe, Pontic steppe, Carpathian montane forests, Crimean Submediterranean forest complex, Pannonian mixed forests. It was investigated that according to the conditions of the Bison bonasus existence among the listed ecoregions, the most favored on the territory of Ukraine are Central Europeanmixedforests. Habitats of Bison bonasus in Europe, which are included in the ecological network Natura 2000, namely Bieszczady, Puszcza Białowieska, Bukovské vrchy, Laborecká vrchovina, Mirosławiec, Jezioro Lubie i Dolina Drawy, Beskyd, Jezioro Wielki Bytyń, Wolin i Uznam, Ostoja Knyszyńska, Ostoja Borecka, Bukovské vrchy, Puszcza nad Gwdą, Jelonka, are established. Of these, 4 are fully and 3 partially located within the ecoregion Central European mixed forests (in full – Puszcza Białowieska, Ostoja Knyszyńska, Ostoja Borecka, Jelonka; partly - Mirosławiec, Jezioro Lubiei Dolina Drawy, Puszcza nad Gwda).It is substantiated that the conservation of bison as a species depends on the possibility of creating large herds existing in the natural environment, which are characterized by maximum genetic diversity. The minimum number of individuals in the bison stage for residence is set. Geosystems which are actual and potential habitats of Bison bonasus within the Ukrainian part of the Central European mixed forestsecoregion and can be added to the European system of protection of Bison bonasus are identified. A map of potential bison habitats within the Ukrainian part of the Central European mixed forests ecoregion is presented.
Long-term dynamics of the East European forest-steppe ecotone
