Seminar "Vulnerability of the plain forests of Ukraine to climate change"

A seminar “vulnerability of the plains forests of Ukraine to climate change” with participation of experts of the project Clima East, representatives of Ministry of Environment, Hydrometeorological Center, representatives of Scientific, design and public organizations was held in the State forestry.

The event was aimed at discussing developments on the vulnerability of Ukraine’s flat forests to climate change.
According to T. V. Head of the State forestry, special attention is needed to increase the stability of forest plantings and adapt them to climate change.

The fact that the climate change processes cause an increase in the number of extreme weather phenomena that negatively affect forests and forestry (increase of forest fires, harmful insects and outbreaks of diseases, proliferation of windstorms and hurricanes, deterioration of Drought situations) are also recognised.
Changes in temperature and precipitation regime gradually lead to changes in the forest of vegetable conditions and directly affect physiological processes that determine the life of forest flora and fauna. Today, as a result of lowering the level of groundwater on polissya we observe the weakening of the state of pine plantations, which helps to spread the pests and diseases and to reduce counteraction to the natural phenomena,-said Christina Yushkevych.

The fact that forests play an important role in shaping the carbon balance of an atmosphere as an absorbing carbon dioxide today is generally accepted and does not cause any doubts. On the other hand, the use of wood and biofuel products also reduces the potential emission of greenhouse gases in comparison with the use of other products made from non-renewable materials.

The Clima East Project experts presented information about possible global tendencies of changes in temperature regime and the consequences of these processes for forest bonding in Ukraine.

All present noted the importance and urgency of the study of the problems of forest vulnerability and the need for systemic measures to mitigate and adapt in forestry.

Professor Anatoly Shvydenko, world renowned specialist in forestry (IIASA, C. Luxembourg, Austria), in his speech emphasized the fact that the forests are the key to the survival of the nation, so the extraordinary weight in society acquires a question of professional management in the woods and popularization of the profession of the Litsivnyk.

Press-Service of State forestry