<펌>Forests and Forestry in Ukraine

 

Journal of Forestry • August 200134

In 1991, following the breakup of
the former Soviet Union, Ukraine
became an independent state. Lo-
cated in the southeastern part of cen-
tral Europe, Ukraine shares its boarders
with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Ro-
mania, Moldova, Russia, and Belarus.
It is bordered on the south by the Black
Sea. Its area is 604,000 square kilome-
ters with a population of approxi-
mately 50 million people. The country
extends from approximately 44° to 52°
North latitude.
With the exception of a narrow sub-
tropical strip in the southern part of
the country, Ukraine has a temperate-
continental climate, favorable for
coniferous and deciduous species
growth. Because of its vast territory
and climate, geomorphology and soils
Anatolii A. Strochinskii, Yurii M. Pozyvailo,
and Steven E. Jungst
The breakup of the former Soviet Union has provided increased opportunities for exchanges
between foresters in the United States and those in the former Soviet Union. Foresters in
Ukraine manage state forestlands for many of the same goods and services as do foresters in
the United States, but under a significantly different system. All forests in Ukraine are state-
owned, and harvest activities, where permitted, are strictly regulated. Transition to a market
economy in the forestry sector is considered by the State Committee on Forestry to be a mat-
ter of great importance, but strong state involvement in regulations relating to environmental
protection will certainly be a part of that transition.
Keywords: multiple use; silviculture

A B S T R A C T

 

Forests and Forestry in Ukraine
Standing on the Brink of a Market Economy

 

Above: The forests of the Carpathian region are among the most productive in Ukraine.
Steven E. Jungst
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/99/8/34/4614400 by guest on 24 August 2022in Ukraine are quite variable. From
North to South, the territory is divided
into three wide natural zones: Polissia
(a mixed-forest zone), a forest-steppe
zone, and a steppe zone (figure 1).
Although the climate in Ukraine
from West to East becomes more conti-
nental and some vegetation features
change, on the whole forests in each
zone remain stable in nature. According
to the State Forest Cadastre conducted
in January 1996, the total area of forest-
land in Ukraine is 10.8 million hectares,
of which 9.4 million are covered by for-
est vegetation (Ministry of Forestry of
Ukraine 1996). The forest cover rate is
15.6 percent, remarkably low compared
to most European countries.
In addition to the three natural
zones, there exist two mountain regions
in Ukraine: the Carpathians and the
Crimean Mountains. The Carpathians
are located in the western part of
Ukraine and have a maximum elevation
of 2,061 meters above sea level at Gov-
erla Mountain. The Crimean Moun-
tains are not quite as high (up to 1,545
meters at Roman-Kosh Mountain) and
are located in the very southern part of
Ukraine on the Crimea peninsula.
The majority of the land area of the
Carpathians is in the mountain-forest
region with extremely good climate
and soil conditions for forest vegeta-
tion. As a result, the Carpathians have
great biodiversity, with more than 300
identified species of trees and shrubs in
the region. The most widespread
woody species are Norway spruce
(Picea abies) and European beech
(Fagus silvatica), which make up 41
percent and 35 percent of the forest-
land, respectively. Others common
species are durmast oaks (Quercus robur
and Quercus petraea), common silver fir
(Abies alba), and European hornbeam
(Carpinus betulus).
The Carpathian forests are some of
the most productive in Ukraine, with
average volume increments up to 5.3
cubic meters per hectare. The
Carpathian region is the most wooded
region in Ukraine. Although the total
land area in the Carpathian region ac-
counts for only about 7.5 percent of
the total land area in Ukraine, this re-
gion is 40 to 50 percent forested. Con-
sequently, nearly 20 percent of the for-
est area of Ukraine is here.
Favorable conditions for forest vege-
35August 2001 • Journal of Forestry

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. Natural forest zones in Ukraine
include Polissia (mixed forest), forest-
steppe, and steppe.

 

