DIGITAL TWINS AS A GOVERNANCE TECHNOLOGY FOR ECOSYSTEM PRESERVATION

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of digital twins as the latest tool for public administration in the field of natural ecosystem protection. It substantiates the management potential of a digital twin as a digital representation of a natural object or phenomenon that functions in real time and allows modeling scenarios of change, predicting environmental risks, and improving the soundness of management decisions. It is proposed to consider a digital twin not as a purely technical system, but as part of the management infrastructure that ensures interaction between data, spatial analysis, regulatory control, and decision-making processes. The article analyzes the prospects for the implementation of digital twins in the protection of forest, water, mountain, and steppe ecosystems in Ukraine, as well as the challenges associated with the legal, organizational, and human resources support for this innovation, and its potential in the context of the post-war restoration of Ukraine’s natural ecosystems. The aim of the article is to justify the possibilities of using digital twins as a tool for public management in the field of natural ecosystem protection, as well as to analyze the conditions and challenges of their implementation in Ukraine’s environmental policy, particularly in terms of post-war environmental restoration. Research methodology. The study applies systemic and structural-functional approaches to analyze the digital twin as a managerial tool. Comparative legal analysis is used to examine international practices, and the case-study method illustrates the potential application of this technology in ecosystem protection. Scientific novelty lies in the conceptualization of the digital twin as a governance, rather than solely technical, tool within the system of natural ecosystem protection. It is proposed to consider it as an integral element of public administration that integrates data, digital modeling, and regulatory frameworks for environmentally sound decision-making.Conclusions. Key challenges for the implementation of digital twins in ecosystem protection include the lack of a coherent regulatory framework, insufficient integration of digital data, limited institutional capacity of public authorities, and weak interagency coordination. It is recommended to develop a national concept for supporting digital ecosystem models, ensure access to relevant geoecological data, and improve the digital competence of administrative personnel. The proposed approaches will support the development of evidence-based environmental policy, transparency in natural resource management, and the sustainability of environmental governance in Ukraine.