"Beautiful places are more likely to receive protected status, while there’s no one to stand up for "unattractive" nature," writes Ukrainian steppe researcher Liubov Ilminska, adding that scenic cliffs over water contain only a fraction of the biodiversity found in a typical meadow-steppe ravine.Читати українськоюThis "rich inner world" might seem unphotogenic: a broad plain, grass, shrubs, with no tall cliffs, ancient trees, or dramatic elevation changes. Why protect something like that? But in reality, these "unphotogenic" spots are a vital part of a fragile ecosystem, one that today suffers both from climate change and human intervention.