Abstract
The search and study of the distribution conditions of rare plants are important for their protection from extinction and the conservation of biodiversity. This activity becomes even more relevant due to the acceleration of climate change due to anthropogenic impact on biocenoses, in the formation of which plants play a substantial role, creating grass cover of meadows, floodplains, and undergrowth. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyse information on protected plant species and communities in the Ivotka river basin in the Sumy region and study the conditions of their distribution. In the course of the study, field examinations were conducted to search for rare plants and describe the places of their localisation using the route diagnostic method and desk studies to identify the found material. The result of the study was the finding of 28 rare species of vascular plants in the Ivotka river basin within the Sumy region, among which 2 are listed in Resolution No. 6 of the Berne Convention and the Red Book of Ukraine, 10 – in the Red Book of Ukraine, 16 – in the list of plant species that are not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, but are rare or endangered in the territory of the Sumy region. These plants can be classified as especially valuable for conservation that require protection and balanced use of both these species and the biocenosis complex in their distribution territory. It is not enough to change the protected status of the plant species itself or the territory of their localisation to preserve and protect rare plants. Systematic implementation of responsible forest and land use practices is essential to preserve existing biodiversity. The results obtained help to establish the protected status for rare plants, develop measures for their protection and use, and determine the need to implement a system of responsible forest and land use for Biodiversity Conservation