Methodological aspects of forest soil monitoring organisation in Ukraine

Abstract

Introduction

The ICP Forests program is the most well-known forest monitoring program in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It provides, among other components, the monitoring of forest soils. In Ukraine, the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration named after G.M. Vysotsky has been the national coordinating center for forest monitoring within the framework of the ICP Forests program for over 30 years.

The national legislative and regulatory framework and Ukraine's international obligations provide for the monitoring and national inventory of forests (since 2021), which includes a component for the assessment of forest soils. At present, forest soils are largely overlooked by systematic research, leading to a critical information deficit concerning their condition and the dynamics of their forest-growing properties in the face of numerous adverse environmental factors. This study aimed to analyse the main methodological principles, current requirements, and key challenges associated with the implementation and organisation of forest soil monitoring in Ukraine within the framework of the ICP Forests Programme.

Results

The main principles, methodological aspects, and problems of organizing forest soil monitoring at all stages of its implementation are presented in accordance with the requirements of the ICP Forests program, which provides for observations at Level I and II monitoring sites, according to the list of mandatory and optional soil indicators. Level I soil monitoring is mainly focused on obtaining basic information about the chemical state of the soil and its changes over time. Level II monitoring includes an expanded range of soil studies on permanent plots, which, together with studies of other forest components, provide an opportunity to comprehensively assess the overall state of the forest ecosystem. Soil studies consist of several stages: 1) field studies (using the FAO field soil survey methodology (2006) with the determination of the taxonomic name of the soil in accordance with the International Standard for Soil Taxonomic Classification (World Reference Base for Soil Resources, WRB)), 2) analytical (measurement of key soil parameters using recommended standardized methods), 3) verification of results in laboratory intercalibration tests.

The development and functioning of forest soil monitoring requires addressing a range of tasks, the most important of which include:

• Strengthening the legal, institutional, and technical framework for forest and soil monitoring, including clear regulatory provisions and modernization of laboratory capacities.
• Advancing scientific and methodological support through harmonization of national and WRB soil classifications, digitalization of monitoring systems, and integration into forestry education programs.
• Ensuring stable financial support via dedicated national funding and international donors (GEF, FAO, World Bank).

Conclusions

Establishing a functional system of forest soil monitoring is essential for informed and sustainable forest management in Ukraine, particularly under post-war recovery conditions, climate change, and EU integration. Stable financial support through national programs and international donors (GEF, FAO, World Bank) will ensure the continuity of monitoring and provide the knowledge base necessary to maintain forest ecosystem resilience and productivity.

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