The impact of forest fires on pine plantations "In the branch "Korostyshiv forestry"

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Polissia National University

THE IMPACT OF FOREST FIRES ON PINE PLANTATIONS "IN THE BRANCH «KOROSTYSHIV FORESTRY»

Kratiuk О. Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor,

Professor of Department of Forestry, Forest Plantations and Forest Mensuration

Ahapova M. student of the Faculty of Forestry and Ecology

Romaniuk R. student of the Faculty of Forestry and Ecology

The Zhytomyr Polissya region boasts the highest forest cover in Ukraine, with approximately 70% comprised of pine monocultures. However, this very characteristic renders the area highly susceptible to wildfires. The frequency of these events has demonstrably increased over the past 35 years, causing substantial economic and ecological damage [1 -2]. forest fire zhytomyr preventive

Understanding the large-scale consequences and underlying causes of forest fires is crucial for developing effective preventive measures and minimizing harm. National statistics reveal an alarming annual occurrence of over 2,500 forest fires, resulting in significant material and environmental losses. These events not only devastate the forest resources but also inflict substantial damage on the region's delicate biosphere, impacting both flora and fauna. Notably, large-scale forest fires qualify as natural disasters due to their immense destructive potential.

In Korostyshiv forestry, the area covered by fires decreased by 2.6 times. In 2019, about 85.5 thousand hectares of forest were affected by fires. In 2022, the number of fires significantly decreased to 32.5 hectares, which indicates a significant improvement in the effectiveness of fire prevention and suppression strategies in the region [1].

Similarly, Ivnytsia forestry has seen a significant reduction in the number of fires - by 2.9 times. The area affected by fires in 2019 amounted to 42.5 hectares, and in 2022 this number decreased significantly to 14.6 hectares. This positive trend demonstrates the effectiveness of the measures taken to combat forest fires in Ukraine.

Young pine stands are usually shorter and denser than mature forests. This creates a continuous fuel ladder between the ground vegetation (litter) and the tree canopy, allowing fire to easily climb up and move from a top fire to a bottom fire, which is much more destructive.

These factors together increase fire danger in young pine stands, making them more vulnerable to wildfires and potentially causing significant environmental and economic damage [3].

Forest fires often result in greater losses to forestry than damage caused by diseases and pests. The primary cause of fires in pine plantations remains human activity. A lack of public awareness and education about fire management in forest areas contributes to frequent and large-scale fires, with over 96% of forest fires being attributed to human factors. The frequency and intensity of fires are influenced by various factors including climate, terrain, forest age, species composition, and stand structure. Climate change exacerbates the problem, as forests become more susceptible to fires with rising temperatures and decreased precipitation. Research indicates that the number of fires increases from west to east due to reduced precipitation in those regions. The majority of forest fires occur between April and October, highlighting the correlation between air temperature and fire occurrence. During abnormal weather conditions, forest fires can escalate into natural disasters.

Forest fires result in the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is subsequently absorbed by forest vegetation over a prolonged period. The ecological significance of carbon losses from combustion and organic matter decomposition post-fire varies depending on the fire's scale and the time required for vegetation recovery from the damage. During forest fires, soot particles, including carbon, and by-products of incomplete wood combustion are emitted into the air [4].

These emissions contain various organic substances, such as phenolic compounds, some of which possess mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Smoke from fires contributes to a deterioration in the local microclimate, leading to increased frequency of foggy days, reduced atmospheric transparency, and diminished visibility and illumination. Forest fires also impact the reduction of the radiation balance, increase heat flow into the soil, decrease turbulent heat flow, and enhance convection. Thermal and smoke emissions from forest fires alter atmospheric dynamics, air mass circulation processes, and subsequently influence weather conditions in affected regions.

References

1. Kratiuk, O. L. (2019). Silvicultural and taxation characteristics of plantations in the enclosures of Central Polissya. Scientific Bulletin of UNFU, 29(3), 36-38. https://doi.org/10.15421 /40290307

2. Zibtsev, S. V., Soshenskyi, O. M., Gumeniuk, V. V., & Koren, V. A. (2019). Long term dynamic of forest fires in Ukraine. Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science, 10(3), 2740. https://doi.org/10.31548/forest2019.03.027

3. Clark, K. L., Heilman, W. E., Skowronski, N. S., Gallagher, M. R., Mueller, E., Hadden, R. M., & Simeoni, A. (2020). Fire Behavior, Fuel Consumption, and Turbulence and Energy Exchange during Prescribed Fires in Pitch Pine Forests. Atmosphere, 11(3), 242. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11030242

4. Soshenskyi, O. M., Zibtsev, S. V., Tierientiev, A. Y., & Vorotynskyi, O. G. (2021). Social and environmental consequences of catastrophic forest fires in Ukraine. Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.31548/forest2021.03.002

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