Agriculture and forestry

Pankova Snizhana – PhD in Agronomy, Assistant at the Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Faculty of Ecology, Forestry and Horticulture, Educational and Scientific Institute of Agrotechnologies and Environmental Management of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University (3 Sonyachna Street, Vinnytsia, 21008, Ukraine; e-mail: pankovavnau@gmail.com).

Razanova Alla – PhD (Ecology), Senior Lecturer of the Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Faculty of Ecology, Forestry and Horticulture, Educational and Scientific Institute of Agricultural Technologies and Nature Management of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University (21008, Vinnytsya, Soniachna st. 3. e-mail: razanovaalla68@gmail.com).

Bondar Anatolii – Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Forestry Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (103 General Chuprynky Street, Lviv, Ukraine, 79057; e-mail: bondar19572204@gmail.com).

Kutsenko Mykola – Assistant of the Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Faculty of Ecology, Forestry and Horticulture, Educational and Scientific Institute of Agricultural Technologies and Nature Management of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University (21008, Vinnytsya, Soniachna st. 3. e -mail: nicolaskutsenko@gmail.com).

The article provides an in-depth examination of the current condition of protective forest belts in the Vinnytsia region of Ukraine, highlighting both ecological and socio-economic aspects of their role in the landscape. These shelterbelts, originally established to protect agricultural lands from wind erosion, excessive sunlight, and soil degradation, are now facing a period of decline due to a combination of natural and anthropogenic pressures. A central focus of the study is the growing impact of climate-related threats on the structural integrity and ecological performance of these forest belts. Factors such as prolonged droughts, increased temperature variability, and the growing frequency of extreme weather events — including storms and heatwaves — are contributing to the weakening of tree vitality, reduced biodiversity within the belts, and overall functional decline. This situation is further exacerbated by insufficient maintenance, outdated management practices, and, in some cases, unsanctioned land use changes that encroach upon the forest belt zones. Through field research and analysis of long-term environmental data, the article identifies several major challenges impeding the successful restoration of these protective systems. These include a lack of coordinated policy support, limited funding for reforestation and maintenance programs, absence of community engagement, and insufficient integration of modern ecological knowledge into forest belt planning. In response to these issues, the article proposes a set of strategic approaches aimed at strengthening the resilience and long-term functionality of the shelterbelts. These strategies emphasize the need for sustainable forest management practices tailored to local climatic and soil conditions, incorporation of native and drought-resistant tree species, and the implementation of agroforestry principles to enhance ecological synergy between forested and cultivated areas. Additionally, the importance of preserving the biodiversity found within these belts is underscored, recognizing their value as corridors for wildlife, reservoirs of native flora, and buffers that support ecological balance. The study also recommends the development of adaptive frameworks that can respond to shifting climate realities, including flexible planting schemes, seasonal monitoring systems, and risk-mitigation protocols.

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