The global trend of forest overcutting is an important the object of research in connection with climate change and the need to ensure the sustainable development of territories. An important issue is an adaptation of sustainable development goals for a particular forest areas. The territory of the Tyachiv district of the Zakarpattia region in Ukraine was chosen as a key region. A list of stakeholders interested in conflict-free and inexhaustible forest use has been identified. The the paper analyzes the existing approaches to sustainable forest use proposes a conceptual model of forest management (major stakeholders and their interests), identifies features of the methodology of geoinformation support for management and control of forest use and forest protection.

1. D. Liashenko (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv),
O. Boiko (National Aviation University),
Y. Nikitchenko (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv),
N. Koper (National Nature Park «Hutsulshchyna»),
U. Bashutska (National Forestry University of Ukraine)
Geoinformation support of forest
management for sustainable development
of the Carpathian region
Photo by Nika Mots

2. SUMMARY
The global trend of forest overcutting is an important
object of research in connection with climate change
and the need to ensure the sustainable development of
territories. An important issue is the adaptation of
sustainable development goals for particular forest
areas. The territory of the Tyachiv district of the
Zakarpattia region in Ukraine was chosen as a key
region. A list of stakeholders interested in conflict-free
and inexhaustible forest use has been identified. The
paper analyzes the existing approaches to sustainable
forest use, proposes a conceptual model of forest
management (major stakeholders and their interests),
identifies features of the methodology of
geoinformation support for management and control
of forest use and forest protection.
Photo by Angela Dichte

3. Introduction
Intensification of global forests industrial exploitation leads
to numerous environmental consequences, namely: soil
erosion, escalation of dangerous exogenous geological
processes, risks of catastrophic floods, imbalance of heat
and moisture, and so on. In addition, the intensive use of
forest resources and its consequences negatively affect the
life quality of local communities due to destruction of roads
by heavy machinery, changing water balance and river
regime, reducing access to forests for mushrooms and
berries. Given the above, the issues of forest resources
management, which would take into account the equitable
distribution of revenues from forest use, compensation to
local communities on environmental degradation, free
access to ecosystem services, which directly affect the
satisfaction of fundamental human needs, are highly acute
now. Forest resources management is related to
administrative, legal, economic, social, scientific, and
technological aspects of forests use and protection.
Photo by Angela Dichte

4. Introduction
Key goal of management is implementation of sustainable
forests use, reforestation, and forest conservation with
respect of an ecosystem services concept and stakeholder’s
needs interests and requirements. Geoinformation support of
forest resources management plays an important role due
to the possibility to integrate various spatial data into a
single information environment and the identification of
conflicts and areas for improving in forest efficiency and the
life quality of local communities. A review showed that the
issues of forest use and the life quality of local communities
are important (Matsvange et al, 2016). Experts are also
emphasizing on paradigm shift in forests use in favor of
recreation and forest therapy (Shin et al, 2017). However,
the issue of geoinformation support in forest areas
management based on system approach is not completely
covered. Thus, there is a need in nature- and socially-
oriented management of forest resources (Ibisch et al, 2018)
and GIS support in the forest management (Teresneu et al,
2016).
Photo by Angela Dichte

5. Method and Theory
The methodology of geoinformation support for the
effective resources use in forests provides consistent and
continuous support of the decision-making process.
Consider the general methodology of geoinformation
support of territorial management (Steinitz, 2020). It
includes the following stages:
● Management tasks construction (nowadays the emphasis
on the sustainable development of nature and society is
assumed);
● Decisions designing (legislation, taxation, environmental,
explanatory actions);
● Management decisions implementation and control;
● Reflexive phase (monitoring and evaluation of systemic
changes).
Photo by Angela Dichte

6. Method and Theory
A wide set of methods for spatial data collecting and
processing can be used in decision-making. Collected data
should have spatial coordinates. This will provide the
possibility of common spatial data analysis (geoecosystem,
economy, population) in a geoinformation environment.
There are available for use different methods, namely:
1) theoretical methods (analysis, synthesis, etc.) allow the
creation of conceptual models for domain boundaries
defining and database structure development;
2) remote sensing allows systematic spatial data collection
(forest area conditions, forest taxation, tree height, and
types of crowns, forest cutting, and their consequences);
3) terrestrial methods (geodetic, hydrological,
geomorphological, geobotanical) are designed for the
forest ecosystem and surrounding areas parameters
verification;
4) methods of social geography are useful for study of the
life quality of locals (migration, income, etc.).
Photo by Angela Dichte

