Supporting the Restoration of Degraded Forest-Steppe and Steppe Zones in Ukraine through Integrated Natural Resources Management - GCP/UKR/004/GFF

Abstract

Ukraine is known for being home to nearly 40 percent of the world’s chernozems, black soils that are extremely fertile and productive. Years of intensive agricultural production has led to the deterioration and erosion of these soils, depleting them of their organic matter and nutrients.Lines of trees known as shelterbelts were planted in the 1930s in the forest- steppe and steppe zones of Ukraine to combat erosion and improve soil quality; however, deforestation and continued intensive agricultural practices have worsened the wind and water erosion. A reduction in the amount of irrigated land in these zones has also contributed to the degradation of the chernozems. This project was formulated to restore the productivity and resilience of Ukraine’s black soils through the expansion of integrated natural resource management (INRM) practices, the restoration of shelterbelts and the establishment of regulations on their ownership and management, the introduction of agroforestry, and the creation of an enabling policy environment for sustainable land management (SLM).