SUBSTANTIATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF THE NATIONAL NATURAL ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Topicality. One of the most urgent issues in Ukraine today is the maximum possible elimination and as soon as possible and at the same time a comprehensive solution to the issue of the large-scale destructive consequences of the russian war for the natural environment and natural resources of the country. Along with the assessment of environmental damage, it is urgent to search for additional ways and tools that would optimize the relevant assessment processes and at the same time lay the foundation for management in the field of nature use and environmental protection on a medium and long-term basis and based not only on administrative, but primarily on economic methods of decision-making. Despite the long-term war, in the conditions of a highly consolidated society, a real opportunity appears for the formation of natural asset management systems based on responsible self-government and economic support. At least for now, it is necessary to rethink and transform the traditional inefficient management of natural resources in the direction of natural asset management. Aim and tasks. Since the natural asset management is a relatively new practice based, on the one hand, on the traditions of the economics of nature use and the further development of the theory of natural capital, and on the other hand, on the still insufficiently developed methodology of integration into general municipal asset management systems, the purpose of this study is to substantiation and development of the concept of a national program for the natural asset management (Program), which will take into account both of the specified aspects. Materials and methods. When forming the provisions of the proposed concept of the national natural asset management program, the materials of previous relevant concepts in the field of environmental policy and strategic planning, as well as the best international experience, were used. The basis of the research methodology is a program-targeted approach, as well as a case method based on real facts and materials, which reflect the results of natural asset management at the municipal level in Canada, as well as Australia, the USA and other countries. When adapting the relevant experience to the realities of Ukrainian ecological and economic policy, the method of comparative analysis was used, taking into account the situational aspects caused by the war. Research results. The study substantiates the conceptual provisions of the national natural asset management program, according to which the final results of its implementation include, first of all, the implementation of measures defined in the management plans of natural assets of communities, relevant goals and performance indicators relating to the direct benefits that the community receives from natural assets and related services, such as recreational opportunities, local economic development , resistance to climate change, etc. The expected results of the Program implementation also include the reduction of risks for natural assets and related services, as well as the potential effect of the implementation of non-infrastructural solutions. It was determined that the main priority of the Program is informational and coordination support for the local self-government body’s desire to develop and implement a natural assets management plan as a type of territorial community asset management plan in order to ensure socially agreed standards of providing communal services and, ultimately, to improve the quality of life of the population. Within such a plan, the costs and benefits associated with the provision of services should be determined, as well as the management of related costs and associated risks. The program is also aimed at strengthening the processes of assessing environmental damage caused by the russian war: determining the value of damaged natural objects, identified in the form of natural (natural resource and ecosystem) assets, as a result, will contribute to increasing the amount of fair compensation from the aggressor. Combining the processes of damage assessment and determination of the state and value of natural assets within the scope of the Program implementation will allow optimizing costs for relevant measures and more rationally allocate financial resources. Ultimately, this will lead to an increase in the effectiveness of measures to restore the natural environment and natural assets. Conclusion. Using the best world experience in the field of natural asset management, adapted to Ukrainian realities, as the basis of the developments presented in the work, the main result of the research is the proposed draft concept of the national natural asset management program, which includes such tasks as: determining the state of natural assets, integrating natural assets into utility infrastructure and service delivery processes, consideration of risk and criticality of natural assets, life cycle management of natural assets, as well as financial strategy of natural asset management. The developed concept corresponds to the provisions of the State Environmental Policy Strategy of Ukraine for the period until 2030, the Strategy for the Formation and Implementation of State Policy in the Field of Climate Change for the Period until 2035, and the Environmental Agreement for Ukraine.