7. Method and Theory
In particular, in-depth interviews and surveys are designed
to identify potential and current conflicts among different
groups of stakeholders. To conduct a research, the following
data sources can be useful, namely: forest management
plans, topographic maps, thematic maps, digital elevation
data (SRTM), multispectral satellite images: Sentinel,
Landsat, еtс. The lidar and UAV surveys can provide
detailed data about the research object (photographs,
orthophotos, etc.). The statistics and sociology data are also
useful.
Geoinformation technologies allow making a joint analysis
of diverse data on nature, population and economy. Also,
GIS helps to build spatial models (for example, state,
dynamics, forecasts) and to take managerial decisions based
on them.
Photo by Angela Dichte

8. Method and Theory
Geoinformation modelling is a main technology. It
envisages an integration of data from different sources to
assess and predict the objects states in the GIS environment
using spatial data- and knowledge bases. Normative data
and restrictions, territory zoning (agricultural, residential,
public-commercial, recreational, health-improving,
reserved, historical-cultural, forestry, water management
types, etc.), land-use restrictions (water bodies direct impact
zones, flooding, an increase of groundwater level, coastal
protection strips, campfires, barbecues and use of open
flame, no smoking areas, no motor vehicles or internal
combustion engines outside roads or trails, etc.) are basic
databases (Shelkovska, 2014).
Photo by Angela Dichte

9. Method and Theory
There are few main tasks of using GIS in forest areas
management: providing of spatial information on forest
resources to forest managers, rangers and public authorities
and ensuring control over the forest areas condition and use.
These tasks are based on a spatial information combination
and analysis. GIS helps to solve issues related to
development of system of measures, rational of forest
management, efficient forests reproduction, protection and
conservation. Purposeful regulation of forest ecosystems
based on GIS provides a revision of the forestry information
support principles, development of alternative forest use
methods analysis. For example, forest geographic
information models can rely on space images time series
and identify permits violations (Landsat and Sentinel
images; Google Earth Engine technique).
Photo by Angela Dichte

10. Examples
The Tyachiv district of the Transcarpathian region in Ukraine chosen as an object of
research. Its territory covers an area of over 1.9 thousand sq. km. The population of the
district is about 185 thousand inhabitants. The part of the district territory is covered with
forests. Some of the forested areas are classified as protected areas, in particular, there are
objects of national importance: the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, landscape reserves
"Bradulsky" and "Gladynsky", botanical reserves "Gorgany" and "Tavpishirka",
"Kedrinsky", "Kernynsky", Stransul, Zadnya, Kedrin tracts. 67 deposits of mineral
(including thermal) waters were detected in this district.
Photo by Laila Heising

11. Examples
There are 60 monuments of archaeology, history and
monumental art in the area (the settlement of Kapuna (VI-V
centuries BC), ancient fortifications, karst caves near the
village Velyka Ugolka. These areas are valuable for
recreation and ecotourism purposes. According to Global
Forest Watch data, more than 12.8 thousand hectares were
cut in the district between 2000 and 2020. The area covers
approximately 9.7% of the forested area. It should be
mentioned that similar situation is typical for the most areas
of the Carpathians, where extremely depleting forest use
exists. The mountain areas are characterized by specific
mountain conditions that determine the socio-economic
activities of local residents, their employment, etc. The
State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine in 2020 has
launched a pilot project – an interactive map with wood
processing facilities. It shows the forest areas where
cuttings are allowed.
Photo by Leon Koetter

12. Examples
Experts (Zhyla and Solovyi, 2007) discuss at least four
forest use scenarios: a) aimed at the use of wood
resources; b) use of wood and non-wood forest
resources; c) combination of forest resources and
recreational forest use; d) limited forest use (nature
conservation). These scenarios prioritize different tasks and
define forest management strategies. The authors maintain
they are in favor of the environmentally friendly and the
effective use of forest areas.
This research is conducted using the method of conceptual
modelling. It helps to determine the list of stakeholders in
the study region. The model (Figure 1.) represents the main
subjects of management, people groups that are influencing
decision-making in the field of forest use, and other
components of the subject area, as well as key links among
them.
Photo by Leon Koetter