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/99/8/34/4614400 by guest on 24 August 2022tation also are found in the mixed-forest
zone. An additional 40 percent of all
Ukrainian forestland is concentrated
here, although the total land area of this
region constitutes only about 20 percent
of Ukraine. The forest cover is compar-
atively high, exceeding 35 percent in
some parts of the mixed-forest zone.
The dominant tree species is Scotch
pine (Pinus sylvestris), making up 64
percent of all forestland in the region.
Small-leaved species, namely Euro-
pean and white birches (Betula verru-
cosa and Betula pubescens), black alder
(Alnus glutinosa), common aspen (Pop-
ulus tremula), and others make up
about 25 percent of the forest area.
Broad-leaved species, mainly oaks, ac-
count for another 10 percent.
Forests of the forest-steppe region
are fragmented, comparatively small
forest tracts alternating with much
more extensive tracts of unforested,
mainly agricultural land. Forests cover
about 12 percent of this area. Pure and
mixed stands of common oak (Quercus
robur) are the most widespread, consti-
tuting 43 percent of all forestland in
the area. Other comparatively wide-
spread species are Scotch pine, Euro-
pean hornbeam, and European beech
and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior).
The least forested area is the steppe,
which is similar to prairie regions in
the United States. Forest vegetation
covers 4 to 6 percent of the area, in-
cluding soil and water protection for-
ests and shelterbelts. The stands consist
mainly of common oak, pure or mixed
with European ash, lime tree (Tilia cor-
data), Bosnian and English field
maples (Acer platanoides and Acer
campestre), and European hornbeam.
In the Crimean Mountains, the
broad-leaved forests of the boreal type
dominate. The exception is the south-
ern coast of the Crimea peninsula
where subtropical forests and Mediter-
ranean bushwoods are most common.
On the whole, woody flora of the
Crimea woodlands consist of about
150 species of trees and shrubs. Be-
cause of the arid climate, the number
of forest species here is the smallest.
About 90 percent of all forestland is
covered by stands of oaks, European
beech, and other broad-leaved species.
About 7 percent of the forest area is
coniferous, consisting of Crimea pine
(Pinus pallasiana) and Scotch pine and
some species of cedar.
Forest Diversity and Productivity
Although favorable climate and soils
provide considerable biodiversity in
Ukrainian forests, the list of woody
species is quite limited. Among the
coniferous species are Scotch pine, Nor-
way spruce, and common silver fir (Abies
alba). Among the deciduous species are
common oak, European beech, locust
wattle (Robinia pseudoacacia), European
and white birches, and black alder and
white alder (Alnus incana).
One of the most significant features
of the Ukrainian forest is the uneven age
structure. Young stands constitute 31.5
percent, middle-aged stands 44.6 per-
cent, premature 12.7 percent, and ma-
ture and overmature 11.2 percent of the
forested area in Ukraine. This structure
has resulted from the reforestation of
vast areas when clearcutting took place
during World War II and in the imme-
36 Journal of Forestry • August 2001
Typical scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), the dominant tree species in the mixed-forest zone.
Steven E. Jungst
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/99/8/34/4614400 by guest on 24 August 2022August 2001 • Journal of Forestry 37
diate postwar years, as well as afforesta-
tion of eroded and low-yield agricul-
tural land. Afforestation turned 1.5 mil-
lion hectares into forest during the past
30 years. Planted forests cover about
half of all the forestland in Ukraine.
Productivity of Ukrainian forests
varies considerably. The average annual
volume increment is 4.0 cubic meters
per hectare, varying from 5.3 cubic
meters in the Carpathians to 2.5 cubic
meters in the steppe. Average growing
stock is 185 cubic meters per hectare
overall and 236 cubic meters in mature
and overmature stands. The total grow-
ing stock has been estimated to be
1,736 million cubic meters, of which
251 million (14.4 percent) is made up
of mature or overmature stands.
Forest Ownership and Management
All Ukrainian forests are state prop-
erty. Most Ukrainian forestland (66
percent) is allotted to specialized for-
estry or forest-based hunting enterprises
managed by the State Committee of
Forestry. There are more than 300
state-specialized forestry and forest-
based hunting enterprises in Ukraine.
About 26 percent of forestland is
rented to various kinds of agricultural
farms. The remainder is rented to users
from more than 50 ministries and de-
partments. The State Committee of
Forestry manages the use of forest re-
sources, reforestation and afforestation,
forest protection, and other activities.
Approximately 100,000 employees are
engaged in the forest sector, of which
20 percent are management staff.
Forest plots may also be rented to
private individuals or communes for
temporary short-term (up to three
years) and long-term (up to 25 years)
use without withdrawing the land from
permanent users. The purpose is the
same: use of the forest resources, hunt-
ing, recreation, and research.
First- and Second-Group Forests
According to the Forest Act of
1994, the priority of Ukrainian for-
estry is to make use of ecological, recre-
ational, aesthetic, educational, and
other nonmarket, socially important
benefits. All Ukrainian forestland is di-
vided into two groups. The first group
accounts for up to 56 percent of all
forestland and includes forests in sev-
eral protected categories managed for
water and soil conservation, recreation,
air sanitation, railroad and highway
protection, forest areas of special value,
and shelterbelts. The first-group forests
also include protected forests; national
parks and regional landscape parks;
forest reserves; nature memorials; tracts
and plots of scientific, historical, or ge-
netic value; and others that maintain
biodiversity or have special value. Pro-
tected forest areas constitute about 3
percent of all forestland in Ukraine.
None of the forests are managed for a
single objective; all are managed for
multiple uses, but prevailing objectives
