Indicator Metrics of the Sanitary Condition of Forest Stands in the Ukrainian Central Polissia Under Climate Change

This article summarizes the theoretical, methodological, and practical foundations for a comprehensive assessment of the sanitary and phytopathological state of natural forest ecosystems in the Central Polissia region of Ukraine. It is demonstrated that under current global and regional climate changes characterized by rising mean annual temperatures, moisture deficits, and groundwater table fluctuations, the vulnerability of stands to a complex of biotic and abiotic factors increases significantly. The methodological approach relies on a combination of field forest-pathological surveys and laboratory analyses. Monitoring results indicate that the region's current forest stands are predominantly characterized by a weakened condition and a moderate degree of damage. The primary destructive agents include a complex of pathogens: wood-destroying xylotrophic fungi, root and trunk rot pathogens, as well as bacterial infections and secondary trunk pests. A close relationship was established between hydrothermal anomalies, rising temperature regimes, and a decline in the protective potential of the stands. Furthermore, the dependence of damage intensity on stand age was confirmed: as age increases (from middle-aged to maturing and mature stands), the proportion of affected trees increases significantly. Based on the empirical data obtained, scientifically grounded recommendations for adaptive forest management and stand protection were developed. These focus on optimizing sanitary cutting practices, shifting the emphasis toward removing freshly damaged trees rather than clearing standing deadwood, establishing resilient mixed forest cultures, and implementing an early pathology diagnostic system to preserve biodiversity and enhance the ecological resistance of Central Polissya forests. Additionally, it is noted that implementing the proposed monitoring system and adaptive measures will substantially minimize the economic and environmental losses of the region's forestry under conditions of prolonged climatic stress. These findings can serve as a basis for adjusting state strategies for afforestation and sustainable forest management.