Characteristics and current situation of urban forests in Kharkiv region

Abstract

The main aim of our study was to examine the current state and to analyse the prospects of the development of urban forests in the city of Kharkiv. Modern methods of assessment and forest resources ranking were used in the evaluation process. The data from the last basic forest inventory and the electronic database of the ‘Ukrderzhlisproekt’ Production Association are used.Conducted investigation enables to assess the state of the urban forests in Kharkiv, to show the division of forest resources by the land category, to list the species composition according to the forests stakeholders as well as to compare the existing and optimal division subject to the age group and to calculate the average forest valuation indicators. Our results indicated that the urban forests have different indicators in the context of permanent users. The existing division of the forest stands by the age group and average forest valuation indicators do not satisfy the optimal ones. Thereby, the vital problem in solving the issue of the conducting forestry in the urban forests transferred to the scientific base for the provision of their optimal growth, development and carrying out of their functions in full exists to date.