Policy Brief: The Destruction of Ukraine’s Biodiversity

Ukraine has already lost the majority of its biodiversity. The destruction of wild nature continues at an accelerated pace due to the intense impact of human activity, including the excessive expansion of agriculture. Ukraine has the highest percentage of arable land in Europe and the third highest in the world—56.8% of the country’s total area has been completely transformed, while protected areas make up only around 7%. Contributing factors include the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, large-scale deforestation and the loss of primary forests, and the replacement of natural forests with even-aged monoculture plantations (forests cover approximately 16% of the country’s area, most of which are artificial “plantations”). Additional threats include the drainage of wetlands, river regulation, and extensive industrial pollution.