Conversion of Pine Forests in Ukraine towards Close-to-Nature Forest Management, with Particular Emphasis on Resilience to Fire and Weather Extremes such as Drought, Based on the Principles of Integrated Fire Management

Forestry in Ukraine is still very strongly oriented towards clear-cutting and the management of pure stands. Although alternatives, such as long-term natural regeneration and other felling methods, are well known, they have so far not been adopted in forest management practice. The Resilpine project was therefore intended to provide impetus for converting, particularly, the pine forests found in western Ukraine into climate-resilient continuous-cover mixed forests. This is being achieved through the establishment and evaluation of experimental and demonstration plots, as well as through training and continuing professional development.