THE ROLE OF URBAN SCULPTURE IN FORMING THE MEANING OF IDENTITY IN MODERN URBAN PLANNING

The settlements of the Ukrainian Carpathians play an important role in preserving the natural and cultural resources of the region, however, due to the growing popularity of the Carpathians as a tourist destination, they are increasingly facing a number of challenges related to environmental degradation, excessive anthropogenic load, ecosystem fragmentation, and lack of effective infrastructure. Environmental factors and urban-ecological interactions significantly affect the spatial development of both individual settlements and territorial communities or entire regions. In modern conditions, the need to integrate environmental aspects into urban planning documentation has matured, in order to ensure sustainable development of territories, improve the ecological situation and ensure optimal viability of settlements. It is precisely the understanding of the mechanism of urban-ecological interactions, the simplest example of which is the interaction of natural and anthropogenic systems, in our opinion, will allow us to solve the problem of spatial planning of urban ecosystems, rational use of nature, ensuring ecological safety and balance. One of the main urban-ecological tasks can be considered the study of the interaction of the urbanized and natural environment, which are of decisive importance and affect the quality of life of the population in specific urban-planning conditions, that is, they form a system – urban-social ecosystem. The correct spatial-functional approach allows for the best preservation of natural resources, prevention of ecosystem fragmentation, and limitation of human impact on environmentally sensitive areas. Spatial planning is an extremely important tool for the preservation and development of mountain regions, taking into account specific physical, geographical and ecological conditions - altitude, relief, climate. The use of spatial plans can lead to a more rational use and organization of land, natural and cultural resources, the implementation of an ecosystem approach to biodiversity conservation, as well as the creation of a more effective planning system for mountain settlements. An ecological approach to the spatial organization of settlements in the Carpathian region is the basis for the development of scientifically based recommendations for their urban development, preservation of ecological and cultural uniqueness and improvement of the quality of life of the local population.