Ukraine Witnesses a Surge in Tree Cover Gain Despite Recent Fire Incident

Ukraine Witnesses a Surge in Tree Cover Gain Despite Recent Fire Incident

In a recent development, Ukraine has reported a single fire incident in the Luhansk Oblast region as of August 14, 2024. This incident comes amidst a broader context of the country's forest dynamics over the past two decades. Ukraine, with an area of over 60 million hectares, has a significant tree cover extent of approximately 11 million hectares.

An analysis of historical data reveals a fluctuating pattern of tree cover loss primarily driven by forestry activities, which account for the majority of the loss. Notably, the total tree cover loss over the years has contributed to substantial gross emissions of CO2 equivalent. However, the country has also seen a positive net change in tree cover. The stable tree cover has been maintained at around 9 million hectares, with a net gain of over 426,000 hectares, marking a 4.08% increase in tree cover.