The Most Valuable Forests of Ukraine
What are primeval forests, and why is it important to preserve them?
The old-grow forests of the Verkhovyna National Nature Park (21st Century) by Bohdan VykhorWWF-Ukraine
If you go to the most remote corners of the Ukrainian Carpathians, where it is almost impossible to get to, you will find the oldest forests that have never experienced human influence, between mountain ranges and meadows.
When you touch the nearest beech tree, you realize that flowing beneath its bark is more than just history. And the most striking thing you notice in this forest, if you pause and hold your breath for a moment — is that life is brimming all around you!
Primeval forest with mountain pine (21st Century) by Bogomaz Conservation photographyWWF-Ukraine
Scientists from around the world come to study Ukraine’s oldest forests, as they are a living example of how a forest can endure for centuries. These forests provide a refuge for rare species. For many years, protecting primeval forests has been a key focus of WWF-Ukraine’s work.
Regulus ignicapilla (21st Century) by Yana TolmachovaWWF-Ukraine
What are primeval forests?
The oldest forests in Ukraine are primeval forests, quasi-primeval forests, and natural forests. They differ in the extent to which human activity has influenced their development. Primeval forests are considered the most sacred among them, as they have never experienced any human interference.
Understory in the Primeval Forest (21st Century) by Yana TolmachovaWWF-Ukraine
Signs of primeval forests
The trees in this forest are often very old, sometimes more than 300 years old. To the human eye, the vegetation here is chaotic, at all levels — from mossy litter and low bushes to tall, 40-meter beech giants that you can't hug alone.
All stages of tree development are present here, each of them crucial for many living species. And what stands out the most in a primeval forest is deadwood — dry branches, standing dead trees, and massive trunks toppled by storms, slowly decomposing and turning into humus.
Primeval forests of the Borzhava ridge (21st Century) by Bogomaz Conservation photographyWWF-Ukraine
Why are primeval forests valuable?
Carpathian newt (21st Century) by Bogomaz Conservation photographyWWF-Ukraine
A home for endangered animals, plants, and fungi
A primeval forest is like a shared home for species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine — a vivid reminder that in nature, everything is interconnected.
Regulus ignicapilla (21st Century) by Yana TolmachovaWWF-Ukraine
2. A testament to forest resilience
Ukraine’s oldest forests have existed self-sufficiently in certain areas for hundreds of years. They’ve withstood insect outbreaks and external pressures, remaining stable and resilient ecosystems.
Alder forest bog (21st Century) by Bogomaz Conservation photographyWWF-Ukraine
3. Forests perform a regulatory function
During rains, the tree canopies and moss cover (in spruce forests) retain water. In spring, forests slow down snowmelt with their shade. In both cases, water gradually flows into water bodies, reducing the risk of sudden floods.
The Silent Life of Moss (21st Century) by Yurii IvanenkoWWF-Ukraine
4. Carbon storage reservoirs
For centuries, primeval forests have stored carbon within themselves. Dry branches and trunks that fall over time become part of the forest litter and soil. In this way, a tree at every stage of its life acts as a reservoir that holds carbon.
If you ever find yourself in a primeval forest, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and grandeur, and try your best not to disturb its peace.
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