13. Figure 1 Conceptual model of forest use in mountainous areas

14. Examples
Formally, the state and local authorities are responsible
for the inexhaustible forest use in the region. The authorities
are making decisions on licenses for deforestation and the
distribution of tax revenues. However, Ukraine, as a country
with transition economy, has remnants of the former Soviet
Union administrative-command management system. There
is the problem of inequality of citizens before the law,
violation of forest exploitation requirements, etc.
Local communities are interested in improving their life
quality and benefiting from forest use. Interviews conducted
by the authors during field research in August 2021 show
the collapse of traditional systems of animal husbandry.
There is a trend for residents to migrate to the EU, mainly to
work at miserable wages. Local businesses (tourism
services, accommodation, carriers) are interested in
increasing revenues from tourism and recreation services.

15. Examples
Forest management organizations are responsible for
regulations on forest exploitation to make it sustainable.
Forest harvesting enterprises are interested to make a
profit from selling wood and being able to get it for a
long time to come. End-users of timber are equally
responsible for deforestation. Finally, they all will be
forced to reduce their needs for forest conservation
purposes. Tourists and vacationers are interested in
visiting wildlife areas, landscapes with the highest
aesthetic values, and a high level of natural resources
for people treatment and rehabilitation (mineral waters,
climatic factors, etc.). The possibilities of using wildlife
areas for recreation and treatment are growing due to
the current trend of decreasing such areas around the
world.
Photo by Nika Mots

16. Photo by Nika Mots

17. Conclusions
The paper analyzes approaches to inexhaustible and
sustainable forest management with geographic information
systems use. The Tyachiv district of the Zakarpattia region
in Ukraine is a key research objective of our team.
Theoretical analysis and the experience of our expedition
have discovered significant directions for forest use with the
aim of recreation, rehabilitation, and development of
ecotourism.
A conceptual model of forest areas and their use has
developed. The model has allowed to bound the subject area
of research and to identify stakeholders and potential
conflicts of interest in the process of forest harvesting and
other kinds of forest use.
Photo by Nika Mots

18. Conclusions
An indicative list of spatial databases for geoinformation
monitoring is proposed. Geoinformation technologies have
considered as a convenient tool for data integration,
modeling, assessment, and forecasting. The geoinformation
systems use suitability for the purposes of forest resources
management and sustainable development of the territory is
proved.
A promising issue is the retrospective analysis of forest use
in the region. In addition, the changes in socio-economic
characteristics of the population in the region are relevant to
the implementation of sustainable development of the
Transcarpathian region and other mountain areas.

19. Conclusions
Finally, the geoinformation technologies practice (GIS,
mobile cartographic applications, mobile data collectors,
etc.) expands the possibilities of forest monitoring and
assessment. It can be realized by different thematic maps
creation, obtaining detailed information on specific forest
areas, forecasting forest areas conditions dynamics. In our
opinion geoinformation technologies are a very useful tool
for different scenarios of forest management and is on the
way to balanced forest management at all levels (forestry,
forestry enterprise, region, State Forest Agency).
Photo by Nika Mots

20. Acknowledgements
We would express our sincere gratitude to the University
for Sustainable Development Eberswalde (Germany) for
an opportunity to participate in the international project
"Transnational Biosphere Forests - Cooperative
learning in UNESCO biosphere regions for conflict
prevention and sustainable transformation".
In particular, we thank to Prof. Dr. Pierre L. Ibisch for
highly professional and useful lectures about sustainable
forest management and to Ms Angela Dichte for well-
organised study excursions around the Carpathian
Mountains. Also, many thanks to Mr Vasyl Pokinchereda
and Ms Iryna Jonash from the Carpathian Biosphere
Reserve for sharing of practical knowledge about reserved
areas as well as for assistance in determining the subject of
the study.
Photo by Laila Heising

21. Photo by Nika Mots

22. References
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23. References
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