ForestCom detected forest cover changes on 437 forest sites in the Carpathian

The satellite monitoring of forest cover changes is conducted by experts from the NGO ForestCom in order to detect signs of legal logging and ensure appropriate responses to forest violations. This activity is carried out within the project "Combating Illegal Logging in Ukraine" with the support of the International Programs Department of the U.S. Forest Service.

Throughout the fourth quarter of 2023, experts from the NGO ForestCom continued monitoring changes in forest cover in the Carpathian region and identified 437 areas where changes occurred during the summer and autumn period. This includes:

- 266 areas in the Lviv region (from May 21, 2023, to September 10, 2023),

- 86 areas in the Ivano-Frankivsk region (from July 17, 2023, to September 10, 2023),

- 85 areas in the Zakarpattia region (from July 17, 2023, to September 10, 2023).

A map displaying these areas can be accessed at: https://forestcom.org.ua/mapforest/karta_4k_2023/index.html

Figure 1: Territory of the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zakarpattia regions with forest cover. The red marks indicate areas where changes in forest cover were identified.

The monitoring is conducted using a semi-automated system which compares satellite images from two consecutive years and analyzes the results using the online database of the State Enterprise "Forestry Innovation and Analytical Center" (LIATs).

Based on the subsequent sub-area analysis (according to information from LIATs), areas were selected where logging permits were missing or it was impossible to determine the forest user. These areas are marked in red on the map.

The next stage of the work is the selection of areas for field inspections. The results of these inspections are shared with the public and law enforcement agencies if violations of the law are detected. Alternatively, the forest users themselves are informed of the identified issues related to improving forest management practices.

The forest monitoring is carried out within the project "Combating Illegal Logging in Ukraine" with the support of the International Programs Department of the U.S. Forest Service.

It is worth noting that the satellite monitoring of forests in the Carpathian region identified 563 areas with changes in forest cover in the third quarter of this year.