Ukraine

16.5% —or about 9,575,000 hectares—of Ukraine is forested. Of this, 0.6% —or roughly 59,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Ukraine gained an average of 23,600 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual reforestation rate of 0.25%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 46.3% to 0.14% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Ukraine gained 3.3% of its forest cover, or around 301,000 hectares. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990-2005 interval, Ukraine gained 2.8% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Ukraine has some 490 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.8% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.9% are threatened. Ukraine is home to at least 5100 species of vascular plants. 3.3% of Ukraine is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Forest types | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Primary forest | Forest designation | Disturbances affecting forest land | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Value of forests | Production, trade and consumption of forest products | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

Books

Ukraine: Forest Cover, 2005 Total Land Area (ha) 57,935,000 Total Forest Area (ha) 9,575,000 Percent Forest Cover 16.53% Primary Forest Cover (ha) 59,000 Primary Forest, % total forest 0.62% Primary Forest, % total land 0.10% Other wooded land (ha) 41,000 Ukraine : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 0% Subtropical (% forest area) 0% Temperate (% forest area) 100% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% Ukraine: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) 59,000 0.6% Modified natural (ha | %) 4,729,000 49.4% Semi-natural (ha | %) 4,399,000 45.9% Production plantation (ha | %) 81,000 0.8% Production plantation (ha | %) 307,000 3.2% Ukraine: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 9,274,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 9,510,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 9,575,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 23,600 0.25% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 13,000 0.14% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 301,000 3.25% Change in rate (%) -46.28% PRIMARY FOREST COVER Primary 1990 (ha) 59,000 Primary 2000 (ha) 59,000 Primary 2005 (ha) 59,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - 0.00% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - 0.00% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - 0.00% Change in rate (%) #DIV/0! OTHER WOODED LAND Other 1990 (ha) 29,000 Other 2000 (ha) 41,000 Other 2005 (ha) 41,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 1,200 4.14% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - 0.00% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 12,000 41.38% Change in rate (%) -100.00% PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) 325,000 Other 2000 (ha) 367,000 Other 2005 (ha) 388,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 4,200 1.29% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 4,200 1.14% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 63,000 19.38% Change in rate (%) -11.44% TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 8,978,000 Other 2000 (ha) 9,184,000 Other 2005 (ha) 9,228,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 20,600 0.23% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 8,800 0.10% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 250,000 2.78% Change in rate (%) -58.24% Ukraine: Primary Primary or "old-growth" vegetation Primary Forest 2005 (ha) 59,000 Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 0 Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 59,000 Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) 0.10% Ukraine: Forest designation Ownership of forest land, 2000 Public (%) 100.0% Private (%) 0.0% Other (%) 0.0% Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 Public (%) 100.0% Private (%) 0.0% Other (%) 0.0% Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 Production (%) 47.9% Protection (%) 30.4% Conservation (%) 2.6% Social Services (%) 19.0% Multiple Services (%) 0.0% None of Unknown (%) 0.0% Ukraine: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) 0.04% Insects (ha) 1.36% Diseases (ha) 1.25% Other (ha) 0.47% Ukraine: Protected areas 6 Protected areas Biosphere reserves, 2005 Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 33 World Heritage sites, 2004 2 Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land 3.3% Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land 1.32% Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 1.88% Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 0.00% Ukraine: Biodiversity - Wildlife Amphibians total species 20 endemic species 0 threatened species 0 Birds total species 325 endemic species 2 threatened species 13 Mammals total species 120 endemic species 1 threatened species 14 Reptiles total species 25 endemic species 1 threatened species 2 Wildlife diversity total species 490 endemic species 4 threatened species 29 Ukraine: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 71.50% Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 97.70% Number of Native tree species Native tree species 85 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 0 Endangered 0 Vulnerable 1 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 5100 Number endemic 0 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 1 Ukraine: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 1,199 Below-ground biomass (M t) 290 Dead wood (M t) 208 Total (M t) 1,698 Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 600 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 