The Russian-Ukrainian war has been going on for more than six months now, and two million hectares of Ukrainian forest have been destroyed. This significant environmental damage is part of a broader picture of the devastation the war has caused to Ukraine's environment and economy.
At the UN Climate Change Conference, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an important message. He stated the extent of the destruction of forests due to the war and called on the international community to pay attention to these alarming developments.
The head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine, Yuriy Bolokhovets, emphasized that the war has covered more than 2.9 million hectares of Ukrainian forests. Much of these areas have been severely damaged. The forests, which are important ecological systems, now face the risk of extinction, which in turn threatens the biodiversity of the region.
Bolokhovets also noted that it will take decades of systematic work to restore the damaged forests. This includes planting new trees, protecting existing plantations, and implementing biodiversity restoration measures. But even these efforts may not restore ecosystems to their previous state.
Now, thanks to de-occupation, control over 800,000 hectares of forests has already been regained. Chernihiv region has liberated 260,000 hectares, Kyiv region - 162,000 hectares, Sumy region - 195,000 hectares, and Kharkiv region - 78,000 hectares. This makes it possible to work on the restoration of these areas, but the damage to the forests is already significant.
At the same time, in addition to environmental damage, the war has caused serious economic losses. Forests are an important resource for the woodworking industry, tourism and other economic sectors, which are now facing heavy losses. The decline in forest resources is leading to lower revenues for these industries and higher unemployment in the affected regions.
The situation requires international attention and assistance. Compensation and financial support from the international community can significantly help Ukraine in its efforts to restore forests and compensate for economic losses. At the same time, this issue draws attention to the broader impact of the war on the environment and the role of the international community in addressing global climate change.
