State of protective forest plantations in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine

Abstract

This paper analyzes approaches of scholars to the interpretation of the essence of protective forest plantations (PFP) and provides the most appropriate definition. The most significant functions of PFP are analyzed, and their peculiarities in certain regions of Ukraine are highlighted. PFP play an important role in preserving the stability of landscapes, including agricultural ecosystems. They are important for soil improvement and perform significant ecological functions, contributing to the creation and improvement of microclimate in agro-landscapes: reducing wind speed and intensity of wind erosion in the summer, preventing the blowing of the upper, most fertile layer of soil; snow retention and reducing surface runoff, including both snowmelt and rainwater, which helps to preserve soil moisture and prevent water erosion. Existing protective forest plantations in the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine are mainly formed from black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), common oak (Quercus robur L.), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), Canadian poplar (Populus canadensis Moench.), black poplar (Populus nigra L.), Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.), and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.). It is concluded that the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine is characterized by a rapid loss of protective forest plantations due to fires and military actions. During 11 months of the war with Russia, 425 cases of forest fires were recorded in PFP on a total area of 754 ha in the occupied Zaporizhia region and 287 ha in the Kherson region. This is three times more than during the same period in 2021, and the average area of one fire has increased by 16 times. Fires in the Forest-Steppe are characterized by the concept of temporary sterilization of the soil, during dry burning, as a result of which the death of worms, insects and microorganisms occurs in these areas. In the post-war period, the development of the forest industry requires scientific support for the implementation of the state policy on sustainable forest management, increasing the forest resource potential, as well as the forest cover of Ukraine to an optimal level, improving the efficiency of forest production through the application of modern scientifically-based methods for forest restoration and cultivation and rational use of forest resources, protecting forests from fires, illegal logging, pests, and diseases.