HEALTH CONDITIONS OF THE UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS FORESTS IN 2016 AND THEIR DYNAMICS ACCORDING TO FOREST MONITORING

Abstract

ICP-Forest monitoring program provides European forests health estimation from the late 1980 s. Forty two percent of estimated trees had damages and their main cause was insects. Therefore, our colleagues have been providing Ukrainian Carpathians forests monitoring since 1989 according to the ICP-Forest methods. The results of 13 objects estimation in 2016 and the analysis of regional forests health from 1991 to 2016 are an object of the paper. Our investigation has obtained the following results. Firstly, tree crown defoliation in 2016 fluctuated from 7.1 % – for Silver fir to 12.3 % – for hornbeam. Tree crown damages in 2016 fluctuated from 9.4 % – for Silver fir to 21.4 % – for Pedunculate oak. Dry branches for coniferous species and defoliators (insects) for deciduous species were main types of crown damages this year. The proportion of trees without damages was 40.3 % in 2016. The dynamics of the forests health indicators from 1991 to 2016 was estimated on the example of main species. Their damage (defoliation) class dynamics was similar to the sinewave during last 26 years, but it substantially differs for some species. Norway spruce defoliation class fluctuated from 0.3 to 1.8 and its dynamics approximation had higher assurance (0.72) than other species. Common beech defoliation class fluctuated from 0.4 to 1.2 and its dynamics approximation was the best (0.77). Average forest damages dynamics also was similar to the sinewave during last 26 years in the Ukrainian Carpathians, but its correlation with defoliation dynamics was strong only for Norway spruce (r=0,747), but not for Common beech (r=0.411) and for Pedunculate oak (r=0.466). Norway spruce entomological damages fluctuated from 6 to 22 (mean – 13.6 %) and were maximal within main species. Its dynamics approximation was the best (0.600). Common beech entomological damages fluctuated from 4 to 12 % (mean – 7.2 %) and its dynamics approximation was one of the worst (0.311). Thus we have made certain conclusions. Average health conditions of Ukrainian Carpathians forests were good in 2016 as damages were small. The best health conditions were in regional common beech forests and their intensive improving occurred during last 6 years after their intensive deterioration from 2000 to 2011. Common regional beech forests also had the smallest entomological damages within main forest species, it was insignificant. Health conditions of Ukrainian Carpathians forests were also good during last 26 years (1991-2016). Maximal defoliation and entomological damages were in Norway spruce regional forests and in regional Pedunculate oak forests, but even they were small.