145 Carbon in dead wood (M t) 104 Carbon in litter (M t) - Soil carbon (M t) - Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) 1990-2000 47,000 2000-2005 47,000 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 4.56 2000-2005 4.64 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 6,660 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) 8,160 Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 14,820 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) 1 Plant products 2005 Food (t) 936 Fodder (t) 3,963 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) 157 Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) - Ornamental plants (t) - Exudates (t) 1,257 Other plant products (t) 143,700 Animal products 2005 Living animals (units) 1,200 Hides, skins and trophies (units) 400,000 Wild honey and bee-wax (t) - Bush meat (t) 550 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Other edible animal products (t) - Other non-edible animal products (t) - Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (US$) - Wood fuel (US$) - Non-wood forest products (US$) $380,000 Total value (US$) $380,000 Total value ($USD/ha) $n.s. Employment in forestry 2000 Total people employed 105,000 Ukraine : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 4,381 Imports 0 Exports 12 Consumption 4,369 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 6,263 Imports 89 Exports 1,752 Consumption 4,600 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 1,933 Imports 32 Exports 1,098 Consumption 867 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 958 Imports 343 Exports 176 Consumption 1,125 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 68 Imports 57 Exports 0 Consumption 125 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 532 Imports 422 Exports 120 Consumption 834 Ukraine: Environment Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Natural hazards NA Ukraine: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 56.21% permanent crops: 1.61% other: 42.18% (2001) Natural resources iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land Ukraine: Economy Economy - overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements. Shortly after independence in December 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukrainian government officials have taken some steps to reform the country's Byzantine tax code, such as the implementation of lower tax rates aimed at bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed, including closing tax loopholes and eliminating tax privileges and exemptions. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. Growth was 4.4% in 2005, underpinned by strong domestic demand, and solid consumer and investor confidence. The current account surplus reached a record high in 2005. GDP - per capita $6,800 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 4.4% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 18.5%, industry: 44.7%, services: 36.8% (2005 est.) Industries coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar) Economic aid - recipient $637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion (1998) Debt - external $33.93 billion (30 June 2005 est.) Population below poverty line (%) 29% (2003 est.) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 24%, industry 32%, services 44% (1996) Ukraine: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 47,425,336 Population growth rate (%) (2005) -0.63% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 78.6 Percent rural (2003) 32.8% Median age (years) total: 38.22 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 1.4 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census) Largest Cities in Ukraine Cities and urban areas in Ukraine with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Kyyiv Ukraine 2619000 3217800 Kharkiv Ukraine 1460500 1674800 Dnipropetrovsk Ukraine 1076600 1465500 Donetsk Ukraine 1021200 1743600 Odesa Ukraine 990100 1109600 Zaporizhzhya Ukraine 829300 829300 L'viv Ukraine 778900 778900 Kryvyy Rih Ukraine 686200 686200 Mykolayiv Ukraine 496100 496100 Mariupol' Ukraine 477800 477800 Luhansk Ukraine 453800 516600 Vinnytsya Ukraine 383800 383800 Makiyivka Ukraine 371900 371900 Kherson Ukraine 347400 347400 Sevastopol' Ukraine 341800 341800 Simferopol' Ukraine 327100 327100 Poltava Ukraine 308000 308000 Cherkasy Ukraine 304700 304700 Chernihiv Ukraine 301200 301200 Zhytomyr Ukraine 290200 290200 Sumy Ukraine 288200 288200 Horlivka Ukraine 287000 631100 Dniprodzerzhynsk Ukraine 263400 263400 Kirovohrad Ukraine 257600 257600 Khmel'nytskyy Ukraine 256700 256700 Chernivtsi Ukraine 254800 254800 Rivne Ukraine 243500 243500 Ivano-Frankivsk Ukraine 237400 237400 Ternopil' Ukraine 233400 233400 Kremenchuh Ukraine 231000 231000 Lutsk Ukraine 216100 216100 Bila Tserkva Ukraine 205500 205500 Kramatorsk Ukraine 180700 594100 Melitpol' Ukraine 163400 163400 Kerch Ukraine 158700 158700 Nikopol' Ukraine 145800 145800 Berdyansk Ukraine 126400 126400 Pavlohrad Ukraine 124700 124700 Uzhhorod Ukraine 124400 124400 Syeverodonetsk Ukraine 121800 121800 Alchevsk Ukraine 114000 114000 Lysychansk Ukraine 112200 112200 Yevpatoriya Ukraine 107600 107600 Kamyanets-Podilskyy Ukraine 103600 103600  Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005  Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World�s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)  Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.  Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.  RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.  World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site  The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund  With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com