Since the first edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine was published in 1980, research of the phytobiota, its present day specific composition under increasing pressure of anthropogenic factors, plant population status, have been continued, contributing the new data on particular species, population dynamics, range of reset and / or reduction tempo, their vitality etc. Ukrainian botanists have compiled and critically revised a comprehensive species list of the Ukrainian éîãà, determined threatened plant status categories as rare, endangered or vnlnerable. A tentative list of "candidate" plant and fungi species was considered by the Interinstitutional Red Data Book Commission of Ukraine (from 1992 on known as the National Commission for Red Data Book of Ukraine). And was finally approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
In regard to its information completeness, the present volume advantageously differs from similar publications of other countries. It is divided into 5 sections to include reviews of 541 plant and fungi species (varieties, forms) of total more than 25 000 known to occur in Ukraine: vascular plants (439 species), mosses (28), algae (17), lichens (27), fungi (30). The reviews are compiled by leading Ukrainian specialists for every plant group involved. Species (subspecies) reviews are arranged in systematic order according to the commonly accepted classification and 'designed in following format plant (fungus) name, family name, scientific importance, population status according the IUCN Red Data Book and European Red List categories, distribution in and beyond Ukraine and general range data, habitats, natural population, causative factors of population changes, general morphological and biological characteristics, conservation measures (taken, proposed, necessary to assure a species survival), information sources (literature). Each review is supplied with an illustration and species (subspecies) distribution òàð in Ukraine.
The reviews were compiled and edited by the Academician of the Nat. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Dr. Yu. R. Shelyag-Sosonko (editor in chief), Prof. Dr. B. V. Zaverukha (editor, "Vascular plants" section), Dr. L. Ya. Partyka ("Mosses"), Dr. V. P. Junger ("Algae"), Dr. Î. Â. Blum ("Lichens"), Corresponding Member of the Nat. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Dr. S. P. Wasser and Ur. 1. U. Dudka ("Fungi"), The book provides ako the official legislative documents: Resolution of the Supre.me Council (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine "On the Red Data Book of Ukraine" (1992) and Enactments of the Cabinet of Ministers concerning the penalty rates for damage caused by illegal extraction (gathering), destruction of and/or injury to plants included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, European Red List, and their habit destruction. The work is a reference tool for state, research, education and public institutions and organizations, which activity is involved in nature conservation and sustainable utilization of the natural resources.