ForestCom detected forest cover changes on 306 forest sites in the Carpathian

Throughout the first quarter of 2024, experts from the NGO ForestCom continued monitoring changes in forest cover in the Carpathian region and identified 306 areas where changes occurred during the autumn and the spring period of 2023-2024. This includes:

- 107 areas in the Lviv region (from September 10, 2023, to March 16, 2024),

- 63 areas in the Chernivtsi region (from September 10, 2023, to March 29, 2024),

- 136 areas in the Ivano-Frankivsk region (from September 10, 2023, to March 29, 2024).

A map displaying these areas can be accessed at:  https://forestcom.org.ua/mapforest/karta_1k_2024/index.html

Figure 1: Territory of the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi regions with forest cover. The red marks indicate areas where changes in forest cover were identified.

The monitoring is conducted using a semi-automated system which compares satellite images from two consecutive years and analyzes the results using the online database of the State Enterprise "Forestry Innovation and Analytical Center" (LIATs).

Based on the subsequent sub-area analysis (according to information from LIATs), areas were selected where logging permits were missing or it was impossible to determine the forest user. These areas are marked in red on the map.

The next stage of the work is the selection of areas for field inspections. The results of these inspections are shared with the public and law enforcement agencies if violations of the law are detected. Alternatively, the forest users themselves are informed of the identified issues related to improving forest management practices.

The forest monitoring is carried out within the project "Combating Illegal Logging in Ukraine" with the support of the International Programs Department of the U.S. Forest Service.