Ecology- a science that investigates the functioning of systems and structures of the supra-organismal level (ecosystems or biogeocenoses) in their interaction with each other and a set of environmental factors. Ecology covers a wide range of theoretical and practical issues: the study of different levels of biological organization - from individual organisms through populations and groups to ecosystems, principles and regularities of their structure, functioning, development, regulatory and adaptive mechanisms; explores the essence of processes of exchange and transformation of substances and energy; conducts a search for natural laws of organization of life on our planet. The term "ecology" was proposed by E. Haeckel in 1866.

The expansion of the subject of ecology led to the appearance in the literature of a number of new definitions of it, in particular, the well-known ecologist Yu. Odum gives such an interpretation as - an interdisciplinary area of knowledge about the structure and functioning of multilevel systems in nature and society in their interconnection. This is a rather broad definition, but it more than others corresponds to today's understanding of ecology.

Today there are many classification schemes of ecology as a science. The most successful classification of the main directions of modern ecology, proposed in 1995 by the famous Ukrainian ecologists G. O. Bilyavskyi and V. M. Brovdiy, seems to us to be the most successful (scheme 1). It preserves the classical interpretation of this science, in the center of which are living organisms and their natural systems at all levels of organization. Based on the range of issues that ecology solves today, the authors divide it into theoretical (fundamental) and applied. The task of theoretical ecology is the improvement and further development of fundamental research at all levels of the organization of living matter. Applied ecology covers with its research all practical aspects of human activity, analyzes its results, outlines ways, directions and methods of preventing damage caused by the economic activity of man and society as a whole to the surrounding natural environment and to the person himself.

The classification scheme is generalized, it covers almost all aspects of modern ecology. If necessary, it is easy to supplement it with possible new branches of theoretical and applied areas of ecological research.

Modern ecology, indeed, has turned into an integrated multidisciplinary science, acquires features of an actual worldview, turns into a doctrine of a new strategy and tactics of human behavior in the biosphere.

Today, the solution of environmental problems has become one of the global criteria for the humanity of society, the level of its technical and scientific developments.

Modern ecology, which investigates the effect of anthropogenic factors in the biosphere, belongs to the type of sciences that arose at the junction of many scientific directions (it has a special connection with sciences that are focused on the study of crisis situations in the biosphere). It reflects both the globality of modern problems facing humanity and various forms of integration of methods, directions and scientific research. The transformation of ecology from a purely biological discipline into a field of knowledge that also included social and technical sciences, into a field of activity based on the solution of a number of extremely complex political, ideological, economic, ethical and other issues, gave it a significant place in modern life, made it a kind of node in which different directions of science and human practice are united. Ecology is increasingly becoming one of the human sciences and in a certain sense interests many scientific directions, in this science they find points of contact between fundamental and applied research, between theoretical developments and their practical application.

We are forced to admit that an alarming ecological situation has developed in many regions of our country as a result of incompetent management, consumerism towards natural resources, merciless exploitation of natural resources, as well as the prevalence of technocratic thinking.

The importance of protecting the natural environment as a condition for the survival of humanity and every person is now being realized by our society. But, unfortunately, it is not ready for the consistent and unconditional implementation of nature protection measures, and not only because of the lack of funds necessary for this, but also as a result of the lack of environmental literacy and ecological culture and the lack of formation of ecological thinking among the population.

The role of ecology is huge in setting up environmental education and raising people of a new generation. They must have a clear idea that natural resources are limited and the production technology of any product must meet such requirements, from an ecological point of view, as minimal consumption of materials and energy. They must know the laws of nature well, understand the interrelationships of natural phenomena, be able to predict and evaluate the consequences of interfering with the natural course of many processes. They should have an  ¢¢environmental outlook¢¢, that is, an awareness of the priority of solving environmental problems when implementing any projects, developing modern technologies,  creating machines and mechanisms , with all forms of management, as well as a firm conviction that without confidence in the harmlessness of this or that activity for the environment, it should not be implemented.

The production activity of people must gradually change the basis. The new economic modernization will focus on the creation of industries that do not destroy the equilibrium state of the biosphere and harmoniously fit into its biogeochemical cycles.

It is impossible to overcome the ecological crisis only by technical means. Moreover, it is impossible to maintain a state of equilibrium if society does not change itself, its spirituality, but relies only on technical solutions. Humanity is waiting for a long and very difficult process of simultaneous transformation of nature and society, and the decisive importance in its duration will be the formation of a civilization that meets the new needs of man, reconciled with the new realities of the surrounding nature.