At the end of August, the Ukrainian Carpathians suffered significant losses as a result of a gale force wind that damaged hundreds of hectares of forestry. According to the Carpathian Forestry Office, the hurricane-force winds hit the region, leaving behind a disaster zone.
The storm damaged about 500 hectares of forest in three regions, namely Zakarpattia, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk. The largest losses were recorded in Svalyava Forestry, where 183 hectares were affected. Mukachevo Forestry with 76 hectares of damaged forest and Rakhiv Forestry with 39 hectares of forest also suffered significant damage.
The Carpathian forests, which include tens of thousands of trees with a century-long history, have become defenseless against the power of nature. Foresters report significant windfalls and wind breaks in these areas. Trees completely uprooted or broken in the middle have become a frequent sight after the survey.
The large area of the forest affected by the wind indicates the need for urgent intervention to restore the natural balance. Ecologists note that such large-scale events have a significant impact on biodiversity and can lead to a decrease in the number of certain species that depend on this habitat.
It is worth noting that such natural disasters are becoming more frequent, which may be a consequence of global climate change. In some regions, the level of temperature rise is increasing, which contributes to the occurrence of more intense weather events, including hurricanes of this magnitude.
Transcarpathian and Lviv foresters have already begun work to assess the damage and identify measures to restore the forest fund. The primary task is to clear the damaged areas and eliminate hazardous areas to avoid additional consequences, such as fire from dry tree residues or the spread of pests that could threaten virgin forests.
