18 Dec 2025

Ukrainian Forests: From Polissia Swamps to Carpathian Spruce

Introduction: Why Ukrainian Forests Are So Diverse

Many people imagine Ukraine as a land of wide fields and open steppe, but the country also has rich and varied woodlands. Today, about 15.9% of Ukraine’s territory is covered by forest – around 9.6 million hectares – which actually puts the country among the leaders in Europe by total forest area, even if the percentage is not very high.

This mix of plains, rivers, wetlands, and mountains creates very different types of forests in Ukraine. From the wet lowlands of Polissia Ukraine to the cool spruce slopes of the Carpathians, the nature of Ukraine changes step by step as you move across the map.

In the following sections, we’ll look more closely at the main woodland regions that shape Ukrainian forests.

Main Forest Zones of Ukraine

Geographers usually divide the country into several natural zones: a mixed-woodland belt in the north (often called the Ukrainian Polissia), a forest-steppe belt in the centre, and a steppe zone in the south and east. In addition, there are separate mountain regions – the Carpathian Mountains in the west and the Crimean Mountains in the south.

In this article, we focus on three key wooded regions:

the mixed woodlands and wetlands of Polissia
the oak and mixed woodlands of the forest-steppe
the Carpathian mountain forests in western Ukraine

Together, they show how varied forests in Ukraine can be, even within one country.

Polissia Forests: Pine Woods, Peat Bogs, and Swamp Landscapes

Polissia covers much of northern Ukraine and belongs to the mixed-woodland zone. It is often described as a land of woods and wetlands: flat post-glacial landscapes, pine stands on sandy soils, peat bogs, slow rivers, lakes, and marshes.

In many areas, pine is the dominant tree, mixed with birch and alder. High groundwater and poor drainage helped create large peat bogs and different types of swamps, which are important habitats for birds, amphibians, and rare plants.

The region of Polissia Ukraine is also culturally special. Small villages, berry and mushroom gathering, and traditional crafts reflect a lifestyle closely connected to the woods and wetlands. For local people, the forest is both a source of resources and a place surrounded by legends and stories.

"Forestry swamp ShatskyiNNP Ukraine.jpg” — photo by Vitaliy Turych (2004), via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Forest-Steppe Zone: The Heart of Ukraine’s Oak and Mixed Woodlands

South of Polissia, the landscape gradually changes into the forest-steppe. This is a transitional zone between dense woodland and open steppe, and one of the most important agricultural regions of Ukraine.

Here, broadleaf forests – especially oak – grow in patches among fields, river valleys, and settlements. These woodlands often include oak, maple, hornbeam, and linden, forming a mosaic of woodland islands surrounded by farmland.

The result is a landscape where cultivated land and wooded edge habitats exist side by side. Even though the forest-steppe has been shaped by humans for centuries, it still plays a key role in the nature of Ukraine. These woodlands support deer, foxes, many bird species, and a rich variety of shrubs and herbs. At the same time, they protect soils, store carbon, and help regulate local climate and water balance.

Carpathian Forests: Mountain Spruce, Beech, and High Biodiversity

In western Ukraine, the Carpathian Mountains rise as a separate natural region. Their slopes are covered with some of the most valuable Carpathian forests in Europe. With increasing altitude, the woodlands change: lower and middle slopes are dominated by beech and mixed stands, while higher, cooler zones are covered by spruce and fir.

Many of the beech woodlands in the Carpathian mountain forests are part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.”

They are considered primeval or near-primeval, meaning they have developed with very little human impact and preserve an invaluable gene pool of European beech.

These mountain woodlands are also extremely rich in wildlife. Brown bears, lynx, wolves, and many rare birds and insects still find habitat in remote valleys and on steep slopes. For local communities, especially Hutsuls and other highland groups, the wooded landscape has always been central – providing timber, pasture, medicinal plants, and a strong cultural identity linked to the mountains.

Карпатський національний природний парк - дорога до казки.jpg — Sidoruk Dmitry, 30 Sep 2018, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wildlife of Ukrainian Forests

Across all these regions, the flora and fauna of Ukraine in woodland habitats reflect the country’s wide range of climates and landscapes.

In Polissia, pine forests, peat bogs, and rivers support species such as elk, wolves, beavers, owls, and many bog plants and berries.
In the forest-steppe, oak and mixed woodlands provide shelter for deer, foxes, wild boar, and diverse woodland birds, as well as rich spring and summer undergrowth.
In the Carpathians, mountain forests host bears, lynx, wolves, woodpeckers, and a high number of invertebrates, fungi, and mosses typical for humid, old-growth woodland.

Although total tree cover is relatively modest, woodlands remain the largest refuge for wildlife in the country and play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in Ukrainian forests.

War and Environmental Damage to Ukrainian Forests

Since 2022, full-scale war has brought serious environmental damage to many parts of Ukraine, including woodland ecosystems. According to the State Agency of Forest Resources and UN estimates, around 3 million hectares of forest land – almost 30% of all forests in Ukraine – have been affected in some way by the war.

Remote-sensing studies suggest that tens of thousands of hectares of forest have suffered severe destruction or damage from shelling, fires, and military activities. In 2024, scientists and EU agencies reported record-breaking wildfire seasons in eastern and frontline regions, where almost a million hectares of land burned, with forest fires strongly linked to fighting, unexploded ordnance, and limited access for firefighters.

In some places, forests are now heavily mined, making them unsafe for people and preventing regular management, restoration, or tourism. At the same time, volunteers, scientists, and local communities are already working on replanting and natural regeneration in safer areas – for example, restoring damaged woodlands near Kharkiv by planting oaks and other native species.

The full long-term impact of the war on forests in Ukraine and their ecosystems is still being studied, but it is clear that recovery will take many years.

Conclusion: The Natural Heritage of Ukraine’s Forests

From the quiet peat bogs and pine woods of Polissia Ukraine to the steep beech and spruce slopes of the Carpathian forests, Ukraine’s woodlands show how diverse one country’s landscapes can be. They regulate climate, protect soils and water, support the flora and fauna of Ukraine, and shape local cultures and traditions.

Even under pressure from climate change, intensive land use, and war, Ukrainian forests remain a vital part of the country’s identity and of Europe’s natural heritage. Protecting and restoring these forests is not only a national task for Ukraine, but also a shared responsibility for everyone who cares about the future of Europe’s wild and semi-wild landscapes.