are used as criteria for division.
The first-group forests are scattered
throughout the mixed-forest zone, for-
est-steppe, and the Carpathians. How-
ever, all forestland in the southern
steppe and in the Crimea is classified as
first-group. Moreover, most of this cat-
egory is included in forests of special
value. In these areas, only thinning and
sanitation cuttings to improve the pre-
vailing land-use goals are carried out;
all other harvesting is prohibited.
These areas constitute about 70 per-
cent of the first-group forestland
throughout Ukraine. In the remaining
first-group forests, limited harvesting
under strict regulation is permitted.
Achieving a sustained yield of raw
materials in addition to nonmarket
benefits is a goal of management in the
second-group forests, which make up
44 percent of all forestland. Harvesting
is also limited here, but regulations are
not as strict as in the first-group forests.
Allowable harvest is computed on
the basis of the optimal harvest age, set
by the State Committee of Forestry,
and is obligatory for all forest users.
The optimal harvest age depends on
the site, prevalent species, and, for
some species, on the productivity of
the stands. Typical harvest ages are
shown in table 1.
Recent annual volume of cutting
has been about 13 million cubic me-
ters, of which 45 percent is final har-
vest and 55 percent is thinning, sanita-
tion, and the other cuttings (Samo-
plavskii 1998). For technological and
economic reasons, clearcutting is al-
most the only harvesting technique
used in Ukraine. Harvested areas in
forests of all groups and protective cat-
egories are, as a rule, immediately re-
planted with suitable tree species ac-
cording to site quality.
Planting on forestland under the ju-
risdiction of the State Committee of
Forestry amounts to about 28,500
hectares per year; protective plantings
on eroded and unproductive agricul-
tural lands total about 7,000 hectares
per year; and shelterbelt plantings total
about 1,100 hectares per year. In addi-
tion, extensive programs of thinning,
sanitation cuttings, pest control mea-
sures, and fire prevention and control
are conducted to maintain health, pro-
ductivity, and stability of the forest
ecosystems.
Annual volume of harvesting, refor-
estation, and other programs is com-
puted on the basis of management
plans developed every 10 years for each
enterprise. Those plans are developed
by a specialized state management or-
ganization and based on data from in-
ventories carried out immediately be-
fore plan development. Previous prac-
tices and scientific recommendations
are taken into consideration as well.
All programs of reforestation, af-
forestation, and ecosystem maintenance
in state-managed forests are financed by
the state. The same is true for protective
Table 1. Typical harvest ages for first- and second-group forests in
Ukraine.
First-group Second-group
Species forest forest
Scotch pine (outside steppe region) 101–110 81–90
Scotch pine (inside steppe region) 91–100 81–90
Common oak 131–140 111–120
Norway spruce (in highly productive mountain areas) 121–140 81–100
European beech 121–140 101–120
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/99/8/34/4614400 by guest on 24 August 2022plantings of all kinds. In turn, the state
monitors sales and revenues from all
other products and services resulting
from forestry. Eighty percent of the rev-
enue from practices of state importance
is returned to the national budget, with
the remaining 20 percent going to local
budgets. All revenue from resources of
local importance are returned to ac-
counts of the local budgets to be used
for reforestation and maintenance of
forest stability. The ratio of forestry rev-
enues and expenditures differs greatly
among the regions. Generally, forest
revenue amounted to only 20 percent
of expenditures in 1997 and 27 percent
in 1998.
Forestry Objectives
Taking into consideration the na-
ture of the national economy and the
environmental situation, the priority of
the nonmarket benefits, and the condi-
tion of Ukrainian forests, the State
Committee of Forestry recently pro-
claimed the fundamental objectives of
Ukrainian forestry as follows:
• Increase forest cover rate to the
optimum level in all natural zones.
• Maintain biodiversity of forest
ecosystems.
• Increase forest ecosystem stability
to offset the influence of the environ-
ment: global climate change, increas-
ing industrial pressure such as air pol-
lution (Buksha et al. 1998), fires, pests,
and diseases.
• Maintain sustainable harvesting to
preserve the domestic timber market.
• Continue forest amelioration and
steppe afforestation.
The implementation of these objec-
tives is expected to have nationwide
ecological consequences. The State
Committee of Forestry considers the
transition to a market economy a mat-
ter of great importance. However, also
of vital importance is strong state in-
volvement in environmental protection
regulation. In this way the Ukrainian
forests are expected to be conserved
and negative effects of unregulated for-
est management avoided during the
transition process.
Literature Cited
BUKSHA , I.F., V.L. M ESHKOVA , O.M. R ADCHENKO , and
A.S. SIDOROV. 1998. Air pollution and climate change
effects on health of the Ukrainian forests: Monitoring
and evaluation. General Technical Report PSW-GTR-
166. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service.
MINISTRY OF FORESTRY OF UKRAINE . 1996. The state for-
est cadastre on January 1, 1996 [in Ukrainian]. Kyiv.
SAMOPLAVSKII , V.I. 1998. Forestry of Ukraine: State and
perspectives of development [in Ukrainian]. Scientific
Bulletin of the National Agricultural University 8:8–14.
Anatolii A. Strochinskii is professor in
forest mensuration and head of the Forest
Survey Department, National Agricul-
tural University of Ukraine, Kyiv; Yurii
M. Pozyvailo is forest economist and
leading researcher, Boyarka Forest Re-
search Station, National Agricultural
University of Ukraine, Kyiv; Steven E.
Jungst (sejungst@iastate.edu) is professor,
Department of Forestry, Iowa State Uni-
versity, 247 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA
50011-1021.
38 Journal of Forestry • August 2001
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