Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science

Dynamics of forest dieback in the green zone of Kyiv in the context of climate change

Nataliia Puzrina*, Orest Obukhivskyi

npuzrina@nubip.edu.ua

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Abstract

Forest ecosystems of megacities, in particular Kyiv, are under the influence of intense anthropogenic pressure and global climate changes, the rapid increase in the average annual temperature, and increased aridisation of the region lead to a massive weakening of forest stands and requires a detailed analysis of the dynamics of sanitary conditions for the development of adaptive strategies for managing forest park landscapes. The purpose of the study was to comprehensively analyse the dynamics of dieback in pine stands managed by the Municipal Enterprise “Sviatoshyn Forest and Park Economy” during 2020-2025, identify relationships between meteorological factors, the intensity of forest pathological processes, and assess the role of stem pests in the degradation of pine stands based on detailed surveys conducted in 2025. The study was based on the analysis of literature data, basic forest management materials, and weather monitoring using the Meteoblue service. A detailed study on model trees revealed the species composition, colonisation density, and production of young xylophagous beetles by the number of maternal galleries and emergence holes per 1 dm² of the trunk surface. It was found that the volume of selective sanitary cutting is a direct response to climate stress; peak indicators of measures correlate with periods of extreme temperatures and moisture deficiency. Most stands have a low Class 3 resistance rating and a substantial proportion of deadwood (5-20% of standing volume). A complex of xylophagous insects was identified in the dieback centres: Ips acuminatus, Ips sexdentatus, Phaenops cyanea, and also Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus minor, which exhibited the highest colonisation density and production of young beetles. Mass infection by the pine polypore (Phellinus pini) was also recorded, along with deterioration of the aesthetic condition due to the accumulation of debris. The data obtained confirmed the high vulnerability of pure pine mono-specific forests to contemporary hydrothermal stresses within urban green-belt forests. The necessity of transition to the development of biologically stable mixed plantings and introduction of adaptive management methods that combine the principles of sanitary rehabilitation with support for the recreational potential of suburban forests was substantiated

Keywords

stem pests; pathogens; plant viability; hydrothermal stress; selective sanitary cutting

Suggested citation
Puzrina, N., & Obukhivskyi, O. (2026). Dynamics of forest dieback in the green zone of Kyiv in the context of climate change. Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science, 17(2), 24-38. https://doi.org/10.31548/forest/2.2026.24
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