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Remote Sensing Monitoring of the Impact of War on Forests in Ukraine
ForestCom's team of experts conducted an in-depth analysis of deforestation in Ukraine, focusing on areas affected by the war initiated by Russia. The investigation utilized Global Forest Change raster images to study tree cover loss between 2014 and 2023. The findings revealed significant impacts on the country's forested lands.
According to the study, the war initiated by russia in 2014 led to the deforestation of approximately 17,944 hectares (equivalent to approximately 44,329 acres) of previously forested land by the end of 2022.
Within this total, 1442 hectares (3,565 acres) of deforested areas were observed in territories that remain temporarily occupied since 2014 (Fig. 1).
Additionally, an extensive tree cover loss (Fig. 1) was observed in 5141 hectares (12,700 acres) of forests located within territories that were occupied after February 24, 2022, as per the territorial boundaries effective as of May 1, 2023 (refer to the accompanying map).
Fig. 1: Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine - May 1, 2023 (Coloured in Gray: Since 2014, Transparent: Since February 24, 2022). Forest Cover Loss Marked in Red.
Furthermore, 11,361 hectares (28,091 acres) of forest cover were lost in territories that have been liberated from occupation during 2022 (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2: Deoccupied Territories and Forest Cover Loss (Red Markings) - 2022.
The analysis of these deforested areas provides critical insights into the devastating impacts of the war on Ukraine's valuable forest resources. The data gathered through remote sensing techniques highlights the urgency of addressing environmental conservation efforts in the affected regions and calculate the estimated damages caused by the aggressor.
For more detailed information on the improved quality of research results, please contact info@forestcom.org.ua.
The monitoring was carried out within the project "Combating illegal logging in Ukraine"with the support of the International Programs of the US Forest Service.