According to the online media Suspilne.
In the Snihurivska community in Mykolaiv region, work to restore shelterbelts damaged during hostilities and fires continues. As of October 25, two shelterbelts have been created with a total area of 7,800 square meters.
Ecologists and specialists explain the importance of shelterbelt plantings for the southern region. HALO Trust ecology expert Serhiy Shcherbak said that the work is being carried out on a plot where a Russian artillery battery with ammunition had previously been stationed.
The ecological role of shelterbelts and restoration in Mykolaiv region
“Our artillerymen struck this ammunition depot. As a result, the artillery battery and its crew were destroyed, but the ammunition scattered across this area due to the blast”
According to the expert, after the de-occupation of Snihurivka, Ukrainian sappers collected more than 300 artillery shells and more than 50 blasting charges.
“After our non-technical survey team visited this site, several dozens of explosive devices were found”
After clearing the area, HALO Trust, together with local authorities and WWF-Ukraine, developed a project to restore the shelterbelt, Shcherbak explains.
“Shelterbelts are important both for preserving fertility of the land and for supporting biodiversity in these areas”
The WWF-Ukraine expert on shelterbelt restoration, Oleksandr Sovakov, explains that for planting they selected species best suited to the local conditions.
“Among them is the common oak, which we collected acorns from and planted. We also planted fruit species in the outer rows of this stand – almond and apricot”
People are planting trees and shrubs in Mykolaiv region. Seedlings were planted in spring 2025. As of October, locals take care of the plants. Oleksandr Sovakov emphasizes that farmers in Mykolaiv region should also pay attention to preserving and restoring shelterbelts.
“Shelterbelts in the Mykolaiv region, in the southern steppe region, are the most effective compared to other regions. Of course, the yield increase will be the largest here”
“Maybe the harvest will be larger in Polissia as well, but because the shelterbelt preserves moisture, the yield increase in this region will be significantly higher. And in general, shelterbelts provide an increase of 4 centners per hectare”
As of October 25, the region has already created two shelterbelts with total areas of 3,300 and 4,500 square meters.
The restoration of shelterbelts in the region helps preserve soil fertility, support biodiversity and increase the resilience of the agricultural sector to weather-related risks.
Read also:
- A Przewalski’s horse tragically exploded on a leftover explosive device in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, highlighting ongoing dangers from the Russian invasion’s aftermath.
- The HALO Trust has cleared 177 hectares of land in Chernihiv region using drones and mechanized demining, enhancing safety by removing over 2,000 explosive devices.
- Over 10 million coniferous and deciduous seedlings grown in Poltava region’s 11 forest nurseries support reforestation and biodiversity preservation efforts.
