Most branches of SE “Forests of Ukraine” are exceeding the plan for forest crop maintenance

Based on the results of the first seven months of this year, the best performance indicators belong to the Slobozhanskyi, Central, Poliskyi, and Capital Forest Offices. The Northern Forest Office has already fulfilled 109% of its Q3 plan. In total, maintenance has been carried out on an area of more than 75,000 hectares.

Maintenance operations create conditions for the development of forest crops and ensure the timely conversion of plots into forest-covered areas.

The scope, duration, and timing of maintenance depend on the type of forest site conditions, the methods used to establish forest crops, and weather and climate factors.

This summer, in the northern and central regions, heavy rainfall has been observed — work is being carried out to remove grass and shrub vegetation that hinders the growth and development of forest crops.

In the south and east, where rainfall has been less, soil loosening around forest crops is being performed to retain moisture for the root systems.

Maintenance is carried out both manually and mechanically. This year, 90% of the work is being performed by mechanized methods.

Advantages of mechanized maintenance:

✔️ Soil cultivation equipment does not damage young trees, which increases productivity and efficiency. Timely maintenance of forest crops also contributes to better survival rates.

✔️ The speed of land treatment increases fivefold.

✔️ Mechanized maintenance requires fewer resources.

The share of mechanized maintenance has grown thanks to the continuous renewal of machinery. Cultivators and disc harrows are actively used for soil cultivation. Corridor clearers, mulchers, brush cutters, and tractors are used to remove unwanted vegetation from interrows.

This year, the company’s investment plan includes the purchase of 156 units of soil cultivation machinery for forest crop maintenance.